230 years ago, King's Chapel made history. Over the past five years since arriving at King's Chapel as a lay reader in 1782, Freeman's several attempts to be ordained in the Episcopal Church were consistently denied. On Sunday November 18, 1787, King's Chapel took matters into their own hands. Following Evening Prayer, James Freeman was joined by Senior Warden Thomas Bulfinch, who led the congregation in a special service -- the lay ordination where James Freeman was elected minister of King's Chapel. What events made this ordination possible and what reasoning did Episcopal leaders give for denying to ordain Freeman? What influence did the American Revolution have on the culture and politics among the churches that contributed to this historic transition? Explore these questions and more this Sunday following Morning Prayer.
Join us at 12:30 PM on Sunday November 19 for a special lecture commemorating the 230th anniversary of Reverend James Freeman's ordination, presented by Samuel Learner. Learner received his BA in History from Bates College, writing a thesis titled "The Origins of American Unitarianism Reconsidered: Theophilus Lindsey, James Freeman, and the English Episcopal Reform Origins of American Unitarianism." Learner's presentation will explore Freeman's ideology, and society and culture at King's Chapel and the newly formed United States that paved the road for King's Chapel's transition into America's first Unitarian Church Comments are closed.
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