Msgr. Barton was preceded in death by his parents, James A. Barton and Catherine Devitt Barton; by his two sisters, Della B. Pestridge and June B. Farrar; and by his brother, James Lenwood Barton. He is survived by his sister, Therese Barton-Bayse, along with many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Msgr. Barton was born and grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated from Holy Cross School in 1958 and entered Saint Bernard Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama. To continue his college education, he was admitted to Mount Saint Mary's Seminary and University in Emmittsburg, Maryland, where he graduated and went on to earn two master's degrees. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1966.
As a young priest, Father Barton first was assigned to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, after which he served on the faculty of St. John Vianney High School Seminary in Richmond from 1968-1973. He then was appointed pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served from 1973-1977.
In 1977, Msgr. Barton, along with Episcopalian priest, The Rev. Donald A. Gross, became the first co-pastors of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Virginia Beach. Holy Apostles combines the liturgies of the Catholic Mass and Episcopalian Holy Eucharist into one service for inter-faith and single faith families. Holy Apostles is a symbol of ecumenism, a concept to which Msgr. Barton remained committed throughout his life.
A graveside service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery on Bedford Avenue in Lynchburg, Virginia on Thursday, September 29 at 11:30 a.m.
Msgr. Barton was preceded in death by his parents, James A. Barton and Catherine Devitt Barton; by his two sisters, Della B. Pestridge and June B. Farrar; and by his brother, James Lenwood Barton. He is survived by his sister, Therese Barton-Bayse, along with many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.
Msgr. Barton was born and grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia. He graduated from Holy Cross School in 1958 and entered Saint Bernard Seminary in Birmingham, Alabama. To continue his college education, he was admitted to Mount Saint Mary's Seminary and University in Emmittsburg, Maryland, where he graduated and went on to earn two master's degrees. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 14, 1966.
As a young priest, Father Barton first was assigned to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, after which he served on the faculty of St. John Vianney High School Seminary in Richmond from 1968-1973. He then was appointed pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served from 1973-1977.
In 1977, Msgr. Barton, along with Episcopalian priest, The Rev. Donald A. Gross, became the first co-pastors of the Church of the Holy Apostles in Virginia Beach. Holy Apostles combines the liturgies of the Catholic Mass and Episcopalian Holy Eucharist into one service for inter-faith and single faith families. Holy Apostles is a symbol of ecumenism, a concept to which Msgr. Barton remained committed throughout his life.
A graveside service will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery on Bedford Avenue in Lynchburg, Virginia on Thursday, September 29 at 11:30 a.m.
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