From The Desk of Deacon Judy

Samuel Seabury (November 14)

Samuel Seabury

As we welcome the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Reverend Sean Rowe, it is fitting to reflect on Samuel Seabury, first bishop of the Episcopal Church, whom we remember on November 14.

Samuel Seabury truly lived through a profoundly significant period in the history of our nation.

Ordained in the Church of England in 1753, Reverend Seabury served parishes (as a missionary priest) in New Jersey, Long Island, and New York.

During the American Revolution, he was Chaplain to the British army, remaining loyal to the British crown. He was a rival of Alexander Hamilton.

After the Revolution, he was sent to England to be consecrated as Bishop, but that turned out to be impossible, because the Church of England required an oath of allegiance to the British crown, and Seabury, now an American citizen, could no longer comply.

However, three bishops in the Episcopal Church in Scotland agreed to consecrate him in Aberdeen, November 14, 1789. (Bishop G is a part of a cohort of bishops in the U.S. who were consecrated during Covid with at least three bishops so they call themselves the Aberdeen bishops.)

Seabury became the Bishop of Connecticut, was active in the organization of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, and was instrumental in adopting the Scottish liturgy for Holy Eucharist. This history is why the Episcopal flag includes the Scottish flag.

Let us pray the prayer for the Consecration of Samuel Seabury:

We give you thanks, O Lord our God, for your goodness in bestowing upon this Church the gift of the episcopate, which we celebrate in this remembrance of the consecration of Samuel Seabury; and we pray that joined together in unity with our bishops, and nourished by our holy Sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

God’s peace,

Judy Q+