William Montgomery Brown

Born in 1855 in Ohio, William Montgomery Brown was educated for the Episcopal ministry and eventually became Bishop of Arkansas. He was known as a prolific speaker and writer, but his career took a dramatic turn as his views moved away from traditional Christian doctrine.

In the early 20th century, Brown began arguing for a naturalistic and materialist understanding of religion, which brought him into direct conflict with church authorities. He became the only Episcopal bishop in the United States to be deposed for heresy, a decision that made him nationally controversial.

Brown kept writing after his removal from office, and his books and pamphlets reflected his deep interest in religion, social criticism, and radical thought. He died in 1937, remembered less as a church leader than as an unusually bold and combative dissenter.