Rt. Reverend Robert M. Hatch

The Rt. Reverend Robert M. Hatch, Fourth Bishop of Western MA, died in Louisville, CO on July 16, 2009. He was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 6, 1910, the son of the Rev. William H.P. Hatch and Marion Townsend Hatch. He graduated from St. Marks School in Southborough, MA and from Harvard College in 1933. After college, he spent a year in New York as a reporter and subsequently earned a M.A. degree in American History at Columbia University. He attended Union Theological Seminary in New York before transferring, in 1938, to the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, (now the Episcopal Divinity School) and graduated in 1939. Ordained a deacon in 1939 and a priest in 1940, Bishop Hatch served as curate at Trinity Church, Boston from 1939-41, as rector of St. Johns Church, Arlington, MA from 1941-45, as dean of the Cathedral Church of St. John in Wilmington, Del. From 1945-48, and as rector of St. Johns Church, Waterbury, CT from 1948-51. He served on the Standing Committee in the Diocese of Delaware and on the Executive Council in the Diocese of Connecticut. He was elected Suffragan Bishop of Connecticut in 1951 and served until 1957, when he was elected the Fourth Bishop of Western Massachusetts. During this tenure, he helped to establish new missions and gave steadfast support to the Civil Rights movement. He was also extensively involved in the efforts to protect the environment, supporting a number of environmental causes and was named a Honorary Member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. He wrote several articles and booklets on church subjects and received Honorary Degrees from the Berkeley Divinity School, Trinity College and Norwich University. Bishop Hatch retired in 1970. After retirement, he served as Interim at St. Barnabas Church, Berlin, NH and was a member of the New Hampshire Bicentennial Commission. He wrote two books on subjects related to the American War for Independence, Thrust for Canada: The American Attempt on Quebec in 1775-1776 (1979) and Major John Andre: A Gallant in Spys Clothing (1986). Bishop Hatch was married to Helen Crocker Addison, who died in 1998. He leaves two daughters, Martha Balph of Utah and Louise Cass of Louisville, Colorado; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. SERVICES: A Memorial Service is Saturday August 8, 2009 at 1 PM in the Randolph Church, Randolph, NH. Interment will be in the Randolph Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to the World Wildlife Federation.