Porter, Harry Boone

(Jan. 10, 1923-June 5, 1999). Priest, liturgical scholar, professor, editor, and missioner. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He received his B.A. from Yale University in 1947 and his S.T.B. from the Berkeley Divinity School in 1950. From 1950 until 1952 Porter was a fellow/tutor at the General Theological Seminary, and in 1952 he received his S.T.M. from General Seminary. He earned his D.Phil. from Oxford University in 1954. In 1996 he received a master's degree in Environmental Studies from the Yale School of Forestry. Porter was ordained deacon on Apr. 12, 1950, and priest on Apr. 16, 1952. He taught Ecclesiastical History at Nashotah House, 1954-1960, and he was Professor of Liturgics at General Seminary from 1960 until 1970. He left General Seminary in 1970 to become the Director of the National Town and Country Church Institute (Roanridge). He remained at the Institute until 1977, when he became Editor of The Living Church. He retired from that position in 1990. Porter served on the Standing Liturgical Commission, 1961-1976, the General Board of Examining Chaplains, 1970-1982, and was president of the Episcopal Church Army, 1970-1975. He was president of New Directions Ministries from 1977 until 1985. Among his books are The Day of Light (1960), Growth and Life in the Local Church (1968), Keeping the Church Year (1977), and A Song of Creation (1986). Porter died in Bridgeport, Connecticut.