The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr.
XIII Bishop of South Carolina
January 30, 1934 - June 29, 2016
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He was a champion of the faith; a tireless churchman—whose principled wisdom, sagacious humor and razor wit were legendary and widely loved by the casual acquaintance as well as by his family and longtime friends. His warm and steadfast counsel, which was sought by thousands around the larger Anglican world, will be deeply missed even as his aphorisms will be long remembered.
The Rt. Rev. Mark Lawrence, 14th Bishop of South Carolina
To me, Bp. Salmon had the whole package…
He was serious theologically. I remember the first time I met him was at a dinner for a new bishop’s consecration in another diocese, when, knowing that I was a candidate for rector at a church in his diocese, he sidled up to me and asked (polite introductions barely finished) what I thought about the Atonement. Serious and direct, he was listening closely, meaning for me to take his question seriously – and I realized from that first moment that what we believed about Jesus was what really mattered to him (which thrilled me!).
He was a strategic thinker and doer when it came to Church growth. This was a revelation for me, since I had never served under a bishop whose diocesan vision was to “build up the congregations for the work of the Gospel” – and actually spent considerable time doing that. The evolution of the Department of Congregational Development during his episcopate, and of the diocesan budget to resource that Department’s plans, was unique in my experience of the Episcopal Church.
He was also, for all of his strategizing and doing, a deeply grounded man spiritually. He was forever grateful for having been made to memorize the Sunday Collects of the Prayer Book as a child/youth. He was a man who walked in, because he was shaped by, the prayers of the Church.
But of all of the aspects of his life and ministry which I admired, there was none more dear to me than his personal touch. I was a young priest, serving in the geographically outer edges of the diocese, far from Charleston, in a small church. Yet Bp. Salmon cared about me in a personal way. He included me, he listened to me, he valued me – when, really, he didn’t have to. I truly believed that we were partners in ministry, and that what Henri Nouwen said in his wonderful little book, In the Name of Jesus, was true of us: “…what we did, we did together in Jesus’ name.” He became my friend, and I loved him for it.
The Rev. Ted Duvall, Rector, Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant
When I served on the Vestry at Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant back in the 90's, our parish was experiencing growing pains associated with transitioning from the tiny historical church on Highway 17 to what is now a sprawling campus. Bishop Salmon met with us to encourage us and he said something that both my husband and I have quoted frequently between ourselves and to others ever since. "All change is loss, even good change, and loss must be grieved." These wise words have provided much comfort and guidance in the face of any disquietude brought by shifting seasons of our lives. Howard and I love Bishop Salmon and are thankful that he is Home free. May God hold his family close until the glorious reunion in Heaven.
The Rev. Joyce Harder, Deacon, Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant
Bishop Salmon ordained me to the priesthood at the cathedral in Charleston in June 1998. Shortly thereafter we both traveled, independently, to the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England, he as a participating Anglican bishop and I as a volunteer journalist for the Anglican Communion News Service. On "picture day," when a group photo was made of the 850 bishops present from around the world, I was able to get two shots of Bishop Salmon. In the first, he is seated beside Henry Nutt Parsley, South Carolina native then serving as Bishop of Alabama. In the second, Bishop Salmon is standing on a hillside at the University of Kent, with Canterbury Cathedral far off in the background. He seemed to enjoy that month-long event thoroughly, with its unique opportunities for conversation and fellowship with people from virtually every nation on earth. The sun may have set on the British Empire, but it never sets on the Anglican Communion.
The Rev. Canon E. T. Malone, Jr.,
Diocese of North Carolina
I am a C of E minister and came to stay in Summerville, where we came across Bishop Salmon at a pot luck supper at St. Paul's. I was on a sabbatical to do some research into evangelism. He was open to questions, and one person asked, “What do you think about tithing?”
The bishop came back immediately with this reply which I have never forgotten, “I do not think about it: I do it.”.
Thanks be to God for his witness.
Jimmy Hamilton-Brown, Winterborne Stickland, UK
I had the privilege of serving as a lay deputy to at least 6 Diocesan conventions during Bp. Salmon's leadership in SC. For four of those I was also serving In a Warden's role on the
vestry of St. Michaels. I had his cell phone number during all those years as did the wardens I knew who preceded me. None of us called the Bishop for anything trivial, but we all knew that he welcomed our call when he was needed. His advice always called us out of whatever self securing enclosure we may have designed, and into a deeper dependence on God and the vision He had cast for our church. There were so many lay people who were sent to seminary during and shortly following Bp. Salmon's Episcopacy. I had the joy of being a student at Nashotah House, for 3 years during his tenure as Dean. I will always be grateful for the daily interactions I had with him and with Louise. The deanery was always a place of warmth and welcome as was their home in St. Louis. Oh my goodness, did they serve some of the finest Scotch I will ever taste this side of heaven.
Just as I had his cell phone number in earlier years, Bishop Salmon's office was always open and his ear attentive to my concerns. We did not always agree, but there never was, nor would there ever be, any disagreement that would lessen the love and respect he had for me and that I had for him. His legacy will be broad, but I will always remember the importance of relational transparency which he held forth as so very critical to successful parish leadership and to relational leadershop in general. Thank you, Dear Bishop and Louise for the gift of yourselves to do many and for so long.
Fr. John Sosnowski, Church of the Holy Comforter, Sumter, SC.
So grateful for this man who was so supportive of me and the call of God in my life. He would call me a couple of times a year ( as a Bishop of a large and healthy diocese) just checking in and asking how he can pray for me, my family, and the church at St. Paul's -Bennetsville where I worked at the time with Reid Hensarling! Well done, good and faithful servant! Bishop Ed Salmon 1934 – 2016
The Rev. Gene Sherman, Rector-Christ Church, Westshore, Cleveland, OH
RIP The Right Reverend Edward L. Salmon Jr. With God's Grace and wisdom Bishop Salmon turned the Diocese of South Carolina, once a theological battlefield, into a family with our eyes on Christ. He made me read Family Systems textbooks against my will which eventually blessed my life and ministry greatly. He eschewed bluejeans and until recently, email, was a genuine southern gentleman, and a true spiritual Father to many of us in the Episcopal/Anglican church. God be with his family and friends as they mourn his loss.
The Rev. David Dubay, Rector, Holy Trinity, Windemere, Charleston, SC
Bp. Salmon was always a source of sage advice. He was formal in the public arena and very nurturing in the quiet private moments. We were so blessed that Michael was ordained & Albert confirmed by Bp. Salmon. The Anglican Communion has lost a beautiful man of Christ.
Mrs. Devvy Ridgill, wife of The Rev. Dr. Michael Ridgill, Rector, Holy Cross, Stateburg
Bishop Salmon was one of the finest men I have ever had the privilege to know. We first became close during my tenure as Senior Warden at St. Philip's, where his great wisdom, sound advice, and sense of humor were an enormous blessing to me. I will never forget the series of skits he and I co-wrote, and his willingness to act in them--to the delight of all who witnessed them! He encouraged me in discerning a call to ordained ministry, mentored me through the process, and ordained me to the diaconate. It was in large part through his personal involvement and encouragement that I came to Porter-Gaud as a chaplain over a decade ago, where he was a tireless advocate for the School's Episcopal identity and the development of its spiritual life during his long tenure on the Board of Trustees, as well as a constant bulwark of support and wisdom for me personally. He baptized our youngest daughter, Anne, at St. Philip's, and after his retirement would continue to check in with me periodically to encourage and support me. I still quote his aphorisms on a regular basis and am thankful to God for having known him. The truly amazing thing about him is that he had a similarly profound impact on hundreds, if not thousands, of others, and yet was the soul of humility and kindness. Of him it can truly be said, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
" For all the saints, who from their labours rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!"
The Rev. Brian McGreevy, Chaplain, Porter Gaud School-Assisting Pastor, St. Philip’s, Charleston
I mourn the passing of a spiritual father this morning: a great man of God, a defender of the faith, a mentor and a friend -- Bishop Edward Salmon...rest in peace...I think it is only fitting that he pass into eternal glory on the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul. Blessings to Louise and their family...
The Rev. Dr. Greg Snyder-Rector-St. John’s Parish, Johns Island
We are blessed to have so many great mentors and heroes of the faith who have shepherded us in ministry. One of those was Bishop Salmon. Peet began his ordained ministry under Bishop Salmon as a seminarian from 2000-2003. He was a great church leader, and he accomplished much in his life in ministry. However, he always made sure to check on ME, ask me how I felt about certain aspects of church ministry, and looked after us as a family. For this, I am forever grateful. May we all seek to live a life that focuses on people first. Thank you Bishop Salmon.
Mrs. Jenny Dickinson, wife of The Very Rev. Peet Dickinson, Dean of The Cathedral, Charleston
My cousin Eric Dudley+ and I were in Oxford attending their summer institute. Bishop Salmon was there and after the teaching was traveling to London. He invited us to travel with him and keep him company in exchange for a $260 a night stay at the Holiday Inn Mayfair and one heck of an Italian dinner at one of his favorite London restaurants. He was one generous man. Bless him Lord.
The Rev. Tripp Jeffords, Rector, St. Paul's Church, Summerville
