The Most Rev. John Exley Upham, Jr.

RALEIGH - The Most Reverend John Exley Upham, Jr., Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Christ the King, passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2023, surrounded by family and friends, including his two beloved dogs, Coal and Bertie. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Madge Upham, daughter, Tyson Victoria Upham, son, Allan Rittenhouse Upham, (Rebekah), and two grandchildren, Azalea Josephine Upham and Isaiah Everett Upham.

The Archbishop was born on February 18, 1959, the only child of Carol Richardson Upham and John Exley Upham, Sr., and grew up in Raleigh, NC. He attended Fr. George B.S. Hale High School in Raleigh and graduated in 1977. Archbishop Upham attended Campbell University, where he earned a BA in Music Education and a Master’s in Education. He later earned a Master of Divinity from Duke University Divinity School as well as a Master of Theology; going on to earn both a Doctor of Theology degree and Doctor of Canon Law from St. Andrew’s Seminary.

Following his graduation from Duke University Divinity School, the Reverend John Upham served as Pastor of Longview Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC. In 1997 he entered into Anglican studies. In April of 1999, he was ordained to the office of a Deacon, and in August of 1999, he was ordained to the Priesthood, with both offices being in the Anglican Province of Christ the King. The Right Reverend James Pollard Clark ordained Reverend Upham to both the Diaconate and the Priesthood. Father Upham served as Rector of St. Marks in Durham, NC until being called as Rector to St. George’s Anglican Church in Raleigh in 2001. Up until 2004, Father Upham made use of his earlier musical training and educational training, and served as Academic Counselor and Director of Choral Music at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, NC. The year 2012 brought a major change to his ministry when he was elected Suffragan Bishop for the Diocese of the Atlantic States in the Anglican Province of Christ the King. In August 2012, Father Upham was Consecrated to the Episcopy with the Service of Consecration taking place in St. Peter’s Pro-Cathedral, Oakland, California.

In April 2016, Bishop Upham was installed as Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Atlantic States of the Anglican Province of Christ the King at All Saints Anglican Church in Bolingbrook, IL, by The Most Rev. Frederick G. Morrison, Archbishop of the APCK and Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Southwestern States. At the December 2019 meeting of the Council of Bishops, Bishop Upham was elected to be the fourth Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Christ the King. He succeeded Archbishop Morrison on January 1, 2020. Archbishop Upham would continue as Rector of St. George’s until his retirement of that position on December 31, 2020. Archbishop Upham retired as the Bishop Ordinary of the Diocese of the Atlantic States on the first Sunday of Advent 2022. The Most Reverend John E. Upham, Jr. remained the Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Christ the King until his passing on February 23, 2023.

Vigil will begin at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at Saint George's Anglican Church in Raleigh, followed by visitation from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the church. A Requiem will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at Saint George's Anglican Church in Raleigh.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, a private committal will be held at a later date in Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bishop Upham's memory to Saint George's Anglican Church: 1210 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com