Charles H. Colton

Charles Henry Colton
4th Bishop of Buffalo
Church Roman Catholic Church
Diocese Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo
Installed 1903 (1903)
Term ended 1915 (1915)
Predecessor James Edward Quigley
Successor Dennis Joseph Dougherty
Orders
Ordination June 10, 1876 (1876-06-10)
Consecration August 24, 1903 (1903-08-24)
by Pope Leo XIII
Personal details
Born (1848-10-15)October 15, 1848
New York, New York
Died May 9, 1915(1915-05-09) (aged 66)
Buffalo, New York
Buried Saint Joseph's Cathedral
Parents Patrick Smith
Teresa Augusta (née Mullin)
Previous post Saint Joseph's Cathedral
Education St. Francis Xavier College
Alma mater St. Joseph's Seminary
Motto "God is With Us"

Charles Henry Colton (October 15, 1848 May 9, 1915) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Buffalo from 1903 until his death in 1915.

Early life and education

Charles Colton was born in New York City to Patrick Smith and Teresa Augusta (née Mullin) Colton, who were Irish immigrants.[1] He received his early education at Public School No. 5 and the Latin school of St. Stephen's Church.[1] As a boy, he held a clerical position in a dry goods store.[2] In 1869, he entered St. Francis Xavier College, from where he later graduated in 1873.[3] He then made his theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy.[2]

Priesthood

Colton was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1876.[4] His first assignment was as a curate at St. Stephen's Church under Father Edward McGlynn.[3] He remained at St. Stephen's for ten years, and during that time also served as a chaplain at Bellevue Hospital.[1] In 1886, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester.[2]

Following the excommunication of the controversial Father Glynn, he returned to St. Stephen's Church in 1887 to assist Father Arthur Donnelly, who had been assigned as temporary administrator.[1] Later that year, he assumed the role of St. Stephen's upon Donnelly's resignation.[1] He enjoyed remarkable success in his new post, restoring harmony among the congregation, eliminating the parish debt of $152,000, and establishing a parochial school.[3] In addition to his pastoral duties, he became chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York in 1896.[3]

Episcopacy

On June 10, 1903, Colton was appointed the fourth Bishop of Buffalo by Pope Leo XIII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on the following August 24 from Archbishop John Murphy Farley, with Bishops Bernard John McQuaid and Charles Edward McDonnell serving as co-consecrators, in St. Patrick's Cathedral.[4] During his tenure, the diocese was composed of 72 churches, 18 combination school-churches, 30 schools, 12 academies, 13 hospitals, and charitable institutions, 6 convents, and 28 rectories.[5]

Colton died at age 66. He is buried in the crypt of St. Joseph's Cathedral.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Cutter, William Richard, ed. (1912). Genealogical and Family History of Western New York II. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
  2. 1 2 3 The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography XII. New York: James T. White & Company. 1904.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "BISHOP C.H. COLTON OF BUFFALO IS DEAD". The New York Times. 1915-05-10.
  4. 1 2 3 "Bishop Charles Henry Colton". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  5. 1 2 "Most Rev. Charles H. Colton". Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
James E. Quigley
Bishop of Buffalo
1903 1915
Succeeded by
Dennis Joseph Dougherty


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