This week in Christian history: Seabury ordained, Moody dies, Schaefer defrocked
Samuel Seabury ordained a priest – Dec. 23, 1753
This week marks the anniversary of when Samuel Seabury, who would eventually be elected the first American bishop of The Episcopal Church, was ordained a priest in England.
“He was a missionary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel at New Brunswick, New Jersey, 1754-1757, and rector at Jamaica, New York, 1757-1766,” according to The Episcopal Church.
“From 1766 to 1776 he served as rector of St. Peter’s Church, Westchester, New York, and from 1776 to 1783 he was in private medical practice and chaplain to British troops at Staten Island and New York. He wrote forceful pamphlets in defense of loyalty to the British Crown.”
Despite his loyalist sympathies, Seabury agreed to serve as the first bishop of newly formed Episcopal Church in 1783, around the time the 13 colonies achieved their independence.
