Edmund Bruce Partridge 1981-1984

Born on July 6, 1932 in Orange, New Jersey, Father Partridge was rector of St. John’s Church from 1981-1984.  He received his BA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1959 and his M Div in 1962 from The General Theological Seminary. An LHD was awarded to him in 1973 by the London Institute.  Bishop Leland F. Stark ordained him to the diaconate in June 1962 and to the priesthood in December 1962.  Edmund Partridge married Carolyn Elizabeth Ehni on June 29, 1957.

Among Father Partridge’s many assignments within the Church, he served as rector of St. James in Wichita, Kansas from 1968-1971.  From then on he specialized in interim ministries which he developed into a “professional art form” especially in working with distressed congregations.  It was in this capacity that he came to Saint John’s.  First as an priest-in-charge for one year, which assignment was extended another two years as rector.  During his time here he worked diligently to rebuild our community into a viable parish.

From 1990-1992 he was Dean of Trinity and St. Philip’s Cathedral, Newark, New Jersey and was later awarded the title of Honorary Canon.  Canon Partridge retired in 2000 from Grace Church, Rutherford, New Jersey where he served as rector for five years.  He is the author of The New Spirituality for Laymen, and The Church in Perspective as well as the editor of The Guide for Lay Readers.