Long-serving reverend at Savannah's historic St. Paul's Episcopal Church bids adieu

Polly Powers Stramm
·4 min read

Looking back at more than three decades of leading his flock at Savannah’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Very Rev. William Willoughby III, believes he has helped his parishioners create a “connected vision of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our (local) community.

“If a parish priest is doing (his or her) job,” they are making it part of their mission to make connections in the community, he said. “St. Paul in his letter said essentially the apostolic witness is to encourage and enable the baptized to do their work.”

Rev. William Willoughby III talks with guests during his retirement gathering at Soho South on Wednesday April 26, 2023.
Rev. William Willoughby III talks with guests during his retirement gathering at Soho South on Wednesday April 26, 2023.

Now that his work in Savannah is coming to a close, Willoughby, who will turn 68 this year, said he and his wife are planning an African safari “while I still have some gas left in me,” he said. But he pointed out that he will continue his national Episcopalian work and “would like to go and help congregations that could never afford to have someone with my background and experience.”

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Prior coming to Savannah in 1987, the South Carolina native earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago where he also attended divinity school. He studied at Oxford University in England and attended seminary at Nashotah House in Wisconsin, where he also earned a master’s degree in divinity.

Church led way in affordable housing

In Savannah, Willoughby’s accomplishments are long and impressive. He led the creation and chaired the St. Paul’s Development Corp., which was tasked with the mission of providing low- and moderate-income housing in the Thomas Square Historic District. (The church, which was founded in 1852, sits at 1802 Abercorn St. and is a landmark in the Thomas Square neighborhood.)

The St. Paul’s corporation, in partnership with the city, state and private agencies, converted the former Little Sisters of the Poor building at 37th Street and Abercorn into 75 units for low- to moderate-income senior residents. Additionally, the corporation purchased a city block of homes on 32nd Street off Habersham Street and renovated a four-plex residence and five duplexes for low- to moderate-income residents, he said.

In partnership with the Historic Savannah Foundation, the corporation participated in the Lincoln Street Corridor Renewal Project from 34th Street north to Anderson Street. Fortunately, St. Paul’s sold its real estate business ventures prior to 2008 when the bottom dropped out of the national economy, he said.

The St. Paul’s parish includes approximately 250 members. “The fastest growing sector (of the church) is Latino with 125 members,” he said, crediting the Rev. Leonel Polanco, with leading that group.

Rt. Rev. Frank Sullivan Logue, Bishop of Georgia, talks with Rev. William Willoughby III during a retirement party for Rev. Willoughby on Wednesday April 26, 2023 at Soho South. Rev Willoughby is retiring as Rector of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle.
Rt. Rev. Frank Sullivan Logue, Bishop of Georgia, talks with Rev. William Willoughby III during a retirement party for Rev. Willoughby on Wednesday April 26, 2023 at Soho South. Rev Willoughby is retiring as Rector of the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

Contributions to Savannah community

In addition to his service at St. Paul’s, Willoughby:

· Served as Dean of the Savannah Convocation of the Episcopal Diocese of Savannah from 1989 to 1994 and from 2005 to his retirement.

· Provided for the pastoral and spiritual needs of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, Burroughs, an historically African-American congregation, from 2000 to his retirement. Worked with diocesan and community leaders to preserve its past and identify new leaders for the future of this unique cultural asset.

· Served the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia in many capacities, including deputy and alternate to General Convention, vice-president of Diocesan Council, president of Standing Committee and member of the Mission Development Council, the Ecumenical Commission and the anti-Racism Committee.

· Serves as the current secretary-general of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament USA.

Moreover, Willoughby has served as:

· Founding vice-president, board of Hope House for Single Mothers

· Founding chair, Savannah Fragile Infants Project, which established Open Arms

· Founding member, Interfaith AIDS Coalition

· Founding member, Board of Savannah Interfaith/Interracial Community

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· Unit commissioner and district chaplain, Coastal Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America

· Troop Committee Member, Troop #1, Savannah, Boy Scouts of America

· Member, Board of Georgia Christian Council

· Member, American Friends of the Anglican Center in Rome

· Commissioner, Chatham County Department of Family and Children Services

· Member, Town and Gown Community Development Project/Savannah State University

· Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah St. Paul Episcopal Church Reverend William Willoughby retires