Leighton Parks
Encyclopedia
Rev. Dr. Leighton Parks was a liberal American
Protestant Episcopal clergy
man. He was born in New York City
and graduated from the General Theological Seminary
in 1876. Ordained a priest the next year, from 1878 to 1904 he was rector
of Emmanuel Church, Boston. He then became rector of St. Bartholomew's Church
, New York, succeeding David H. Greer
, who had been elected Bishop of the diocese. He was "a militant defender of theological modernism who denied the Virgin birth and defied the Bishops of his church to unfrock him for heresy". Dr. Parks, who became noted for his direct and uncompromising preaching to one of the wealthiest congregations in the country, published The Winning of the Soul and Other Sermons (1893) and Moral Leadership and Other Sermons (1914). He first came to widespread attention when he "made a spirited attack" on the Roman Catholic Church, claiming it sought "political domination and a war with Great Britain". Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Sr. ceased to worship at St. Bartholomew's following Parks's attacks on conservative elements within his own church.
In 1878 he married Margaret Alden Haven, an expatriate then living in Geneva, Switzerland, and they became the parents of at least three daughters. He was living with his daughter Alice Margareta Parks, wife of Sir John Nicholson Barran, 2nd Bt
, in London at the time of his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Protestant Episcopal clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
man. He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and graduated from the General Theological Seminary
General Theological Seminary
The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church is a seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States and is located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan in New York....
in 1876. Ordained a priest the next year, from 1878 to 1904 he was rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Emmanuel Church, Boston. He then became rector of St. Bartholomew's Church
Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York
St. Bartholomew's Church, commonly called St. Bart's, is a historic Episcopal parish founded in January 1835, and located on the east side of Park Avenue between 50th and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-Former structures:...
, New York, succeeding David H. Greer
David Hummell Greer
David Hummell Greer was an American Protestant Episcopal bishop.-Biography:He was born in Wheeling, Virginia, , graduated at Washington College in 1862, and studied at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary, Gambier, Ohio...
, who had been elected Bishop of the diocese. He was "a militant defender of theological modernism who denied the Virgin birth and defied the Bishops of his church to unfrock him for heresy". Dr. Parks, who became noted for his direct and uncompromising preaching to one of the wealthiest congregations in the country, published The Winning of the Soul and Other Sermons (1893) and Moral Leadership and Other Sermons (1914). He first came to widespread attention when he "made a spirited attack" on the Roman Catholic Church, claiming it sought "political domination and a war with Great Britain". Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Sr. ceased to worship at St. Bartholomew's following Parks's attacks on conservative elements within his own church.
In 1878 he married Margaret Alden Haven, an expatriate then living in Geneva, Switzerland, and they became the parents of at least three daughters. He was living with his daughter Alice Margareta Parks, wife of Sir John Nicholson Barran, 2nd Bt
Sir John Barran, 2nd Baronet
Sir John Nicholson Barran, 2nd Baronet was a British Liberal Party politician.Barran was the son of John Barran and the grandson of Sir John Barran, 1st Baronet. His mother was Eliza Henrietta, daughter of Edward Nicholson. He was educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge...
, in London at the time of his death.