Kip, William Ingraham

(Oct. 3, 1811-Apr. 7, 1893). First Bishop of California. Born in New York City, Kip began his education at Rutgers and received his B.A. from Yale in 1831. He studied at the Virginia Theological Seminary, 1832-1833, and graduated from the General Theological Seminary in 1835. Kip was ordained deacon on June 28, 1835, and priest on Oct. 20, 1835. He was rector of St. Peter's Church, Morristown, New Jersey, 1835-1836, assistant rector of Grace Church, New York, 1836-1837, and rector of St. Paul's Church, Albany, New York, 1837-1853. On Oct. 28, 1853, Kip was consecrated Missionary Bishop of California. After California became a diocese, he was elected Bishop of California on Feb. 5, 1877. He served as bishop until his death. Kip was in the high church tradition. He wrote The Double Witness of the Church (1843), which stressed both the scriptures and catholic tradition, over against the evangelicals who stressed the Bible as the only rule of faith. He was the author of a number of other books. Kip died in San Francisco.