Charles Gallagher Flinn

The Rev. Dr. Charles Gallagher Flinn was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was the first of three children born to Robert Galloway Flinn and his wife Gertrude Charles nee Gallagher. Baptized Presbyterian, he attended elementary school and then Ft. Lauderdale High School where he was valedictorian of the graduating class of 1955. Charles was a scholar, endowed with extraordinary intellectual gifts, was first place in his class throughout elementary and high schools, and all throughout his life held a love of learning. He graduated from Princeton University in 1959 and later went on to study at the University of Virginia where he read for the Juris Doctor degree. As an Attorney-at-Law, he practiced in Florida and then Virginia for over 50 years, then in 1971, became the first Arlington County Attorney. His hobbies were cycling and snow skiing. He was known as the lawyer who rode his bicycle to work. The strong call of God to the Sacred Ministry led him to pursue studies in Divinity and he graduated in 1992 with Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Westminster Seminary, Glenside PA. His thesis was entitled “Did he not make you one? The Pentateuch on Polygamy”. He was ordained to the Sacred Ministry in the Episcopal Church in 1992 as Deacon and in 1993 as Priest. He served as Interim Priest in several Episcopal Churches and later the Traditional Anglican Church. He never stopped learning and at the age of seventy, read for the PhD degree in Semitic Languages at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and graduated at age seventy-four. For Charles, travelling was education, hence he travelled all over the world and for many years made annual trips to Paris, France where he had friends from his Princeton days. He was devoted to his dear father and mother who predeceased him in death, and the joy of his life were his sister, Carol; brother, John; and cousin, Rebecca (“Becky”), who reside in Florida. Charles always told interesting and hilarious stories of growing up in Ft. Lauderdale with his parents, siblings, and friends. Charles lived a purposeful and fulfilling life and served his God and the Church faithfully to the end. He will be missed by his family, friends, and parishioners of Christ the King Anglican Church in Georgetown, Washington, DC where he worshipped for several years. He leaves to mourn his sister, Carol Flinn-Wesley; brother, John Flinn; sister-in-law, Jane; nieces, nephews, and a host of cousins and friends. May his soul rest in peace and perpetual light shine upon him.