Bishop Rayford B. High, Jr., assisting bishop of Fort Worth, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6.
High served as provisional bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth from November 2012 to June 2015. Prior to that, he served as bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Texas from 2003-Spring 2012. He was canon for pastoral ministries and the diocesan liaison to St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital when he was elected bishop suffragan. As bishop suffragan, he oversaw congregations in the Northeast, San Jacinto and Southeast Convocations. Prior to becoming Canon for Pastoral Ministries, Bishop High served in parish ministry for 32 years, most recently as rector of St. Paul’s, Waco.
A native of Houston, Bishop High graduated from Bellaire High School; University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, and Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was elected to represent the diocese as a deputy at General Convention on eight occasions and was named Waco humanitarian of the year. Bishop High’s wife of fifty years, Pat, died on March 4, 2015.They have three children and six grandchildren.
Cards can be send to Bishop High care of the diocesan office, 4301 Meadowbrook Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76103. People wishing to honor Bishop High might consider making a contribution to the endowment fund Bishop High established at St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School in Waco, in honor of Pat High. Send contributions to St. Paul’s School, 517 Columbus Ave., Waco, TX 76701. Designate to the Pat High Endowment Fund.