Thomas Grayson Dashiell
The Reverend Thomas Grayson Dashiell | |
|---|---|
| Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Richmond) | |
| Church | Episcopal Church (United States) |
| Diocese | Virginia |
| In office | 1866–1893 |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | July 14, 1854 (deacon) by Bishop William Meade |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 15, 1830 Prince William County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | March 18, 1893 (aged 62) Colón, Panama (then Colombia) |
| Buried | Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican (Episcopal Church) |
| Spouse |
|
| Children | several |
| Occupation | Episcopal clergyman, historian, church administrator |
| Previous post | Rector of Cople Parish (1854–1859) Secretary of the Diocese of Virginia (1863–1893) |
| Education | Virginia Theological Seminary |
| Alma mater | Virginia Theological Seminary |
Thomas Grayson Dashiell, D.D. (December 15, 1830 – March 18, 1893) was an American Episcopal clergyman, historian, and diocesan administrator. He served nearly thirty years as Secretary of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and was the founder and first rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia.
Early life and family background
Dashiell was born on December 15, 1830, in Prince William County, Virginia, to Thomas Bennet Dashiell and Mary McCobb.[citation needed]
He was a descendant of the Dashiell family of Maryland, a prominent Huguenot lineage that emigrated from France in the seventeenth century. The surname "Dashiell" is an Anglicization of the French de Chiel.[1]
He studied at Virginia Theological Seminary, where he came under the influence of the noted theologian Rev. William Sparrow. He was ordained deacon on July 14, 1854, by Bishop William Meade. That same day, he married Sparrow’s daughter, Wilhelmina; after her death in 1861, he later married her sister, Catherine Sparrow.[2]
Ministry
Cople Parish
Dashiell’s first parish was Cople Parish in Westmoreland County, Virginia, where he served from about 1854 to 1859.[3]
Secretary of the Diocese of Virginia
In May 1863, during the American Civil War, Dashiell was elected Secretary of the Diocese of Virginia, a position he held until his death in 1893.[4] His three-decade tenure preserved diocesan records and helped guide the church through war, Reconstruction, and growth.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Richmond
In 1866, Dashiell founded St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia) and became its first rector, serving there until his death in 1893.[5] Under his leadership, the parish established itself as a leading Episcopal congregation in Richmond.
Writings
Dashiell authored historical and pastoral works, including:
- A Pastor’s Recollections (1875).
- A Digest of the Proceedings of the Conventions and Councils in the Diocese of Virginia (Richmond, 1883).[6]
His writings combined pastoral reflection with a concern for historical record-keeping and church governance.
Death and legacy
Dashiell died on March 18, 1893, while traveling in Colón, Panama (then part of Colombia).[4] His remains were returned to Richmond and interred in Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia).[5]
His legacy is preserved in the continued vitality of St. Mark’s Richmond and in his contributions to diocesan history as secretary for thirty years.
References
- ↑ "James Dashiell (1634–1697)". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "Dashiell Family Notes". Glover Park History. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "Journal of the Annual Council, Diocese of Virginia, 1857" (PDF). Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "T. Grayson Dashiell: Secretary and Envoy". The Living Church. 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Society Conducts Grave-Marking Ceremony at the Historic Yeocomico Church" (PDF). Society of the War of 1812 in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
- ↑ "The Spirits of Bad Men Made Perfect (Appendix)". Emerging Civil War. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia)de Chiel
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