Karl M. Block

Block was born on September 27, 1886, in Washington, D.C., the son of Sigismund Joseph Block and Joanna Christine Linder.{{cite journal |date=1934|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rgTSAAAAMAAJ&q=Karl+Morgan+Block+b.+September+27,+1886|title=BLOCK, Rev. Karl Morgan|journal=Who's Who in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church |volume=|pages=33}} He earned a Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University in 1907, and later a Bachelor of Divinity from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1910. He was awarded a number of honorary degrees; a Doctor of Divinity from Roanoke College in 1923, the University of the South in 1935, and the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1950, respectively; a Doctor of Laws from George Washington University in 1937; and a Doctor of Systematic Theology from the University of the Pacific in 1953.{{cite journal |date=1960|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qk4BAAAAMAAJ&q=Karl+Morgan+Block+b.+September+27,+1886|title=Block, Rt. Rev. Karl Morgan Bishop of California|journal=Who's Who in California |volume=3|pages=365}}

Ordained a deacon on May 22, 1910, and priest on December 18, 1910, by Bishop Alfred Harding of Washington, he initially served as chaplain at Woodberry Forest School between 1910 and 1913.{{cite journal |date=1953|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PnRAAAAMAAJ&q=Karl+Morgan+Block+b.+September+27,+1886|title=Block, Karl Morgan|journal=Stowe's Clerical Directory of the American Episcopal Church |volume=|pages=36}} Then in 1913 he accepted the post of rector of Grace Church in Haddonfield, New Jersey, where he remained until 1917. Between 1917 until 1918 he was a volunteer chaplain at Fort Dix. In 1918, he became rector of All Saints’ Church in Norristown, Pennsylvania, while in 1920 he moved to Roanoke, Virginia, to be rector of St John’s Church. In 1926, he became rector of the Church of St Michael and St George in St. Louis, a post he retained until 1938.{{cite journal |date=1994 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VJF1AAAAMAAJ&q=Karl+Morgan+Block+b.+September+27,+1886|title=Karl Morgan BLOCK |journal=American Presidential Families |volume=|pages=188| isbn=9780750905824 }}

Block was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Kansas, however, he declined the election.{{cite journal |date=1940 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eLZRAAAAMAAJ&dq=Karl+Morgan+Block+elected+1938&pg=PA44|title=Chapter IX |journal=The Shackelford Family, Its English and American Origins |volume=|pages=44}} On April 19, 1938, he was once more elected bishop, this time as Coadjutor Bishop of California and he accepted.{{cite journal |date=1974 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TGREAAAAIAAJ&q=Karl+Morgan+Block+elected+1938|title=Karl Morgan BLOCK |journal=Lift up Your Hearts: A History of Trinity Parish, Menlo Park |volume=|pages=94}} He was consecrated as coadjutor bishop of California by Edward L. Parsons and co-consecrated by Benjamin D. Dagwell on September 29, 1938, in Grace Cathedral, San Francisco. He succeeded as diocesan on January 1, 1941. During his tenure the diocese experienced an increase in clergy, increased income, and novel building projects.{{cite journal |date=October 4, 1942|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QHLkAAAAMAAJ&dq=Karl+Morgan+Block+elected+1938&pg=RA13-PA14|title=Bishop Block |journal=The Living Church |volume=105|pages=14}} Block died in office on September 20, 1958.

{{Reflist}}

• The Living Church, February 8, 1936, p. 173.

{{Portal|Christianity}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Block, Karl Morgan}}

Category:1886 births

Category:1958 deaths

Category:Episcopal bishops of California

Category:Religious leaders from Washington, D.C.

Category:George Washington University alumni

Category:Virginia Theological Seminary alumni

{{US-Anglican-bishop-stub}}