Father Paul Brisbane, 87, of Coldwater passed away Friday, December 8, 2023 at ProMedica Coldwater Regional Hospital.
A funeral service has been scheduled for May 25,2024, and interment will take place at that time in the St. Mark’s Memorial Garden and Columbarium.
Father Brisbane was born September 29, 1936, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and graduated from high school in Union City, Michigan May, 1954. He obtained his B.A. degree from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, in June, 1958 shortly after marrying Sandra S. Bredahl in April.
He received his M.Div. degree at the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California, in May, 1962. On June 21, 1962, he was ordained Deacon at St. Mark’s Church, Coldwater, Michigan, his home parish.
Beginning July 1, 1962, he served as curate at St. Paul’s Church, Brookings, South Dakota, where he ministered to Episcopal students at South Dakota State University. He was ordained priest on May 23, 1963, at Calvary Cathedral, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
From July, 1963, to August, 1964, he served on the Rosebud Indian reservation at Mission, South Dakota. While there he was priest-in-charge of three chapels on the reservation (Calvary, Okreek; Mediator, Wood; and Advent, Mosher) and was chaplain at Rosebud Boarding School and Bishop Hare Mission Home.
September 15, 1964, Father Brisbane moved to become vicar to Holy Trinity Church, Platteville, Wisconsin, and chaplain to Episcopal students at Wisconsin State University – Platteville. In November of that same year, he took charge of Emmanuel Church, Lancaster, and Holy Trinity Church, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in addition to Platteville.
September 1, 1965, he gave up the churches at Lancaster and Prairie du Chien to become rector at Trinity Church, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in addition to continuing his duties at Platteville. At the same time, he was appointed Dean of the West Convocation of the Diocese of Milwaukee.
While in the Diocese of Milwaukee, Father Brisbane served as a member of the Department of Missions, the Department of Youth, and the Department of College Work. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors and as chairman of the Town and Country Department of the Wisconsin Council of Churches.
November 15, 1968, Father Brisbane became rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Independence, Kansas; vicar of the Church of the Ascension, Neodesha, Kansas; and priest-in-charge of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Fredonia, Kansas. He served as a member of the Department of Missions, the Department of Youth, the Music Commission, the Liturgical Commission, the Ecclesiastical Court, the Bishop and Council, the Standing Committee (President in 1975), Director of Junior High Summer camp for two years, and Dean of the Southeast Convocation of the Diocese of Kansas. He was a long time member of the Board of Directors (and for four years, President) of the Rural Workers Fellowship nationally.
During his time in Independence he served on the Board of the American Red Cross local chapter; member of the Commissioners Staff of the SEKAN Area council, Boy Scouts of America; Chairman of the nominating committee and member of the Board of Directors of the Meadowlark Girl Scout council; member of the Board of the Independence Community Concert Association; member of the Mid-Continent Band (playing French Horn); member of the Neodesha Ministerial Association; member, Secretary-Treasurer, and President of the Independence Ministerial Association; member of the South East Kansas Area Agency on Aging.
December 1, 1975, Father Brisbane became vicar of the Church of the Holy Communion, Lake View, New York, in the Diocese of Western New York. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Western New York Clergy Association. He served as the clergy representative from the Southern Erie Deanery to the Diocesan Council of the Diocese.
July 5, 1977, Father Brisbane took a secular job as grocery manager with Harding’s Market in Vicksburg, Michigan, and served as a supply priest in the Diocese of Western Michigan. From September 1 1, 1983, to July 8, 1984, he was interim rector of St. James Church, Albion, Michigan.
December 1, 1984, he became non-stipendiary assistant at St. Barnabas Church, Portage, Michigan.
August 15, 1985, he accepted a call to become rector of St. Paul’s Church, Goodland, Kansas. He also served as vicar of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension-on-the-Prairie, Colby; and priest-in-charge of St. Jude’s Episcopal Community, Hoxie, Kansas.
In the Diocese of Western Kansas, he served as a member of the Standing Committee (President in1988), the Diocesan Council and the Ecclesiastical Court. He was a Deputy to the 1988 General Convention in Detroit. In January, 1989, in addition to his other duties, he became the Regional Coordinator of the Northwest Episcopal Regional Ministry (NERM) and was instrumental in forming a cluster ministry involving six congregations in twelve counties of northwest Kansas.
July 1, 1991, Father Brisbane accepted the call to become rector of St. James’ Church, Meeker, Colorado. During his time in Meeker he was instrumental in organizing a Ministerial Alliance. He promoted various inter-church activities and events in the community. His position as Rector of St. James’ also made him the chairman of the Fairfield Charitable Trust. He served along with the Presidents of the School Board, Hospital Board, First National Bank, and the editor of the local newspaper. These trustees are responsible for distributing the annual earnings from a $3 million trust fund established by a former resident of Meeker.
From 1995 to 1998 he had general oversight of a project to stabilize the foundation and lift the churchbuilding back to a level position. This included straightening the 38 foot bell tower that was thirteeninches out of plumb. The total cost of this project came to about $250,000.00 with about half of thisfrom grants and the rest from donations from present and former members and friends.
During his ministry Father Brisbane has organized centennial observances in three of his parishes — Holy Trinity, Platteville, Wisconsin, Epiphany, Independence, Kansas, and St. Paul’s, Goodland, Kansas. He also guided St. Paul’s, Goodland, in organizing and hosting the Diocesan Convention in 1990.
October 1, 2001, Father Brisbane resigned his position in Meeker and retired from the active ministry. He moved to Coldwater, Michigan, to be closer to the majority of his children and grandchildren. He held supply services in churches in the southern part of the state. From 2003 to 2006 he was the regular supply priest at St. Paul’s, Dowagiac and from 2006 to 2012 at Church of the Resurrection, Battle Creek. He also helped out at churches in Portage, Paw Paw, Marshall, Niles, Sturgis and St. Mark’s, Coldwater
Please hold Paul’s family and friends in your prayers as they grieve and celebrate his life, especially his wife Judy, children and stepchildren, Kathleen (Scott), Elizabeth (Kevin), Patricia (Don), William (Trish), Hope (Nate), Shane and 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to St. Mark’s Endowment Foundation, 27 E. Chicago St., Coldwater, MI 49036.
Almighty God, Father of mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with all who mourn; that, casting all their care on you, they may know the consolation of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Comments