G. P. Mellick Belshaw
George Phelps Mellick Belshaw (July 14, 1928[1]—February 29, 2020) was the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, serving from 1983 to 1994.
The Right Reverend George Phelps Mellick Belshaw D.D. | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of New Jersey | |
| Church | Episcopal Church |
| Diocese | New Jersey |
| In office | 1983-1994 |
| Predecessor | Albert W. Van Duzer |
| Successor | Joe Morris Doss |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | December 1954 by Harry S. Kennedy |
| Consecration | February 3, 1975 by John Allin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 14, 1928 Plainfield, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | February 29, 2020 (aged 91) Princeton, New Jersey, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Parents | Harold Belshaw & Edith Mellick |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Wheeler (m. June 12, 1954) |
| Children | 3 |
| Previous post | Suffragan Bishop of New Jersey (1975-1982) Coadjutor Bishop of New Jersey (1982-1983) |
Education and professional life
Mellick Belshaw was born on July 14, 1928 in Plainfield, New Jersey, the son of Harold Belshaw and Edith Mellick.[1] He married Elizabeth Wheeler in June 1954;[2] they had three children.[3] He earned his undergraduate degree at Sewanee in 1951,[4] and his Master of Sacred Theology degree at General Theological Seminary in 1959.[1] After his graduation from Sewanee he was ordained deacon in July 1954 and priest in December 1954. He became the fourth Vicar of St Matthew's Church in Waimanalo, Hawaii.[5] After three years he became a fellow of the General Theological Seminary, New York City; he followed that with appointments as Rector of Christ Church (Dover, Delaware) and St. George's-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson, New Jersey.[3]
He was then consecrated Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese on February 3, 1975 and was elected Bishop Coadjutor on April 24, 1982.[2] He assumed the title of Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey upon the retirement of Albert W. Van Duzer in 1983 and served for 11 years. He was succeeded by Joe Morris Doss.
Belshaw died at home in Princeton, New Jersey on the morning of February 29, 2020.[6]
References
- Bishop‐Elect Is Saluted By Rumson, Episcopalians, New York Times; published December 1, 1974, accessed April 18, 2017
- "Belshaw Elected Bishop Coadjutor", Episcopal News Service Archive; published April 27, 1982; accessed April 17, 2017.
- Obituaries 6/25/14, Town Topics of Princeton NJ; published June 25, 2014; accessed April 17, 2017.
- Sewanee Alumni News, University of the South, 1954, MyHeritage; accessed April 18, 2017
- ST. MATTHEW’S VICAR’S; accessed April 17, 2017
- "Notice of Death - Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey"; accessed March 1 2020