Dr. Marion Hatchett

The Lead has learned via email that The Rev. Dr. Marion Hatchett, one of the preeminent liturgical scholars in the Episcopal Church died last night at Emerald-Hodgson Hospital.

Initial reports are that the funeral will take place later this year, timed perhaps so that students and faculty might be able to attend.

Here is a little background about Prof. Hatchett's life and ministry. He spoke of his experiences in revising the prayerbook and hymnal here in a speech he delivered last year at GTS.

May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory on the last to meet Jesus his Lord and Friend.

Posted by Nicholas Knisely on August 8, 2009 2:22 PM | |
Comments (7)

Last year General Seminary honored him with its Distinguished Alumnus Award. His remarks on that occasion, reflecting on a life of service and liturgical innovation, can be found at the GTS web site. May he rest in peace.

Posted by Ellen Tillotson [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 8, 2009 4:05 PM

God bless him. He was one of a kind and will be sorely missed.

Posted by Bill Carroll [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 8, 2009 4:41 PM

Marion J. Hatchett was unparalleled in his commitment to and knowledge of what makes effective liturgy, always intended for the “upbuilding, and encouragement, and consolation” of the Church ( I Cor. 14:3). Form followed function for Marion, and his impatience with all forms of narcissistic display and aesthetic pretension in liturgical celebration was legendary. In his scholarship and his life, Marion Hatchett exhibited the best of Anglican/Episcopal “via media” and it was an honor to have been his colleague and friend.

Joe Monti
Professor of Christian Ethics and Moral Theology, Emeritus, The School of Theology, Sewanee, TN

Posted by Tricia Templeton [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 8, 2009 6:42 PM

Fifteen years ago I was fresh out of seminary in the first week of my first job, when I answered some question about the prayer book that my rector did not know. "How did you know that?" she asked. "I was taught by Marion Hatchett," I replied. Three weeks ago his voice sounded strong when I called to ask him a liturgical question. I am a better priest because I was taught by Marion Hatchett.
Tricia Templeton

Posted by Tricia Templeton [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 8, 2009 6:48 PM

Marion was indeed a great teacher. He was concerned that we have some sense of the breadth of the history of the Church. His intent was that we might assess the needs of the congregation, and then consider what in the Church's broad liturgical history might meet the needs of the congregation now.

However, Marion was more than a valued professor. He and Caroline opened their home to generations of seminarians and their families. In the often disrupted and isolated times of seminary, they offered some experience of welcome and even of home. He will be missed.

Marshall Scott

Posted by mscottsail [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 8, 2009 8:24 PM

Well said by Joe Monti. Marion was an advocate of "practical liturgy". Ritual for ritual's sake is hallow at best, and at worst is a hindrance to faith formation.

I had the privilege of helping Marion move his library from his office at the School of Theology to his home a few years following his retirement. Hours upon hours of sorting and boxing books...hours of conversation about church, life, people, liturgy and much, much more.

Many do not know of the substantial research and work Marion did in the field of church architecture. His collection of designs and blueprints from all over were amazing.

His was a life lived richly, deeply and with great humor and love.

-Jonathan Wickham

Posted by Jonathan [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 9, 2009 8:48 PM

I hope the Archives finds Marion's papers - they are a treasure and sad that Sewanee dumped them when Dean Lytle dumped Marion.

Posted by Ann Fontaine [TypeKey Profile Page] | August 10, 2009 11:00 AM

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