Remembering Archbishop Herbert Monroe Groce Jr., SSC, DD, STD of the Anglican Rite Synod in the Americas

It's hard to believe that it has been 15 years since the passing of Most Rev Herb Groce (1929–2010).  The Most Rev. Herbert Monroe Groce Jr. was an archbishop in the Continuing Anglican movement, specifically serving as a Metropolitan Archbishop for the Anglican Rite Synod in the Americas (ARSA). He was a prominent figure in traditional high church Anglicanism, known for maintaining historic Anglican beliefs, preserving all the "bells and smells" and apostolic succession insulated from the corruptive progressivism found within the modern mainstream Episcopal Church in America.  

In 2003 the Anglican Rite Synod in the Americas (often abbreviated ARSA) under Bishops Larry Shaver and Herbert M. Groce was received into the Anglican Province of America (APA) as a non‑geographical jurisdiction titled the Diocese of St. Augustine, later known as the Diocese of Mid‑America. This event is commonly cited within Continuing Anglican history as a notable consolidation, since it brought an existing conservative Anglican body into an already‑organized traditional jurisdiction rather than creating yet another separate denomination.  

The Most Rev. Herbert Groce is indeed frequently associated with efforts to gather and stabilize conservative Anglican groups, particularly through ARSA’s corporate reception into the APA rather than remaining isolated or fragmenting further, which is why he is often credited in church narratives with helping to bring together various factions of conservative Anglicans.

According to a paper presented at Cambridge University in September 2019 by the archivist and historian, David Lindez, His Grace Herbert Monroe Groce Jr., SSC, DD, STD was the first African American Mason (mainstream) to be elected and coronated as a 33° Honorary Sovereign Grand Inspector General in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ). He was a member of the prestigious Kane Lodge No. 454 F&AM (home to Admiral Byrd) in the 1st Manhattan District under the Grand Lodge of New York (mainstream/regular jurisdiction). His nomination came from Thurman C. Pace Jr., an Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33° for New Jersey in the NMJ, a bold and influential move that helped open the door for greater inclusion. This happened in 1989, when he was one of the honorees elected at the annual meeting of the Supreme Council, NMJ. He also held significant York Rite honors, including serving as Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of New York, and served craft Freemasonry as a Right Worshipful Grand Chaplain for the Grand Lodge of New York. This was truly revolutionary at the time. It marked the first time the NMJ (covering New York, New Jersey, and the other 13 northeastern/mid-Atlantic states) bestowed the honorary 33° on an African American Mason through mainstream channels, paving the way for the subsequent nominations by Pace (including the second (an NFL star) and third Black 33° recipients.

The Most Rev. Herb Groce was a staunch conservative and could be found in the most respectable rooms in Manhattan.  Besides his ecclesiastical affairs (Herb was ordained in Cathedral of St John the Divine in New York City) and his Masonic leadership, His Grace Herbert Groce Jr. GCTJ, GMTJ served the New York City SMOTJ Priory of the the Autonomous Grand Priory of the United States Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem in his capacity as Grand Chaplain.  The SMOTJ Priory in New York City is known for its selective collection of serious persons and eclectics with a taste for formal templary in upscale settings.  It provenance actually lies with its formation meeting in the stately home of John Leet in the leafy and picturesque Montclair, New Jersey, an enclave of elite often notable contributors to history, the arts, media and society at large.