Stephen H. Tyng
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The Reverend Stephen H. Tyng D.D. |
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| Born | March 1, 1800 Newburyport, MA |
| Died | September 5, 1885 Irvington-on-Hudson, NY |
| Nationality | USA |
| Occupation | Clergy |
| Known for | Episcopal Church evangelical preacher in New York City |
Stephen Higginson Tyng (March 1, 1800 – September 3, 1885), was a leading clergyman of the evangelical party of the Episcopal Church. He recognized that a new urban ministry was needed in parts of the city with growing numbers of immigrants. He instituted social service programs as well as altering church interiors to make people feel more welcome.
Born March 1, 1800 in Newburyport, Massachusetts to Dudley Atkins Tyng and Sarah Higginson (and the brother of sea captain, merchant, and memoirist Charles Tyng), Stephen Tyng attended Phillips Andover Academy and was graduated from Harvard University in 1817. It was there that Tyng had a strong conversion experience that led him to leave business to pursue the ministry. He then headed to Bristol, RI to study theology and prepare for ordination under Bishop Griswold. Later, the degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by Jefferson College of Philadelphia in 1832, and by Harvard University in 1851.
Tyng married his first wife, Anne DeWolf Griswold (daughter of his mentor), in 1821. Together, they had four children: Anna Elizabeth, Dudley Atkins, Alexander Griswold, and Julia Griswold. She died on May 16, 1832 at 27 years of age and was buried in the churchyard of the Church of the Epiphany. He soon thereafter married Susan Wilson Mitchell in 1833. This marriage produced an additional four children: Thomas Mitchell, Stephen Higginson, Morris Ashurst, and Charles Rockland. It was his last son who wrote and published his biography "Record of the life and work of the Rev. Stephen Higginson Tyng, D.D. and history of St. George's Church, New York, to the close of his rectorship" in 1890. Dr. Tyng died on September 3, 1885 in Irvington-on-Hudson and is buried with his late wife and children at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY.
Tyng was considered to be one of the most notable preachers of the time, and leader in the evangelical party of the Episcopal Church. He was also well connected to other leading Evangelical Episcopalians such as Bishop McIlvaine of Ohio, with whom he shared extensive correspondence throughout his career. Tyng began his career with short stints as rector of St. George's, Georgetown and Queen Anne Parish, Maryland before being called as rector to "Old" St. Paul's Church in Philadelphia. At the time, it was a prominent congregation well ensconced in the evangelical party (he was preceded there by the Rev. Benjamin Allen) and a sign of the young man's great promise as a preacher and presbyter. He was instrumental in renovating the church building to accommodate Sunday school rooms as he was an early proponent of Christian education. Tyng remained at St. Paul's until 1833 when the fledgling Church of the Epiphany called him to be their first rector. Over the next 11 years, he grew the church tremendously until his departure in 1845.
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