01/02/2026
In Memoriam: Bishop Clark Grew
10th Bishop of Ohio
December 20, 1939 - December 22, 2025
Bishop Clark Grew went to be with the Lord on December 22, 2025. He was surrounded by his beloved wife, Wendy, and all of his family, including his newborn great grandchild.
Bishop Grew was born in New York City. He graduated from Harvard College and then served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy for five years, commanding the USS Constitution for nearly two years.
Following active duty, he taught in two independent schools outside of Boston and was assistant headmaster and dean of St. Mark’s School, before entering Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge MA, from which he has received both a M.Div. and a Doctor of Divinity degree. Bishop Grew was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1978 (his birthday!).
Bishop Grew served as Rector of two parish churches, St. John’s in Westwood, MA, and Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, IL. He was elected as the 10th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio on October 9, 1993. He was consecrated on March 5, 1994, by Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning. During his episcopate, Bishop Grew promoted ecumenism, spoke out for greater inclusion of women and those who are LGBTQ+ in leadership in the church. He retired from the active ministry in 2004, after over ten years of diocesan, national, and international Church involvement as Bishop. He also served on many non-profit and educational boards throughout his career.
He and his wife Wendy were married on December 27, 1972. They have three married children and have many grandchildren.
We in the Diocese of Ohio are grateful for his faithful ministry with and for us during his episcopacy. He will always be remembered and honored here.
The service will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 11:00 a.m. at Emmanuel Church in Boston, Massachusetts. If you wish to pray in a particular way, you may find it meaningful to offer the Burial Office from the Book of Common Prayer (p. 491). In our prayers, we surround the family with love and commend Bishop Grew to God’s eternal care.
His obituary may be read here:
https://www.keohane.com/obituaries/j-grew-ii