Through Bishop Otey's Paten, we share with you one of the many historical religious artifacts that St. Mary's possesses.
The inscription on St. Mary's Paten reads as follows:
IN MEMORIAM
James Hervey Otey
"first Bishop of the Catholic Church* in Tennessee"
THE HUMBLE OFFERING OF HIS BEREAVED FLOCK OF
Saint Mary's Church
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
"FEED MY SHEEP. FEED MY LAMBS"
* Otey preferred this term as he and many 19th century Episcopalians believed our denomination should serve as a catalyst for unifying all Christian groups in America.
Otey was bishop of Tennessee (if not all Tennesseans) from 1833 until his death in Memphis in 1863. He not only exercised jurisdiction over the state of Tennessee but also provided pastoral oversight to Episcopalians in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, the Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas at various times during his episcopate.
The paten was engraved with "St. Mary's Church." We became a cathedral in 1871.