Background
Harry Woolston Shipps was born January 28, 1926, in Trenton, New Jersey.
Harry Woolston Shipps was born January 28, 1926, in Trenton, New Jersey.
Shipps attended the School of Theology at the University of the South and received his Bachelor of Divinity degree there in 1958.
He was a 1946 graduate of the New York State Maritime Academy and served in the Merchant Marine and the United States Navy for nine years. That same year, he was ordained as a transitional deacon. He was ordained to the priesthood in January 1959.
Shipps served in parish ministry in Albany, Savannah and Augusta, Georgia.
He also served the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, prior to his election as Bishop, as diocesan secretary, editor of the diocesan newspaper, on diocesan council, member and president of the standing committee and as a deputy to three General Conventions. He was the Dean of the Augusta Convocation at the time of his election.
Shipps was elected Bishop coadjutor on September 15, 1983, on 11th round of balloting from a field of 35 nominees. Harry West. Shipps was consecrated as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.
He had been elected as a bishop coadjutor to succeed Paul Reeves on Bishop Reeve"s retirement.
Bishop Shipps served as diocesan bishop from 1985 through 1995. During his episcopacy, women were first ordained in the Diocese of Georgia. He was succeeded by Henry I. Louttit, Junior.