Synopses & Reviews
The story of the Episcopalians in America is the story of an influential denomination that has furnished a disproportionately large share of the American political and cultural leadership. Beginning with the denomination's roots in 16th-century England, this book offers a fresh account of the Episcopal Church's rise to prominence in America. Chronologically arranged, it follows the establishment of colonial Anglicanism in the New World, the national organization of the denomination following the Revolution, its rise during the 19th century, and the complex array of forces that affected the church in the 20th century—and continue to affect it today. The authors pay particular attention to the established leadership of the Episcopal Church, as well as to the experience of the ordinary layperson, the form and function of sacred space, developments in church parties and theology, relations with other Christian communities, and the evolving roles and status of women and minorities.
Shining a light on the lives of ordinary churchgoers and historically marginalized groups, the authors reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the Episcopal Church. While the church evolved into the denomination of the urban establishment, a politically, theologically, and socially moderate religious body that appealed to those seeking the society of their largely middle- and upper-middle-class peers, it also appealed to those whom the dominant society excluded from power: African and Hispanic Americans, women, and American Indians. The volume concludes with a chronology of important events and biographical sketches of major figures in the Episcopal Church.
Review
he Episcopalians is well organized, clearly written, carefully researched, and great fun to read. It will be the perfect book on the history of the Episcopal Church for seminarians, clergy, historians, and all those interested in American church history. Read it and enjoy yourself!Donald S. Armentrout Quintard Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Theology at the University of the South
Review
This volume is a welcome addition to the field of Episcopal studies....It will be a boon to scholars, students, and the general reading public, both inside and outside of the Episcopal Church.Robert Bruce Mullin SPRL Professor of History and World Mission, The General Theological Seminary
Review
Recommended for libraries.Library Journal
Review
[A] superior introduction to the Episcopal Church and its American heritage.Anglican and Episcopal History
Review
It is so refreshing to read a history that portrays the church as an institution shaped and changed by the people of God. David Hein and Gardiner Shattuck have set the Episcopal Church clearly in the midst of the shifting currents of social and political history and have recognized the broad ethnic and racial diversity that marks this branch of the Anglican Communion.Mary S. Donovan Adjunct Assistant Professor of History, Hunter College, City University of New York Former President, Historical Society of the Episcopal Church
Review
A real tour-de-force....Admirably balanced in coverage of historical periods and supplemented with a stunning list of biographical profiles, this book will become the standard reference for students and scholars alike. The authors draw on an array of primary sources and the most vital interpretive approaches to tell a fast-paced, well-written story of one of America's most influential religious bodies.Charles H. Lippy Leroy A. Martin Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Review
This masterpiece of institutional history embodies the magnanimity, elegance, and broad-minded reasonableness characteristic of Episcopalian sensibilities. Without minimizing regrettable aspects of the past, or boasting about accomplishments, David Hein and Gardiner Shattuck reveal the remarkable contributions to American culture made by Episcopalians in the past, and the importance of Episcopalian thought and practice in the vast terrain of religious life today.Amanda Porterfield Professor of Religious Studies, University of Wyoming
Review
One marvels at the clarity, the eloquence, and the precision with which Gardiner Shattuck and David Hein have reviewed the history of the Episcopal Church from the colonial American scene of the 1660s to the end of the twentieth century. Theirs is in every way a splendidly written and therefore a highly readable book, and it deserves a large audience.Nathan A. Scott Jr. William R. Kenan Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
Review
This book gives an answer to just the sort of questions that persons outside the Episcopal Church often want to know....It presents an informed perspective that is carefully written and solidly based on the evidence.J. Robert Wright Historiographer of the Episcopal Church St. Mark's Professor of Church History, The General Theological Seminary
Synopsis
The story of the Episcopalians in America is the story of an influential denomination that has furnished a disproportionately large share of the American political and cultural leadership. Beginning with the denomination's roots in 16th-century England, this book offers a fresh account of the Episcopal Church's rise to prominence in America. Chronologically arranged, it follows the establishment of colonial Anglicanism in the New World, the national organization of the denomination following the Revolution, its rise during the 19th century, and the complex array of forces that affected the church in the 20th century--and continue to affect it today.
Synopsis
Provides a complete, accurate picture of the Episcopal Church and its lay and clerical leaders in the United States.
Synopsis
This book offers a fresh account of the Episcopal Church's rise to prominence in America.
About the Author
DAVID HEIN teaches in the Religion and Philosophy Department of Hood College. He is the author of Noble Powell and the Episcopal Establishment in the Twentieth Century and the coauthor of Essays on Lincoln's Faith and Politics.GARDINER H. SHATTUCK JR. teaches in the History Department of Andover Newton Theological School. He is the author of Episcopalians and Race: Civil War to Civil Rights and the coauthor of he Encyclopedia of American Religious History.
Table of Contents
Preface
Abbreviations Used in This Volume
English and American Beginnings: 1534-1662
Anglicanism in Colonial America: 1662-1763
The Crisis of the American Revolution: 1763-1783
Reorganization in a New Nation: 1783-1811
Unity, Diversity, and Conflict in Antebellum America: 1811-1865
Social and Intellectual Challenges: 1865-1918
Emergence of the Modern Church: 1918-1958
Changing Times: 1958-2003
Biographical Entries
A Chronology of the Episcopal Church
Bibliographic Essay
About the Authors