Pennington, Edgar Legare

(Jan. 15, 1891-Dec. 10, 1951). Historian of the Episcopal Church. He was born in Madison, Georgia. Pennington received his B.A. in 1911 and his LL.B. in 1914, both from the University of Georgia. He was an ensign in the U.S. Navy during World War I. He gave up the practice of law for the ordained ministry. Pennington was ordained deacon on Feb. 2, 1921, and priest on Jan. 2, 1922. He began his ordained ministry in the Diocese of Central New York in 1921. In 1922-1923 he was general missionary for the diocese. From 1923 until 1925 Pennington was rector of St. John's Church, Marianna, and priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's Church, Panama City, Florida. He was rector of St. Andrew's Church, Jacksonville, 1925-1930, rector of Grace Church, Ocala, 1930-1936, and rector of the Church of the Holy Cross, Miami, 1936-1943. From 1943 until 1946, he was a chaplain in the Navy, and from 1946 until his death, he was rector of St. John's Church, Mobile, Alabama. During these years in parish ministry, Pennington was also a church historian with an emphasis on the Church of England in the American colonies. He was one of the founders of the Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He served as its associate editor from 1932-1951 and as the historiographer of the Episcopal Church, 1949-1951. He published over fifty articles and pamphlets. Pennington died in Mobile, Alabama.