Dedication of Bailey Center at Rather House
Oct 02, 2008
Dedication service began on Rather House front lawn
Bishop Wimberly knocks on front door
Dedication service in Bailey Center reception area
portrait of Bishop Scott Field Bailey
Bailey Center at Rather House honors Bishop Scott Field Bailey
Several guest relatives of the late Bishop Scott Field Bailey joined more than 150 other members of Seminary of the Southwest community to dedicate the Bailey Center at Rather House October 2.
The Bailey Center honors the memory of Scott Field who began 54 years of friendship and service to the seminary when he was rector of All Saints’ Church a few blocks from the present campus. Seminarians in the early 1950s walked to All Saints’ for services until a worship space was built in the seminary library and Christ Chapel was later built. Bishop Bailey served on Southwest’s board of trustees for nearly 40 years.
The Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly, bishop of the Diocese of Texas and chair of Southwest’s board of trustees, began the evening service by first acknowledging Bailey family members gathered on the front lawn of Rather House under the seminary’s iconic live oak tree. Knocking on the Rather House’s 100-year-old front door with his crozier, Bp. Wimberly then led the participants into the first floor reception and library areas for the rest of the service. Dedication guests toured the three floors of the Bailey Center to explore the $3.6 million renovation and expansion project that provides a welcoming entrance to campus and space for administrative offices.
Click on the webpage’s link – KXAN TV’s Jim Swift feature on Rather House – to view a three-minute news documentary that explores the history of Rather House and tells the story of the Rather, Villavaso and Duncalf families who lived in the house before deeding it to Southwest in the early 1950s.
Joining Evelyn Bailey, Bishop Bailey’s widow from San Antonio, at the dedication were her grown children Louise, of San Antonio, Scott of Buda, and Scott’s wife, Lou. Grandchildren Margaret Bailey from Houston, Asa Fitzimmons of San Francisco and Katherine Bailey, a University of Texas student were at the service.
Celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary at the reception were the Rt. Rev. Gerry and Helen McAllister, of San Antonio. Bishop McAllister served on the seminary board when he was Bishop of Oklahoma.
The Bailey Center honors the memory of the late Bp. Bailey who was bishop of the Diocese of West Texas, former rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Austin, suffragan bishop of Texas, and a good friend of Southwest throughout his ordained ministry.
A native of Houston and Rice University graduate, Bailey began his ministry at St. Paul’s, Waco, and St. Mary’s, Lampasas, in 1942. Following a three-year stint as a Navy chaplain, he returned to Texas following World War II and was rector of Christ Church, Nacogdoches, and priest-in-charge of Christ Church, San Augustine for five years. He was then called to All Saints’ Church in Austin, a few blocks from the future seminary campus, and began 54 years of friendship and service to the seminary then in its formative years. Seminarians in the early 1950s walked to All Saints’ for services until a worship space was built in the seminary library and Christ Chapel was later built.
After serving 10 years at All Saints’, Bishop Bailey was designated canon to the ordinary and moved to diocesan headquarters in Houston. He was suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Texas from 1964 until 1975 when he was named bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of West Texas and consecrated bishop one year later. Secretary of the House of Bishops from 1967 until one year before his retirement in 1987, Bishop Bailey was a close friend and advisor to presiding bishops John Allin and John Hines, who often disagreed politically, and is often credited with being a reconciler between the two. Bishop Bailey served as a Southwest trustee for 12 years and received an honorary doctoral degree from the seminary in 1987. During his retirement years, Bishop Bailey was chaplain to Seminary of the Southwest students.
More than 234 donors contributed almost $3 million to help underwrite the Rather House renovation project, which lacks $581,000 towards its goal. Gifts may be given by credit card or a check made payable to SSW and sent to: Institutional Advancement Office, Seminary of the Southwest, P.O. Box 2247, Austin, Texas 78768. The office phone is 512.472.4133 ext. 370.
