Leighton Parks

Who was Leighton Parks?

Rev. Dr. Leighton Parks was a liberal American Protestant Episcopal clergyman. He was born in New York City and graduated from the General Theological Seminary in 1876. Ordained a priest the next year, from 1878 to 1904 he was rector of Emmanuel Church, Boston. He then became rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, New York, succeeding David H. Greer, who had been elected Bishop of the diocese. He was "a militant defender of theological modernism who denied the Virgin birth and defied the Bishops of his church to unfrock him for heresy". Dr. Parks, who became noted for his direct and uncompromising preaching to one of the wealthiest congregations in the country, published The Winning of the Soul and Other Sermons and Moral Leadership and Other Sermons. He first came to widespread attention when he "made a spirited attack" on the Roman Catholic Church, claiming it sought "political domination and a war with Great Britain". Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Sr. ceased to worship at St. Bartholomew's following Parks's attacks on conservative elements within his own church.