Bailey received his BA degree in 1938 from Rice University, after which he attended law school at the University of Texas and then the Virginia Theological Seminary, obtaining his Master in Divinity degree in 1942. In 1953 he received the Master of Sacred Theology degree from the University of the South. Later Doctor of Divinity degrees were conferred upon him by the Virginia Seminary, the University of the South, and the Seminary of the Southwest. Bailey was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1942 by Bishop Clinton S. Quin, 3rd Bishop of Texas. He began his ministry in 1942 at St. Pauls’s Church, Waco where he was associate rector as well as priest-in-charge of St. Mary’s Church, Lampasas. He married Evelyn Louise Williams in 1943 and entered the navy as a chaplain that same year, serving in the South Pacific Theater. In 1946, he became rector of Christ Church, Nacogdoches, and priest-in-charge of Christ Church, San Augustine. He was called to serve as rector of All Saints' Church in Austin in 1951 and Director of Episcopal Student Activities at the University of Texas. Also in Austin, Bailey founded St. Andrew's Episcopal School and was active in the life of St. Stephen's Episcopal School. In 1961, Bailey was designated canon to the ordinary and moved to the diocesan headquarters in Houston. In 1964 he was elected suffragan bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and served there until 1975 when he was named bishop coadjutor for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. Upon the retirement of Bishop Gosnell in 1977, Bailey was installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of West Texas on February 17, 1977, and served until his retirement in 1987. Bailey served as Secretary to the House of Bishops from 1967 until 1986, and served as Executive Officer of the General Convention from 1974 to 1976. From 1967 to 1986 he served as President of the Church Historical Society and as Chairman of the Board of the Archives of the Episcopal Church from its inception in 1985 until 1996.
Consecrators
The Rt. Rev. George H. Quarterman, first Bishop of Northwest Texas The Rt. Rev. F. Percy Goddard, Suffagan Bishop of Texas Scott Field Bailey was the 604th bishop consecrated in the Episcopal Church.
