James Patterson Lyke

James Patterson Lyke, O.F.M. (February 18, 1939 – December 27, 1992) was an African-American Catholic prelate who served as archbishop of Atlanta in Georgia from 1991 to 1992. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland in Ohio from 1979 to 1990. He was the second African-American archbishop in history.

Biography

Early life

James Lyke was born on February 18, 1939, on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of seven children of Amos and Ora (née Sneed) Lyke. Amos Lyke abandoned the family, leaving Ora Lyke to raise the children in impoverished surroundings, relying on welfare checks. The family lived in an apartment with no beds and a coal stove before moving to Wentworth Gardens, a low-income housing project in Chicago. After his 1966 ordination, the Franciscans assigned Lyke to teach at Padua High School in Cleveland. While at Padua, Lyke led the local Operation Breadbasket campaign to help the African-American community. While serving as auxiliary bishop, Lyke coordinated the group that produced Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal in 1987.

Archbishop of Atlanta After the resignation of Archbishop Eugene Marino due to scandal, the college of consultors for the archdiocese appointed Lyke as apostolic administrator of Atlanta on July 10, 1990. John Paul II appointed him as archbishop there on April 30, 1991, and he was installed on June 24, 1991.

Legacy The following institutions have been named after Lyke: The Lyke House Catholic Newman Center at the Atlanta University Center Archbishop Lyke School in Cleveland The Archbishop Lyke Conference, a yearly African-American liturgical conference