Leighton Parks

Leighton Parks was a prominent American Protestant Episcopal clergyman known for his liberal theological views and direct preaching style. Born in New York City, he graduated from the General Theological Seminary in 1876 and was ordained a priest the following year. Parks served as the rector of Emmanuel Church in Boston from 1878 to 1904 before taking on the role at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York, where he became known for his uncompromising stance on theological modernism. He famously denied the Virgin birth and openly challenged the authority of church bishops, which led to significant controversy within the church community. Parks published several notable works, including "The Winning of the Soul and Other Sermons" (1893) and "Moral Leadership and Other Sermons" (1914), which reflected his progressive views and commitment to social issues. His outspoken criticism of the Roman Catholic Church garnered him both attention and backlash, notably causing prominent congregants like Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Sr. to leave his church. Despite the controversies, Parks also contributed positively to the church community by founding the St. Wilfrid Club in 1908, an organization for church musicians that remains active today. He spent his later years in London with his daughter before passing away in 1938.