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William Reed Huntington
1838–1909
A leading Episcopal priest and writer of the late 19th century, he became known for calling Christians toward greater unity and for helping shape the modern American prayer book. His long ministry in Worcester and later New York made him an influential voice in church life.
1 Audiobook
A Short History of the Book of Common Prayer
by William Reed Huntington
About the author
Born in 1838, William Reed Huntington was an American Episcopal clergyman whose work left a lasting mark on the church in the United States. He served as rector of All Saints Church in Worcester, Massachusetts, beginning in the 1860s, and later became rector of Grace Church in New York City, where he continued his ministry for many years.
He is especially remembered for his 1870 book The Church-Idea: An Essay Towards Unity, which argued for Christian unity and became closely associated with the ideas later known as the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. Huntington also played an important role in the revision of the Book of Common Prayer, helping shape worship in the Episcopal Church for generations.
Alongside his parish work, he wrote widely on theology, worship, and church life, combining pastoral concern with a strong interest in the church’s public witness. He died in 1909, but he is still remembered as one of the most important Episcopal leaders and thinkers of his era.