Dr. William Ellery Channing (April 7, 1780 – October 2, 1842) was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton, one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. He was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker in the liberal theology of the day. Dr. Channing's religion and thought were among the chief influences on the New England Transcendentalists, though he never countenanced their views, which he saw as extreme. April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... October 2 is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Historic Unitarianism believed in the oneness of God as opposed to traditional Christian belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Andrews Norton (December 31, 1786_September 18, 1853) was, along with William Ellery Channing, the leader of mainstream Unitarianism of the early and middle nineteenth century. ... The states of New England are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. ... Transcendentalism was the name of a group of new ideas in literature, religion, culture and philosophy which emerged in New England in the early- to mid-nineteenth century. ...

Channing was born in Newport, Rhode Island. He became a New England liberal, rejecting the Calvinist doctrines of total depravity and divine election. A side street in Newport, Rhode Island, showing the historic buildings near the waterfront Newport is a city located in Newport County, Rhode Island, about 30 miles (48 km) south of Providence. ... The states of New England are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... Calvinism is a system of Christian theology and an approach to Christian life and thought, articulated by Theodore Beza, a Protestant Reformer in the 16th century, and subsequently by successors, associates, followers and admirers of Beza and his interpretation of Scripture. ...

He graduated from Harvard in 1798. Troubled both by post-revolutionary French radicalism and by American Calvinist orthodoxy, Channing preferred a gentle, loving relationship with God. However, the struggle continued through two years during which Channing lived in Richmond, working as a tutor. He came to his definitive faith only through much spiritual turmoil and difficulty. Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ... The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a period in the history of France. ...

In 1803 Channing became pastor of the Federal Street Church in Boston, where he remained for the rest of his life. He lived through the increasing tension between religious liberals and conservatives and took a moderate position, rejecting the extremes of both groups. Boston is a town and small port c. ...

Nevertheless he became the primary spokesman and interpreter of Unitarianism when he preached the ordination sermon of Jared Sparks in Baltimore in 1819; it was entitled "Unitarian Christianity". In that address he explicated the distinctive tenets of the Unitarian movement, only one of which was the rejection of the Trinity. Other important tenets were the belief in human goodness and the subjection of theological ideas to the light of reason. Wikisource has original text related to this article: Unitarian_Christianity Historic Unitarianism believed in the oneness of God as opposed to traditional Christian belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). ... Jared Sparks (10 May 1789 - 14 March 1866) was a U.S. historian, educator, Unitarian minister, and president of Harvard University. ... This article is about the city in the US state of Maryland. ... For other uses, see Trinity (disambiguation). ... Reason is a term used in philosophy and other human sciences to refer to the higher cognitive faculties of the human mind. ...

A few years later he gave another famous ordination sermon, entitled "Likeness to God". The idea of the human potential to be like God, which Channing advocated as grounded firmly in scripture, was seen as heretical by the Calvinist religious establishment of his day.

In later years Channing often preached against slavery, although he was never an ardent abolitionist. This middle position characterized his attitude about most questions, although his eloquence and strong influence on the religious world incurred the enmity of many extremists. Channing had an enormous influence over the religious (and social) life of New England, and America, in the nineteenth century. The Buxton Memorial Fountain, celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, London. ... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ...

Channing died in Old Bennington, Vermont, where a cenotaph is placed in his memory. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Old Bennington is a village in Bennington County, Vermont. ... Mount Auburn Cemetery Mount Auburn Cemetery Hunnewell family obelisk Civil War memorial Founded in 1831 as Americas first garden cemetery, Mount Auburn Cemetery is an Elysium where, traditionally, chaste classical monuments were set in rolling landscaped terrain. ... Cambridge City Hall Cambridge is a city in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. ...

Two of Dr. Channing's nephews were prominent Transcendentalists: Transcendentalism was the name of a group of new ideas in literature, religion, culture and philosophy which emerged in New England in the early- to mid-nineteenth century. ...

• William Ellery Channing (1818–1901), usually known as Ellery Channing, was the son of his brother Walter Channing (1786–1876, a Boston doctor);
• William Henry Channing was the son of his brother Francis Dana Channing.

William Ellery Channing (June 10, 1818–December 23, 1901) was a Transcendentalist poet, nephew of the Unitarian preacher Dr. William Ellery Channing. ... William Henry Channing (May 25, 1810 - December 23, 1884) was a United States writer and philosopher. ...

External links

• Online works by Channing, including Self-Culture, Likeness to God, etc.
• Channing article from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica

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William Ellery Channing

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Unitarian Christianity