William Murray Stone

Who was William Murray Stone?

William Murray Stone, D.D. was an American Episcopal clergyman from Maryland. He was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland at Baltimore from 1830.

William was born in Somerset County to John and Betsy Stone. His family had been important in the development of Maryland for over a hundred years. His great-great-grandfather William Stone had served as governor of the colony, and a cousin signed the Declaration of Independence. William attended Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland and graduated in 1799.

After college, Stone studied theology. He was ordained in Prince George's County on December 3, 1803, and became rector of the Stepney Parish at Somerset, Maryland. He served there for over twenty years until he was transferred to be rector of St. Paul's in Chestertown in 1829.

In 1830 the general convention became deadlocked as two prominent candidates were tied for election as bishop. Stone was nominated in a compromise, and his election was nearly unanimous. He was consecrated as bishop on October 21, 1830 in Baltimore. Bishop Stone published a number of Pastoral Letters and some sermons. He died in 1838 at Salisbury, Maryland and is buried next to his wife Anne Savage Stone at the Parsons Cemetery in Wicomico County.