The Rev. Canon Clayton Kennedy Hewett died Aug. 1 in Waterville. He gained prominence in the 1960s as a civil rights activist in Philadelphia and its suburbs and later was one of the first orthodox Anglicans to resist the movement of the Episcopal Church toward ordination of women.
Born in Providence, R.I. June 4, 1927, Clayton Hewett was the son of William Benjamin Hewett of South Somerville, and Phyllis Arlene Hewett (nee Welch), of Bradford. After completing service in WWII in the Merchant Marine and Coast Guard, Clayton graduated from Samuel Gorton High School in Warwick, R.I., and married Annagrace Carlson, of Warwick, R.I. He was employed at the Providence Gas Works.
In 1952, he moved his family south to Fairless Hills, Penn., where he worked at U.S. Steel´s newly opened plant. By 1954, he was experiencing a call to serve in the ministry of the Episcopal Church, and in 1956 the family moved south again, to Alexandria, Va., where Clayton attended and graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary in 1958. He went on to serve parishes and various ministries in Morton, Penn., Chicago, West Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., and the East Falls section of Philadelphia.
In June 1959, he and his family were featured in “An American Family” article in the Ladies´ Home Journal. A true evangelical catholic priest, he had, by 1960, become deeply involved in desegregating suburban housing while he rebuilt the Church of the Atonement in Morton and connected it with various evangelistic ministries in West Philadelphia, serving as a Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. From 1964 to 1967, he became further involved in the civil rights movement in Philadelphia to help leaven it with an emphasis on conversion to Christ and Gospel living. In the mid-1970s, he began a long period of support and encouragement for emerging jurisdictions of traditional, Bible-believing, orthodox Anglicans throughout the United States, one of whose dioceses is headed by his son, Bishop Paul Hewett. Father Clayton Hewett was involved in numerous church organizations, including the American Church Union and the Society of the Holy Cross.
In 1983, Clayton returned to his family’s hometown and built a house for retirement on his land in South Somerville, near the family homestead.
Clayton is predeceased by wife, Grace.
He is survived by children, the Rt. Rev. Paul Clayton of Columbia, S.C.; Darryl Jeanne Martin of Phoenixville, Penn.; Philip William of Woodbridge, N.J., Joan Nina of Phoenixville, Penn., Matthew Kennedy of Middletown, Del., and Therese-Marie Carper of Alameda, Calif.; eleven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and dear friend, Mary Malloy Poulin and her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a fund for a stained glass window in his memory at the Church of the Transfiguration in Phoenixville, Penn. One of eleven windows being created for the church by Brad Winslow, a renowned stained glass artist of Limerick, Penn., the window will depict Jesus´ Resurrection and echo Father Clayton Hewett´s fidelity to priestly vocation and his faithful service to the Lord and His people.
Contributions to Clayton´s stained glass window, made payable to “Anglican Church Women,” can be sent to Directress, Anglican Church Women, Church of the Transfiguration, 51 Columbia Ave., Phoenixville, PA 19460.
Visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m. with funeral Mass at 11 a.m., Tues., Aug. 11 at Hall’s of Waldoboro, followed by interment at West Washington Cemetery.
To extend online condolences, light a candle for Clayton, or to share a story or picture, visit his Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com
Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.
