William Forbes Adams


William Forbes Adams was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Easton. He also served as a missionary bishop of Arizona and New Mexico.

Biography

Adams was born on January 2, 1833 in Enniskillen, Ireland. When he was eight, he and his family arrived in the United States. He was ordained deacon on December 15, 1859 and priest on July 29, 1860.
He was elected Missionary Bishop of Arizona and New Mexico on November 2, 1874. He was consecrated on January 17, 1875 by Bishop William Mercer Green of Mississippi in St Paul's Church in New Orleans. After his consecration he traveled to the missionary territory accompanied by his chaplain the Reverend Henry Forrester. He commenced his journey in Las Vegas and journeyed by mail coach to Santa Fe, New Mexico. From there he left for Albuquerque, New Mexico where he held the first Episcopal service at the Exchange Hotel on March 4, 1875. He resigned his post due to poor physical health on October 15, 1876. He served for a time as rector of Holy Trinity Church in Vicksburg, Mississippi before being elected Bishop of Easton in 1887 where he remained till his death on March 20, 1920.