Allen James Babcock

Allen James Babcock (June 17, 1898 – June 27, 1969) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the seventh bishop of Grand Rapids in Michigan from 1954 to 1969.

Biography

Early life Babcock was born on June 17, 1898, in Bad Axe, Michigan to Willard Babcock and Susan Ryan. He attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School in Detroit, then in 1917 entered Assumption College in Windsor, Ontario, studying there until 1919.

In 1920, Babcock traveled to Rome to reside at the Pontifical North American College. He received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1922 and a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1924 from the Propaganda Fide University in Rome. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit on March 25, 1947, from Cardinal Edward Mooney, with Bishops William Murphy and Stephen Woznicki serving as co-consecrators.