McGarvey, William Ignatius Loyola

(Aug. 14, 1861-Feb. 27, 1924). Episcopal priest and later a Roman Catholic priest. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McGarvey studied at the General Theological Seminary and then Nashotah House. He was ordained deacon on June 20, 1886, and priest on Aug. 22, 1886. He began his ordained ministry as a curate at the Church of the Evangelists and then became rector of St. Elizabeth’s Church, both ritualistic churches in Philadelphia. On June 15, 1891, seven young clergymen in Philadelphia, including McGarvey, met at the Church of the Evangelists to form a religious society. On Sept. 15, 1891, they met with four others at the same place and adopted a rule and the name Community of the Companions of the Holy Saviour. On the next day, McGarvey was elected Master. On Oct. 8, 1895, eleven members, including McGarvey, of the Community of the Companions of the Holy Saviour founded the Congregation of the Companions of the Holy Saviour (Congregatio Sociorum Sancti Salvatoris), C.S.S.S. The last meeting of the Chapter of the Congregation of the Companions of the Holy Saviour was held on Mar. 12, 1908. On May 19, 1908, McGarvey renounced the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church. On May 27, 1908, McGarvey and several other former members of the Congregation of the Companions of the Holy Saviour were received into the Roman Catholic Church. McGarvey was ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church on Dec. 17, 1910. He served parishes in Philadelphia. His last ministry was as rector of the Church of the Holy Infancy, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. McGarvey died in San Diego, California. See Congregation of the Companions of the Holy Saviour (C.S.S.S.).