The Office of the Bishop has issued the following notice:
April 28, 2020
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We are saddened to inform you of the death of the Rev. Dr. John Townsend in Boston, Mass., on April 22, 2020.
John was ordained in 1952 and received his doctorate in New Testament from Harvard Divinity School in 1959. He served as professor of New Testament, biblical languages, and Jewish studies at Philadelphia Divinity School and later at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge from 1960 until 1993, and in retirement he taught at Harvard Divinity School. He also served as priest-in-charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Fairhaven from 1955 until 1957, and as priest associate at Grace Church in Newton since 2007.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Church in Newton at a date yet to be determined.
May the soul of God’s faithful servant departed rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon him.
Faithfully yours,
The Rt. Rev. Alan M. Gates
The Rt. Rev. Gayle E. Harris
Condolences may be sent to:
The Townsend Family
31 Country Drive
Weston MA 02493
Memorial donations may be made to:
Grace Church
76 Eldredge Street
Newton MA 02458