The Right Reverend John Clark Buchanan, 1933-2020

The Right Reverend John Clark Buchanan, a native of Laurens County, SC, who began his ordained ministry in the Diocese of South Carolina and used his unique gifts for bringing people together to assist the diocese through its reorganization, died Wednesday, April 15, in Charleston.

Bishop Buchanan was ordained a priest by the Rt. Rev. Gray Temple in 1970. He served at St. Barnabas, Dillon; St. Matthew’s, Darlington; and St. Andrew’s, Mt. Pleasant; before his election as Bishop Coadjutor for the Diocese of West Missouri in 1988, where he was consecrated in February 1989. He became Diocesan Bishop in 1990 and remained there until his retirement in 1999 (The Diocese of West Missouri has shared this announcement).

He returned to South Carolina and served at St. Michael’s, Charleston, until 2004 when he answered the call to become Assisting Bishop for the Diocese of Texas. In 2003, he began serving as the Parlimentarian for the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church. From 2006-2008, he served as Interim Bishop for the Diocese of Southern Virginia and then as the Provisional Bishop for the Diocese of Quincy (Illinois) from 2009-2013. When that diocese reunited with the Diocese of Chicago in 2013, he served as Assisting Bishop through 2014.

From 2012-2013 served as an Advisory Bishop to the reorganizing diocese of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina. Upon his final retirement, he returned to Charleston, and most recently was living at Bishop Gadsden with his wife of nearly 56 years, Peggy. They have two daughters and two grandchildren.

There will be a private family service on Saturday, April 18, at Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston. There will be a public memorial Eucharist at a later time to be determined.

Rest eternal grant him, O Lord; let light perpetual shine upon him.

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