RIP: Hays Rockwell, ninth bishop of Missouri, dies at 88

The Rt. Rev. Hays Rockwell, the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Missouri, died Aug. 2 at his home in West Kingston, Rhode Island. Photo: Providence Journal obituary

[Episcopal News Service] The Rt. Rev. Hays Rockwell, who served as a bishop in the Diocese of Missouri for 11 years, died in his sleep Aug. 2 at his home in West Kingston, Rhode Island. He was 88.

The diocese announced his death in an email on Aug. 4, noting that Rockwell “lived a life guided by the blessing he often shared: ‘Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; love and serve the Lord…’.”

In commenting on his death in a Facebook post, Missouri Bishop Deon Johnson described Rockwell as “a deeply pastoral and engaging leader who championed ministry development and formation. His legacy is best seen in the Rockwell House Campus Ministry [in St. Louis] to engage young people in deepening their faith.”

Rockwell was born in 1936 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Brown University in 1958 with a degree in English Literature, and while he initially thought he would pursue a career in law, he instead chose to enroll at the then-Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

After graduating in 1961, he served as chaplain at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he worked to integrate the all-white prep school. While there, he was ordained a deacon in 1961 and a priest in 1962.

Rockwell served as chaplain at the University of Rochester from 1969 to 1971, when he became dean at Bexley Hall Theological Seminary, a part of the Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He was active there in the campaign against the Vietnam War, and he also traveled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to support Philip and Daniel Berrigan, brothers who were Catholic priests and peace activists while they were on trial for destroying draft records.

In 1976 he was called as rector of St. James’ in New York City. According to a parish history of Rockwell’s time there, “the parish invited neighboring churches and synagogues to form the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter, a drop-in center providing immediate and long-term assistance to the homeless, and which also coordinated efforts so that meals might be offered every day of the week for homeless persons on the Upper East Side through these houses of worship.”

During his tenure the church also developed close friendships with Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Bishop Gordon McMullan of Northern Ireland, and St. James’ would become one of the first churches to divest from investments in apartheid South Africa.

Rockwell was elected bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Missouri in 1990 and was ordained and consecrated in 1991. He became diocesan bishop in 1992, a position he held for 10 years. A description of his episcopacy on the Diocese of Missouri’s website noted that during his tenure there was “an influx of new rectors, restructuring of the diocesan staff and emphasis on congregational development.” The diocese also established a companion relationship with the Diocese of Puerto Rico, and the Episcopal School for Ministry was established to provide formation for congregational leaders.

In retirement, Rockwell moved to Rhode Island, where he wrote, reflected and travelled. He served on the boards of the University of Rochester, St. George’s School and the Union Theological Seminary, and he also was chair of the Church Publishing Company.

His obituary notes that he “played the cornet with enthusiasm and was a devoted fan of jazz.” He loved reading, tennis, being by the sea and engaging in political discourse.

He is survived by Linda, his wife of 68 years; four children; eight grandchildren; one great granddaughter and one brother.

A funeral service is scheduled for Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. at the chapel at St. George’s School.