Price, Charles Philip

(Oct. 4, 1920-Oct. 13, 1999). Priest, theologian, and seminary professor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Price received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1941, his M.Div. from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1949, and his Th.D. from Union Theological Seminary in 1962. He was ordained deacon on Feb. 24, 1949, and priest on Oct. 15, 1949. He began his ordained ministry in 1949 as priest-in-charge of St. Michael's Church, Valley Ligonier, Pennsylvania, where he served as rector, 1952-1954. From 1954 until 1956, he was assistant at St. James' Church, New York City. Most of his teaching career was at Virginia Theological Seminary, where he served as assistant professor of systematic theology, 1956-1959, and associate professor, 1959-1963. From 1963 until 1972 Price was preacher to the university and chairman of the Board of Preachers at Harvard University. In 1972 he returned to Virginia Theological Seminary as William Meade Professor of Systematic Theology. He held this position until his retirement in 1989. Price was a member of the Board for Theological Education, 1968-1976, the Standing Liturgical Commission, 1968-1985, and a deputy to General Convention, 1977-1985. He was chaplain of the House of Deputies, 1979-1985. Price also was a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission (USA), the Standing Commission on Church Music, and the General Board of Examining Chaplains. He served on the Committee on Texts for The Hymnal 1982, 1976-1982. Among his numerous writings are Introduction to the Proposed Book of Common Prayer (1976), Principles of Faith and Practice (1977), A Matter of Faith (1983), and Liturgy for Living (1979), which he wrote with Louis Weil. Hymn texts by Price in The Hymnal 1982 include “The golden sun lights up the sky” (Hymns 12-13) and “The fleeting day is nearly gone” (Hymn 23). He died in Alexandria, Virginia.