Photographs from the 1974 Philadelphia Eleven ordinations by photographer Brad Hess

Photographs by Brad Hess
Photograph copyright Darlene O’Dell

Some of Brad’s photos of the 1974 ordinations have never been published.
Others are iconic images from the day!

Week 6: The Women Priests

I will be uploading Brad’s images of the women priests every few days beginning today (July 7, 2024) as the launch of the 50th anniversary celebration occurs in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 28. The original ordinations took place on July 29, 2024.

Also, images of Jeannette Piccard will be shown in an article I’m publishing with National Catholic Reporter around July 22. I’ll post her images after the publication of the article. 

Week 5: The Processional and Others Participating

 

 

Week 4: Bishop Barbara Harris and Dr. Charles V. Willie

Before she was ordained the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion in 1989, Barbara Harris assisted in organizing the Philadelphia ordinations and served as the acolyte at the service. Charles Willie, who was Vice-President of the House of Deputies (he would later resign over the House of Bishops’ poor treatment of the eleven), had been a professor at Syracuse and was about to begin a new position at Harvard when he was asked to give the sermon at the Philadelphia ordinations. 

Week 3: The Reverend Paul Washington (and the protestors)

The courageous Paul Washington was the rector of the Church of the Advocate, where the ordinations occurred. Along with other prophetic actions he took as rector, he opened his church to the ordinations on that hot July day. 

Week 2: The Bishops

Three retired bishops ordained the Philadelphia Eleven and one bishop stood with them in a show of support. All four received extreme criticism from parts of the church, including from their brother bishops. This week’s photographs by Brad focus on these four bishops: Daniel Corrigan, Bob DeWitt, Edward Welles, and Tony Ramos. 

 

Week 1: The Congregation

Let’s begin with images of those in that beautiful crowd, and you’ll see
how Brad captured their energy. Those present described the day as (1) hot and
(2) as filled with the spirit. You could hear the flapping of the Spirit’s
wings as one witness described it to me.