Caddo Parish Bio: Reverend James M. Owens,
Source: From Chronicles of Shreveport and Caddo Parish, Maude Hearn O'Pry, 1928,
Submitted by: Kay Thompson Brown


**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************

REVEREND JAMES M. OWENS,
Rector Of St. Mark's Episcopal Chruch

THE REV. JAMES M. OWENS, M.A, B.D., D.D., was born in Henrico County, Virginia, November the twentleth (sic), 1874.
His parents early removed to
his mother's native county of Hanover.  He was the son of James M. Owens and Mary Bosher
Owens.  His secondary education was obtained in private schools of the neighborhood and he was graduated with the degree
of Master of Arts from Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia, in 1897.  The next three years were spent at the Theological
Seminary of Virginia near Alexandria, Virginia, from which institution be was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of
Divinity
 in 1900.  He has always regarded the missionary experience obtained in his own rural parish of Emmanuel Church, Hanover
County, and in the various mountain sections of Virginia, in which he spent most of his College and Seminary vacations, as
a
vital part of his preparation for the work of the Ministry.   On graduating from the Theological Seminary of Virginia in
June, 1900,
Dr.Owens was ordered Deacon by the Rt. Rev. George William Peterkin, LL.D., acting for the Bishop of Southern Virginia,
The Rt. Rev. Alfred McGill Randolph, LL. D.  As a Deacon he was sent by the Bishop to the charge of Trinity Church, South
 Boston, Virginia, where, in December of that year he
was ordained priest by Bishop Randolph.  In October, 1901, he married
Bessie Fourquerean Faulkner, daughter of Garland E. and Mary Jordan Faulkner.  In May of the following year, 1902, he was
called to St. Paul's Church, Lynchburg, Virginia, as Assistant to the Rev. Dr. Carson, Rector of that Parish.  St. Pauls
was at
that time one of the strongest parishes in Virginia.  Its handsome edifice of grey limestone is still one of the most
substantial
church structures in the state.  Dr. Carson had been in poor health for several years and within a few months died from a
stroke
 of apoplexy.  On the death of the Rector the Rev.Mr. Owens was called to succeed him.  During a rectorship of five years a
bonded indebtednness of twenty thousand dollars and a floating indebtedness of six thousand dollars were paid and the organ
was remodeled at a cost of nine thousand dollars.  On the election of the Rev. Beverley Dandridge Tucker, D.D., as Bishop
Coadjutor of Southern Virginia the Rev. Mr. Owens was called to succeed him as Rector of St Pauls Church Norfolk Virginia.
 St. Paul's, Norfolk, is one of the most interesting spots in America from the point of view of American Church history.
 The first
church building was erected on the present site in 1637 and the present building was completed in 1739   For that pioneer
period
it was by far the most imposing building in the community.  It is a splendid type of the best Georgian architecture in the
Colonies.
The imbedded shot in its wall is a mute witness to the stormy days of the Revolution.  With the varying fashions of the
passing
years many unharmonious changes were made in the interior of the church.   Dr. Owens looks with great pride upon the fact
that
 during his rectorship plans were completed and funds secured for the restoration of the interior along the lines of the
 best architecture
 of the period in which St. Paul's was built.  The general plan of restoration as
outlined by the late Stuart Barney of New York,
the greatest authority on Georgian architecture that America had produced.  The work of restoration was carried through
under
 the supervision of Mr. Lee Taylor of Norfolk, Virginia, with the result that St. Paul's is now one of the truest specimens
 of Colonial
 Church architecture in this country.   During  his rectorship the splendid parish house that harmonizes so well with the
 lines
of tle Church.
was erected.  The substantial foundation of an endowment was also laid in this period.  At the Confederate
 reunion of 1912. Dr. Owens had the privilege of
serving as Chaplain General of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.  In the fall
of 1912, he accepted a call to St. Andrew's, Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained until the spring of 1916, when he
assumed
the rectorship of St. Mark's, Shreveport.  Dr. Owens had been Rector of St. Mark's for a little less than one year when the
Nation entered into the World War.  Like all other citizens he tried to do what he could at home through 1917 and the early
months of 1918.  In May, 1918, he was appointed Assistant Fild Director of the American Red Cross and was stationed with
 the headquarters of the Gulf
Division of that organization.  Two months later he was made Fild Director with assurance of
immediate over-seas service.  However, he was held on duty with the Army and Navy Units in and around New Orleans
 until the signing of
the Armistice.  As soon after that event as possible he secured his release and returned to the duties
of his parish.  Shortly after the close of the war, the Church suffered the total destruction from fire of the interior of
the
Church. The church was restored on a handsome scale and its proportions greatly improved by removing the organ from
 the church and erecting the organ chamber in the sacristy.  At the time of the rebuilding of the church a basement room
 was excavated for the temporary accommodation of the church school.  Classes soon overflowed into the old rectory
and temporary quarters had to be provided for the primary department; and an urgent need for a parish house adequate
 to the growing work of the church is now being planned and provided for. Dr. Owens regards as one of the most distinctive
achievements of the past ten years the providing of a nucleus for an endowment. St. Mark's now ranks with the strongest
 congregations of the Episcopal Church in the southwest.