A Word from Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley About Chancellor Emeritus Thomas Tisdale

Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley shares a word about the remarkable life of Chancellor Emeritus Thomas S. Tisdale, Jr. who died on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.


January 30, 2025
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Dear Beloved People in the Diocese of South Carolina,

Thomas Sumter Tisdale, Jr., beloved child of God and Chancellor Emeritus of the Diocese of South Carolina, has gone home to be with our Lord. As the son of the Rev. Cn. Thomas Sumter Tisdale, an Episcopal priest who served for 50 years in the Diocese of South Carolina, Chancellor Tisdale’s roots run deep in this state and diocese. 

Tom’s family has been a part of this diocese and The Episcopal Church for generations. He demonstrated tremendous love and loyalty to the Church and to the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina throughout his lifetime. He was a devoted member of Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston.

An accomplished lawyer, Tom shared his time and his immense talents in the name of service to the Diocese of South Carolina for decades. He served as chancellor from 1970-1985 during the episcopates of Bishop Temple and Bishop Allison, before returning to this role after the schism in 2012 to serve under our provisional bishops, Bishop von Rosenberg and Bishop Adams, and through my early tenure as your bishop. In total, Tom served under five bishops of the Diocese of South Carolina. In November 2022 at the 232nd Convention of The Diocese of South Carolina, it was my distinct honor to present Chancellor Tisdale with the Bishop’s Cross in recognition of his devotion to our diocese, and most notably his tireless efforts to ensure The Episcopal Church would continue to be present in South Carolina for generations to come. 

Tom served as a delegate to multiple General Conventions of The Episcopal Church over the years, beginning in 1972, and most recently in 2015. He also served on The Executive Council of The Episcopal Church and as Chair of the Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance. Additionally, he served on the Board of Trustees at various institutions of our diocese, including Porter-Gaud School, Voorhees College (now University), and his alma mater, Sewanee: The University of the South.

In addition to his legal talents, Tom was a gifted writer and publisher. He authored numerous books about the Lowcountry over his lifetime. In 2013, he wrote the play “Truth in Cold Blood,” which told the remarkable story of the eighth bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina, Bishop William Alexander Guerry, who was shot in his own office by a priest who opposed the bishop’s efforts to advance racial equality. As described on his publishing site, the play attempted to “restore the memory of this tragedy to a place where it can, as all history strives to do, lead people to a better understanding of how to face the future while, at the same time, confronting the past and present.” In 2014, the play was brought to the stage at the historic Dock Street Theater here in Charleston.
 
Like Bishop Guerry, Chancellor Tisdale was also drawn to the cause of racial equality, working as a tireless advocate throughout his lifetime for those who faced discrimination and injustice. During my tenure in South Carolina, people have shared stories with me about countless times Tom provided legal or financial assistance when he saw there was a need, often when he saw a racial injustice that he wanted to make right. In many of these instances, he offered his time and talents without expecting anything in return other than seeing justice prevail and humanity restored. He was a good man and a faithful servant of our God.

His legacy in guiding this diocese through perilous waters is unparalleled. A loving husband, father, friend, and churchman, Tom will be missed dearly by us all. Our hearts are with his beloved wife, Nina, and their family members, including children and grandchildren, as they grieve such a tremendous loss and celebrate a life well lived.

Faithfully yours,

The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley
Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina

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