The 213th Annual Council - Diocese of Virginia

Necrology
The Rev. Morton Townsend
September 2, 1915-October 1, 2008
The Rev. Morton Townsend, the longest-ordained
priest in the Diocese of Virginia, died October 1. Born
in Petersburg, Mr. Townsend received his B.A. from
the University of Richmond and his B.D. from Virginia
Theological Seminary before being ordained to the
priesthood in 1944. Mr. Townsend served as rector
of Christ Church Parish, Lancaster County; Hanover
with Brunswick Parish and St. Paul’s, Owens, in King
George County; Immanuel, Old Church and Church of
the Creator in Hanover County; and St. David’s, Aylett
in King William County. At the time of his retirement,
he had returned to Lancaster County, where he served
as rector of Trinity Church, Lancaster and St. Mary’s
Whitechapel, and associate rector of Historic Christ
Church. During his tenure in Hanover County in the
1960s, he became the founding rector of Church of
the Creator, Mechanicsville, while at the same time,
serving as rector of Immanuel, Old Church, and St.
David’s, Aylett. He is survived by his wife, Ellen,
and three children. He was predeceased by his wife,
Nancy, and a son.
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The Diocese of Virginia t Journal of the the 213 th Annual Council 63