Rev. George Bartlett Wood, Fourteenth Rector of Trinity, 1947-1971
Wood began his career as an assistant at St. Barnabas Church in Rumbord, Maine, serving while the rector was away on vacation. He returned to Wisconsin, where Bishop Wilson make him priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's Church in Ashland. In 1938 he accepted the post of rector of Christ Church in Austin, Minnesota, remaining there through 1942.
The outbreak of World War II, Wood entered the chaplain school at Fort Benjamin Harrison near Indianapolis. He later volunteered for parachute duty and was attached initially to the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, by-passing the usual school for parachutists, and then was sent to Fort Bragg to join the 82nd Airborne Division. An elite military unit, the 82nd was deployed to North Africa and then was part of the invasion of Sicily in 1943. He later dropped behind enemy lines in Salerno and participated in the allied march to Naples. He was then sent to England for additional training and took part in the D-Day invasion in 1944, parachuting into Ste. Mere Eglise in Normandy. He took part in a fourth combat jump in Holland and was the only chaplain to make four jumps in the war.
On returning from the war, Wood spent six months looking for work. The Bishop of Milwaukee gave him the rectorship of St. John's Church there, and he also began speaking of his war experiences on a circuit, including a trip in 1946 to Indiana, where he met Bishop Mallett. When the situation at Trinity, Fort Wayne became divided over the resignation of the Rev. James McNeal Wheatley, Mallett recruited Wood as a candidate. He was installed as rector in September 1947.
Wood began his ministry by attempting to heal the deep wounds within the parish, he said he would judge everyone based on their present performances. He picked the slate of new vestry members in 1948, asked for the resignations of the heads of all parish organizations, scrambled the membership of parish clubs, and exhorted the members of the parish to treat one another as Christians. He also began to work in ecumenical ways in reaching out to other churches in the Fort Wayne community through the ministerial association. He began a series of renovations to the church in 1948 and rebuilt the organ. He pressed for an Every Member Canvass in order to increase pledging. A new Blessed Sacrament Chapel was added in 1951.
Four years later Wood and the parish began a drive to build a new Parish House with adequate classroom space for the growing number of Sunday School children. The new structure, completed in 1956, made Trinity's property one of the most impressive in the diocese. Designed by the architectural firm of A. M. Strauss, it added to the existing gymnasium and also included the Christ the King Chapel, designed for use by Sunday school children.
With the Parish House completed, Wood turned his attention next to the need for new Episcopal missions in the Fort Wayne area. In 1961 the vestry purchased land at St. Joe and Flutter roads and constructed a small church known as St. Alban's two years later. The Rev. John B. Hills was installed as its vicar. Wood urged all of Trinity's parishioners residing on the north side of Fort Wayne to support the mission. Then in 1966, Wood negotiated for the purchase of additional land at Hessen Cassel and Tillman roads for what would become St. Philip and St. James mission. A utility building was constructed and dedicated in 1970.
Wood retired from Trinity in 1971 when he married his second wife, Evelyn Miles, a parishioner. The couple moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where Wood joined the staff of the Church of the Nativity as a non-stipendiary priest. He continued to serve as chaplain for the 82nd Airborne Division and was active in its veterans' activities. Evelyn died by suicide in 1988, and Wood married his third wife, Wilma Pratt. He died in Georgia at the home of his daughter on 5 January 1999 and was buried beside his third wife in Huntsville.
Interview with Rev. George B. Wood, December 1988
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This page references:
- Rev. George B. Wood at St. Alban's consecration, 1963, with Bishop Mallett, Rev. Wright Johnson, and Rev. John B. Hills
- Rev. George B. Wood baptizing baby in publicity photo 1960s
- Trinity's altar about 1962, left to right: Rev. John B. Hills, Wright Johnson, George Wood, John Wilding (acolyte head) and Bradley McCormick
- Rev. George B. Wood and unidentified acolyte, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood at baptism early 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood portrait 1950s
- Rev. George B. Wood at Shoaff Park picnic, Fort Wayne, 1960s
- Trinity Episcopal Church Altar Guild, 1948, with Rev. George B. Wood
- Former house of Rev. George B. Wood, Berry Street, Fort Wayne, 2018
- Rev. George B. Wood, Rev. John B. Hills, and unidentified at St. Alban's service ca 1963
- Rev. George B. Wood with unidentified young woman, 1960s
- Rev. George Wood and Rev. Larry Smellie at St. Alban's Episcopal Church Fort Wayne, ca 1966
- Boy's choir or acolytes at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood, letter from Jack Doerfler 1968
- Rev. George B. Wood with Charlotte Stute and Mrs. Stute's grandson, 1971, Trinity Fort Wayne
- Rev. George B. Wood and the Ushers of Trinity Church, 1948
- Reunion of Former Boy Choir Members at Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood giving communion in publicity photo, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood grave, Huntsville, Alabama
- Rev. George B. Wood with Senior Warden Arthur Richard, 1971
- Rev. George B. Wood and Rev. Bradley McCormick, ca 1958
- Choir of Trinity Episcopal Church with George Wood, Fort Wayne, early 1950s
- Rev. George B. Wood baptism publicity photo 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood in pulpit of Trinity, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood with his staff in the Rector's Office, Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, ca 1957
- Rev. George B. Wood with unidentified children, ca 1960s
- Confirmation Class in the Chancel of Trinity, ca 1970
- Rev. George B. Wood with General Gavin, 82nd Airborne 1950s at airport
- Rev. George B. Wood at High Altar, Trinity Fort Wayne, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood with unidentified woman and children, ca 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood portrait
- Rev. George B. Wood and Rev. Bradley McCormick in Narthex, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood with General Gavin and unidentified, 82nd Airborne 1950s
- Rev. George B. Wood with Others at the General Convention, 1970
- Rev. George B. Wood with members of the Standing Committee, Diocese of Northern Indiana, 1960
- Rev. George B. Wood with acolytes, 1960s
- Rev. George B. Wood portrait without glasses ca 1970
- Rev. George B. Wood and Alice Bird, head of the Altar Guild, with Rector Emeritus award 1971
- Rev. George B. Wood at Harvest Home or Thanksgiving altar, 1959
