- Algernon Sidney Crapsey
Algernon Sidney Crapsey (1847-1927) was an Episcopalian
priest and father ofpoet Adelaide Crapsey . In 1879, he was transferred from Trinity Church inNew York City toRochester, New York to become the pastor of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Averill Avenue.Crapsey was an ardent supporter of the
Social Gospel movement and developed a national reputation for eloquent lectures that inspired social ideals. His church was soon among the most well attended in Rochester.In 1906, his progressive views led him to run afoul of orthodox Church authorities when he delivered a lecture stressing the humanity of
Jesus , a notion contrary to the literal interpretation of the Scriptures. This culminated in an ecclesiastical proceeding forheresy that same year held inBatavia, New York which drew national attention. Despite local and national support, Crapsey was the victim of a political trial aimed at discouraging reformers and freethinkers.Fact|date=July 2008 He was found guilty and stripped of his ministry.Significantly, Crapsey was accompanied to the proceedings by his daughter Adelaide rather than his wife,
Adelaide T. Crapsey . Moreover, rather than bitterly renouncing the church, the family remained faithful members, and Crapsey continued to lecture, write, and foster social projects until his death.In addition to Adelaide, his family included eight other children: Philip, Emily, Paul, Rachel, Algernon Jr., Ruth, Marie, and Arthur. Two of the children died fairly young -- one from
brucellosis , the other fromappendicitis . Philip died ofmalaria contracted during theSpanish-American War .Crapsey died in 1927 and was interred at Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester.
ee also
Heresy in the 20th Century External links
* [http://anglicanhistory.org/usa/ascrapsey/ Documents by and about Crapsey]
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