Background
Grafton, Charles Chapman was born on April 12, 1830 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Joseph and Anna Maria (Gurley) Grafton.
Grafton, Charles Chapman was born on April 12, 1830 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Joseph and Anna Maria (Gurley) Grafton.
A graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover in 1846, in 1853 Grafton graduated from Harvard University with a degree in law, but he found himself drawn toward the ordained ministry. Grafton studied theology under William Whittingham, Bishop of Maryland, and was ordained deacon on December
Grafton began his ordained ministry as assistant at Reisterstown, Maryland. On May 30, 1858, he was ordained priest. At the close of the Civil War, Grafton went to Britain.
With Richard Meux Benson and Simeon Wilberforce O"Neill he co-founded the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE), also known as the Cowley Fathers.
Grafton returned to the United States and, in 1872, became fourth rector of the Church of the Advent in Boston. A jurisdictional dispute concerning Grafton"s overseas religious superior led to his withdrawal from the SSJE.
Grafton was consecrated bishop on December 15, 1888 at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin by William East. McLaren, Bishop of Chicago.
Alexander Burgess, Bishop of Quincy. And George F. Seymour, Bishop of Springfield.
He also left behind a legacy of printed works, sermons and essays.
In 1900 Grafton was chief consecrator of Reginald Heber Weller as bishop coadjutor of Fond Du Lac. The liturgy of the consecration was controversial. The photo became known as the "Fond du Lac Circus".
