Thomson, Paul van K. (Paul van Kuykendall), 1916-

Rev. Paul van K. Thomson was born in Weehawken, New Jersey on December 14, 1916 to Walter Scott Thomson and Mary van Kuykendall Thomson. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Weehawken, graduating in 1933, and then attended Columbia University, New York, where he graduated with an A.B. in English cum laude. Between 1937 and 1940 Thomson attended Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut where he received his Bachelors in Sacred Theology.

In 1940 Thomson became an Episcopal clergyman and began his work as the Vicar at St. Martins Episcopal Church in Maywood, New Jersey. Soon after, in 1941, Thomson left St. Martins to work as a Curate at Grace Episcopal Church in Newark.

Before joining the U.S. Navy as a Chaplin to the Pacific Fleet Marine Force in 1943, Thomson received his Masters in Sacred Theology from the General Theological Seminary in New York, New York. His service during World War II earned him two Combat Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation. Upon his return to the United States in 1946, Thomson was offered a position, which he accepted, as the Rector at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Providence, Rhode Island.

In 1949 Thomson started as an Instructor of English at Providence College, in Rhode Island. That same year he and his family left the Episcopal Church (and the ministry) converting to Catholicism. During the 1950’s Thomson continued his education, attending Brown University, and received both his M.A. and Ph.D. in English. This allowed him to become a full-time professor at Providence College in 1959. During the 1960’s and 70’s when Thomson was not teaching he spent his time writing religious articles and books, publishing at least six of his works.

In 1981 Paul van K. Thomson wrote to the Vatican requesting the eligibility to seek ordination as a Roman Catholic Priest. Two years later on August 27, 1983 Paul van K. Thomson was ordained at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence Rhode Island. His ordainment made him the 6th married Roman Catholic Priest in the U.S. and the 1st in the Diocese of Providence.

Thomson retired from teaching full time at Providence College in 1985. Despite this, he continued teaching English part time, as well as preaching at St. Mary’s Parish of Newport, St. Thomas More Church, and St. Veronica’s Chapel of Narragansett. On December 22, 1999, Rev. Paul van K. Thomson passed away the age of 83. He was buried on the 27th of December at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown, Rhode Island.

• 1916 Dec 14: Born in Weehawken, New Jersey
• 1928: Gives first speech at a meeting of the Second Ward Democrats in Weehawken Democratic headquarters at the age of 12.
• 1933: Graduates Woodrow Wilson High School with high honors
• 1933 - 1937 : Attends Columbia University, New York, New York: A.B. in English cum laude
• 1937: Receives the Boar’s Head Poetry Award, Columbia University
• 1937 - 1940 : Attends Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven, Connecticut: S.T.B. magna cum laude
• 1940: Ordained as deacon of Protestant Episcopal Church at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Union City, N.J., by Benjamin M. Washburn, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Newark.
• 1940 - 1941 : Appointed Vicar, St. Martins Episcopal Church, Maywood, NJ
• 1941 - 1943 : Appointed Curate, Grace Episcopal Church, Newark, NJ.
• 1943: Graduates General Theological Seminary, New York, New York: S.T.M Thesis: The concept of the human person according to Thomas Aquinas
• 1943 - 1946 : Serves as Chaplain, U.S. Navy, Pacific Fleet Marine Force, 5th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Receives 2 Combat Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation.
• 1945: Marries Mildred Marie Cole of Irvington, N.J.
• 1945 - 1946 : Appointed Associate Rector, Grace Episcopal Church
• 1946: Birth of the first of the Thomson’s seven children
• 1946 - 1949 : Appointed Rector, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Providence, RI.
• 1947: Publishes “The Sacraments – Power for Daily Living” in The Living Church: A Weekly Record of the News, the Work, and the Thought of the Episcopal Church.
• 1948: American Representative to International Clerical Conference on Christian Unity, Farnham, England
• 1949: Enrolls part-time in Providence College, Providence, RI.
• 1949: Paul van K. Thomson and family baptized as Roman Catholics at St. Pius V Church, Providence, RI.
• 1949 - 1952 : Hired as instructor in English at Providence College, RI.
• 1950 - 1952 : Attends Brown University, Providence, RI: 1952 M.A. in English: Thesis Byron’s use of religious materials.
• 1952: Publishes “Paul van K. Thomson, Ex-Navy Chaplain” in They Heard His Voice: Stories of Noted Converts of Our Day.
• 1952 - 1955 : Teaches as Assistant Professor of English, Providence College, RI
• 1952 - 1956 : Attends Brown University, Providence, RI: 1956 Ph.D. in English: Dissertation A Study of Certain Notebooks and Manuscripts of Francis Thompson in Relation to His Poetic Theory and Critical Procedure.
• 1955: Named a University Fellow, Brown University, RI.
• 1955 - 1959 : Teaches as Associate Professor of English, Providence College, RI.
• 1957: Included in the Directory of American Scholars, 3rd Edition
• 1958: Initiates the Liberal Arts Honors Program at Providence College, RI.
• 1958 - 1965 : Appointed Director of the Liberal Arts Honors Program at Providence College, RI.
• 1959: Publishes Why I am a Catholic
• 1959: Receives an honorary M.A. degree from Providence College, RI
• 1959 - 1985 : Promoted to Professor of English at Providence College, RI
• 1960: Publishes Francis Thompson: A Critical Biography
• 1961 - 1964 : Serves as a Public Member on the U.S. Department of Labor Wage Boards.
• 1962: Publishes “The Tragedy of the Spanish Inquisition” in The Bridge: A Yearbook of Judeo Christian Studies. Vol. 4
• 1963: Recieves Outstanding Faculty Service Award from Providence College Alumni Association
• 1965: Publishes “Reflections on the Future of Religion and Poetry” in Delta Epsilon Sigma [National Catholic Honor Society] Bulletin
• 1965: Recieves Outstanding Catholic Layman of Rhode Island Award from Knights of Columbus
• 1965 - 1982 : Is named to post of Vice President for Academic Affairs, becoming Providence College’s 1st lay vice president: continues to teach part time
• 1966: Receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Salve Regina College, Newport, Rhode Island
• 1966: Publishes “Should Catholic Colleges Be Abolished” in Columbia College Today
• 1967: Publishes “Francis Thompson and the Surrogate Theory of Poetry” in The Hound of Heaven: A Commemorative Volume
• 1968: Publishes “Literature and Personal Values” and “Excellence on the Catholic Campus” in The Divine Synthesis: Some Lectures of the Conference on Christian Humanism, 1961-1964
• 1968 - 1969 : Vice President of the New England Catholic College Association
• 1969 - 1970 : President of the New England Catholic College Association
• 1981: Sends documents to the Vatican requesting eligibility to seek ordination as a Roman Catholic Priest
• 1983: Receives Graduate Alumni Citation awarded by Brown University
• 1983 Aug 27: Ordained as a Roman Catholic priest by Louis E. Gelineau, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, at Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence, becoming the 6th married Roman Catholic priest in the United States and the 1st in the Diocese of Providence, RI.
• 1984: Retires from full time status at Providence College
• 1985: Named Professor Emeritus at Providence College
• 1985 - 1988 : Appointed Part time Assistant Pastor, St. Mary’s Parish, Newport, Rhode Island
• 1986: Receives Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Providence College
• 1986: The Thomson Award is established by the Providence College English Department for the senior(s) with the highest grades in their concentration
• 1988: As “Senior Priest” in the Diocese of Providence; Thomason retires from the ministry
• 1988 - 1989 : Rev. and Mrs. Thomson live with the monastic community of the Benedictine Monastic Center, Petersham, Massachusetts
• 1989 - 1995 : Assists at St. Thomas More Church and St. Veronica’s Chapel, Narragansett, Rhode Island
• 1990: Publishes Plus Sign on the Roof
• 1999 Dec 22: Passes away at the age of 83
• 1999 Dec 27: Buried at St. Columba Cemetery, Middletown, Rhode Island

From the guide to the Paul van K. Thomson papers, Thomson (Paul van K.) papers, 1928-1995, (Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections)