Clement W. Welsh

The Rev. Canon Clement William Welsh, the retired Canon Theologian at the Washington National Cathedral died June 10, 2017 in Annapolis, MD, less than a month after his 104th birthday. Mr. Welsh was born May 21, 1913, in Oakmont, PA to parents James W. Welsh and Ada Page (Clement) Welsh. He grew up in Floral Park, NY and Cleveland, OH, and graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University, AB in 1934. He pursued graduate studies at The Episcopal Theological Seminary where he earned a BD in 1937. He later returned to Harvard and earned a PhD in 1958. He married Catherine "Kit" Gilman (AB Radcliffe 1937) in 1937. Following his ordination in the Episcopal Church, he was the Curate at St. John's Episcopal Church, Waterbury, CT (1937-39) and Rector, at St. James Episcopal Church in South Groveland, MA (1939-1942) before spending the rest of his career in academia. With his wife and their first child, The Rev. Welsh moved to Gambier, OH where he spent 15 years as Professor of Theology at Bexley Hall, the Divinity School of Kenyon College and Professor of Religion and Chairman of the Department of Religion at the College. He served as Chaplain at the College (1942-1957). Then with four children, the family moved to Cincinnati, OH where he was the Editor for Forward Movement Publications (1957-1963). In 1960 Kenyon College awarded The Rev. Welsh an Honorary Degree as Doctor of Sacred Theology. In 1963, The Rev. Welsh joined the clergy at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC as Canon Theologian and Director of Studies at the College of Preachers and later Warden (1963-1982). In 1965, he was chosen as an official Anglican observer to the fourth session of the Second Vatican Council in Rome. A brilliant speaker, he taught countless clergy at the Cathedral's College of Preachers and wrote Preaching in a New Key (1974). From 1982 to 1983, Welsh was interim rector of St. James Church in Florence, Italy, where with editor Horace Gibson, Jr., he wrote St James Church A History of the American Church in Florence. He spoke with intellectual authority tempered with kindness and humor captivating listeners with a master storyteller's insight, love and fascination with mystery and discovery. He was preceded in death by his wife "Kit" of 67 years, his daughter Catherine A.C. Welsh and brother James W. Welsh, Jr. Survived by three sons: David Welsh (Oceanside, CA), Jeremy and Laura (Jevnikar) Welsh (Annapolis, MD) and Timothy and Mary (Horton) Welsh (Washington, DC), 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. A memorial service is planned for the fall of this year at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.