Page "Unitarian Universalism" Paragraph 11

Samuel Clarke ( 1675 – 1729 ) revised the Book of Common Prayer, removing the Trinitarian Nicene Creed and references to Jesus as God.

Theophilus Lindsey also revised the Book of Common Prayer to allow a more Unitarian interpretation.

Neither cleric was charged under the Blasphemy Act 1697 that made it an offence for any person, educated in or having made profession of the Christian religion, by writing, preaching, teaching or advised speaking, to deny the Holy Trinity.

The Act of Toleration ( 1689 ), the long title being An Act for Exempting their Majestyes Protestant Subjects dissenting from the Church of England from the Penalties of certaine Lawes, gave relief to English Dissenters, but excluded Unitarians.

The efforts of Clarke and Lindsey met with substantial criticism to stifle attempts at reform, from the more conservative laity, priests and bishops who held substantial power within the Church of England.

In response, in 1774, Lindsey applied for registration of the Essex House as a Dissenting place of worship with the assistance of barrister Mr. John Lee.

On the Sunday following the registration — April 17, 1774 — the first true Unitarian congregation discreetly convened in the provisional Essex Street Chapel.

In attendance were Mr. Lee, Joseph Priestley and the agent of the Massachusetts Colony, Mr. Benjamin Franklin.

Priestley also founded a reform congregation, but, after his home was burned down in the Priestley Riots, fled with his wife to America, where he became a leading figure in the founding of the church on American soil.