William Ellery Channing
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 (1786–1853), one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. Channing was known for his articulate and impassioned sermons and public speeches, and as a prominent thinker in the liberal theology of the day. His religion and thought were among the chief influences on the
New England Transcendentalists although he never countenanced their views, which he saw as extreme. His espousal of the developing philosophy and theology of
Unitarianism was displayed especially in his "Baltimore Sermon" of May5, 1819, given at the ordination of the theologian and educator
Jared Sparks (1789–1866) as the first minister of the newly organized
First Independent Church of Baltimore.
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