David Lincoln Ferris was born on December 31, 1864, in Peekskill, New York, United States.
[1] Ferris married Mary Eversley Stuart of Norwalk, Connecticut on October 24, 1893.
[3] In 1921, Mrs. Ferris became the vice-president of the Western New York Diocesan Girls' Friendly Society.
While in Rochester, was elected to serve as a Clerical Deputy to the 1916 and 1919 General Conventions of the Episcopal Church.
[citation needed] Ferris served his whole episcopate in the Diocese of Western New York.
The Diocesan Convention approved Brent's request and on May 27, 1920, held an election.
[citation needed] Ferris' consecration was on October 13, 1920, in Christ Church, Rochester, where for eight years he had been the rector.
[11] On October 24, 1920, Ferris received the honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Theology from Hobart College.
He chaired the National Committee which produced the annual Church Calendar and Bible Readings.
Just a short time after his consecration, Brent said, "Bishop Ferris has already established a relationship with you that is happy and strong.
Brent instituted Ferris as Bishop Coadjutor in Christ Church, Hornell, N. Y. on October 24, 1924.
Therefore, Ferris had to take on Brent's visitations and engagements as well as bear "full responsibility for the Diocese".
[15] When the news came of Brent's death, Ferris was in Saint Paul's Cathedral in Buffalo as a Lenten noon-day preacher.
[18] Ferris continued diocesan policies for "all intents and purposes" unchanged.
He had worked with Brent in establishing them,[19] Ferris called a Special Convention of the Diocese for October 29, 1929.
[22] Ferris served as Diocesan Bishop of Western New York until its division in 1932.