What would women be
doing in
the
Episcopal Church in 1755?
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illustration - Christ Church, Philadelphia
Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Background:
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- In
1755 the Church of England was established by law in Virginia,
Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia and had
congregations in every colony.
- Clergy were still in short supply except in
Maryland and Virginia and male lay
readers read services.
- About one-half of the white women could sign their names and about two-thirds could read.
- Women continued to teach the catechism to children, servants and slaves; lead family prayers; give gifts; serve as patrons; read and publish religious material; visit the needy; and serve as cultural mediators on the frontier.
- Women served as sextons in some parishes
- Women were paid by parishes to care for the sick, elderly and orphaned.
- Women served as teachers in church-sponsored schools for slaves.
- Women served as organists.
- Women led prayer groups as part of the Methodist movement in the Episcopal Church
- Women controlled funerals and marriage celebrations and forced clergy to do home baptisms
- Women were a majority of active parish members.