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Samuel Bowman was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on May 21, 1800,and received his education at the Academy of Wilkes-Barre. He then pursued legal studies under the tutelage of Charles Chauncy of Philadelphia before turning to the ordained ministry. He was ordained priest 1824 and began his ministry at St. John’s Church in Pequea, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

In 1825, Bowman became rector of Trinity Church in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he met his first wife, Susan Sitgreaves. Together they would have a daughter, Ellen Ledlie Bowman (Vail). In 1827, Bowman accepted the invitation to serve as co-rector at St. James Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He became rector in 1830 and remained there until his death.

In 1843, Bowman received the degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology from Hobart College. He was an active member of the Public School Board and Trustee and Secretary to the Board of Franklin and Marshall College. Bowman played a significant role in incorporating St. James’ Orphan Asylum in 1838; founding St. John’s, Lancaster, the pioneer free church of the Diocese of Pennsylvania in 1853; establishing the Yeates Institute, a preparatory school for boys; and establishing the Bishop Bowman Home in 1857. On May 28, 1858, he was consecrated Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania but served for only three years before his death on August 3, 1861.

Robert Brooks was born on March 25, 1947, in Austin, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Edward's University, Austin, in 1970 and a Master of Divinity from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California, in 1973. On June 22, 1974, he was ordained into the priesthood.

Brooks began his career as a parish priest at All Saints’ Church in Baytown, Texas, serving from 1973 to 1983, during which time he also earned a Master of Arts from the University of Notre Dame (1980). In the following decades, he championed the church’s sacramental rights and texts, participated in multiple liturgical organizations; advocated for human rights in South America and Africa; and represented The Episcopal Church as Director of Government Relations during the tenure of Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning. He became the rector of St. Paul’s Church in Willimantic, Connecticut in 2001. Even after his retirement in 2004, he continued to advocate for issues of social justice, serving as president of the Episcopal Urban Caucus until just prior to his death.

Canon Brooks died on February 29, 2020.

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew was formed on November 30, 1883, by a group of young men at St. James Church in Chicago. Inspired by James Houghteling, who taught a Bible class at the parish, the twelve men committed themselves to following the example of St. Andrew, the apostle who brought Peter to Christ. Their aim was to bring men back to church by practicing personal evangelism among men and boys.

As their work spread, the Brotherhood grew into a national organization with formal chapters, a shared mission, and common practices, including daily prayer and weekly efforts to connect others with the church. By the end of its first seven years, the Brotherhood boasted 15,000 members in 17 countries.

Over the years, the Brotherhood evolved to meet the needs of the times. During both World Wars, it supported chaplains and service members through outreach and care, while in peacetime, it emphasized leadership development and community service. Though it once distanced itself from The Episcopal Church’s social justice efforts, it has since embraced localized service work as a form of ministry, including prison outreach and disaster relief. The Brotherhood continues to operate through local chapters, focusing on faith, community, and service.