Background
Thomas Fielding was born on March 12, 1807 in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States.
Thomas Fielding was born on March 12, 1807 in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States.
Thomas Fielding Scott was educated at Chapel Hill School, North Carolina, and at Franklin College (University of Georgia), Athens, graduating from the latter with honors in 1829.
Licensed to preach in the Presbyterian Church, Scott served as a missionary in Hall and Franklin counties and at Columbus, Georgia. Subsequently he had more important charges at La Grange and Savannah, Georgia, and at Columbia.
The turning point in his career came about 1842 when he met Bishop James Hervey Otey and Bishop Leonidas Polk. Under the inspiration of these friends he "made thorough study of the Scriptural and historical claims of Episcopacy, " came to "the firm and unalterable conclusion that the doctrine was true, " and regretfully abandoned Presbyterianism.
He was ordained deacon by Bishop Stephen Elliott at St. Paul's Church, Augusta, Georgia, March 12, 1843, and priest by Bishop Elliott at Christ Church, Macon, Ga. , February 24, 1844. He served successively as rector of St. James' Church, Marietta, Georgia, and Trinity Church, Columbus, Georgia.
In 1853 he was appointed missionary bishop of the new diocese in the remote Northwest, was consecrated at Christ Church, Savannah, Georgia, January 8, 1854, and commenced his work in Oregon in the following April. The district placed in his charge was extensive, conditions of travel were painfully arduous, means of communication were inconstant, money was scarce, and competent assistants almost impossible to secure. Several times he was called upon to administer the diocese of California as well.
In 1860 he returned East for a few months on business of the church. The unremitting strain of his labors influenced his health, and he fell ill of Panama fever on his way to the General Convention of 1868.
He died in New York, and was buried in Trinity Cemetery.
Thomas Fielding Scott was the first missionary bishop of Oregon, and Washington Territory. Scott founded a boys school in Portland, which was reorganized and renamed after him after his death. As a preacher he was popular in both the South and W. His vision was greater than his opportunity, but he is gratefully remembered for his pioneer endeavors and considered by many an authentic martyr of the American Church.
Bishop Scott was a man of great energy of mind and wide information. He was gentle in manner and spontaneously generous of spirit, but was capable of forceful and apt expression of his views.
In 1830 Scott had married Evelyn Appleby of Jackson, Georgia, by whom he was survived.
