Patric L. Hutton Collection, 1944-1982

Patric Lee Hutton was born in Cassville, Missouri, in 1925. He studied at Washington University in St. Louis and Nashotah House theological seminary in Wisconsin before being ordained an Episcopal priest in 1950. He served as curate of St. Paul’s Church, Kansas City, Kansas (1950-51), and rector of Holy Trinity Church, Valley Stream, New York (1951-55). In 1956, as rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence, Missouri, he officiated at the wedding ceremony of President Harry Truman’s daughter, Margaret Truman Daniel.

Hutton left Missouri in 1961 to serve as a missionary in China and Southeast Asia. President Truman provided him with introductions to Chinese dignitaries, and he enrolled at a university in Taipei, Taiwan, where he studied Chinese language and culture. Hutton lived in Taiwan with his family for ten years, serving in various posts, including vicar of St. Paul’s Church, Kaohsihung; Episcopal Archdeacon of Taiwan; and director of two medical clinics. He later directed the church renewal program of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, Texas. Taking inspiration from the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement (a program of short courses on Christianity and Christian leadership), he developed a similar movement within the Episcopal Church. It had spread nationally by the 1980s.

Patric Hutton died in Bellingham, Washington, on May 19, 1991.