James Craik (priest)
James Craik (31 August 1806 – 9 June 1882)[1] was a noted preacher, author, lawyer, and amateur architect. He was born on August 31, 1806, in Alexandria, Virginia, to George Washington Craik, secretary to President George Washington during his second term, and Maria Tucker. He was the grandson of Dr. James Craik, President George Washington's physician.[2][3] He married Juliet Shrewsbury[4] and had eleven children.
Law practice[edit]
He studied medicine briefly at Transylvania College before switching to law with the encouragement of the college president, Dr. Holley. and practiced law in Charleston, WV, where he built Elm Grove, now called the Craik-Patton House.[5] Along with his law partner Ezra Walker, who was also the editor of the “Kanawha Banner” newspaper, Craik would argue cases in the counties of Kanawha, Logan, Mason, and Cabell. Craik lived in a portion of land, five hundred acres, inherited from his grandfather briefly while Elm Grove was under construction. It was during Craik's ten years of practicing law and studying theology that he eventually decided to do church work.[2]
Priestly duties and written works[edit]
Craik became a deacon of the Episcopal church in 1839.[2] He became a priest at St. John's Church in Charleston, WV, in 1841. In 1844 he moved to Louisville, Ky to serve at Christ Church. He sold his property in Charleston to local lawyer, Isaac Read. While living in Louisville he built another house this one he sentimentally named "Kanawha" after the valley in which Elm Grove was located. He and his family moved into this house in early 1850.
Craik wrote extensively on theology. His two best remembered works are Old and New and The Divine Life.[6] In addition to these works being used as textbooks for church schools he was also widely renowned as a preacher. He was a founder of the Orphanage of the Good Shepherd. He held the position of President of the House of Deputies of the General Convention in the Episcopal Church from 1862 to 1874 in addition to his responsibilities within his own diocese. He was noted to have been involved in a number of charities and to have had a great appreciation for devotional music.[7]
Later years and death[edit]
In his waning years he spoke before the Kentucky Legislature in favor of staying in the Union.[8] He remained serving Christ Church at Louisville, Ky until he died on June 9, 1882, from illness. After his passing one of his sons, Charles, took over his position at Christ Church.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ Browning, Charles Henry (1891). Americans of Royal Descent: A Collection of Genealogies of American Families Whose Lineage is Traced to the Legitimate Issue of Kings. Porter & Costes. p. 488. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ a b c Kleber, John E. (2015). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. University Press of Kentucky. p. 229. ISBN 9780813149745. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "Craik-Patton House, Daniel Boone Park, U.S. Route 60, Charleston, Kanawha County, WV". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Preservation & Restoration | NSCDAWV". nscdawv.org. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Craik-Patton House". Craikpattonhouse.org. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
- ^ McCready, Richard Lightburne (1937). History of Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville, Kentucky. The Cathedral. p. 100. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ Cathedral, Louisville (Ky ) Christ Church (1882). To the Memory of James Craik, D. D., LL.: D., Rector of Christ Church, Louisville, A. J. P. Morton.
- ^ a b "James Craik | The Archives of the Episcopal Church". www.episcopalarchives.org. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
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