Bishop Henry P. Northrop (1883-1916)
Henry Pinckney Northrop was born in Charleston, South Carolina, to Claudian Byrd Northrop and Hannah Eliza Anderson in 1842. In 1853, he attended Georgetown College but was required to withdraw three years later due to illness. Shortly after, Northrop attended Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and graduated in 1860. Later that same year, Northrop entered the seminary at Mount St. Mary’s College. He also attended North American College in Rome, Italy, where he was ordained while studying for the priesthood in 1865. When he returned home to the Diocese of Charleston, Northrop served at St. Joseph Church, missions in North Carolina, the pro-Cathedral, and Sullivan’s Island. In 1881, Northrop was appointed vicar apostolic of North Carolina as well as titular bishop of Rosalia. In 1883, Northrop was made bishop of Charleston. He remains the longest serving bishop of the Diocese of Charleston (32 years). Bishop Northrop died in 1916.