Rev. Charles Chiniquy, D.D. (1809-1899)
To the glory of God in memory of the Reverend Dr. Charles Chiniquy, D.D.,
French-Canadian Reformer & first Christian Catholic Community Church
Rector & Overseer.
- 1809 Born in Kamouraska, Quebec, Canada, the son of Charles
Chiniquy, Public Notary, and of Reine Perreault.
- 1820 Private course in St. Thomas of Kamouraska, Quebec, under
Tutor Allen Jones.
- 1822 Classical studies at the Petit Séminaire in
Nicolet, Quebec.
- 1829 Theological studies at the Grand Séminaire
in Quebec City.
- 1832 Ordained deacon in Quebec R.C. cathedral church, on
May 18, by Bishop J. Signay.
- 1833 Ordained priest
in Quebec, on September 29 (+J. Signay). Appointed Curate of St. Charles
Parish, Rivière-Boyer, Quebec.
- 1834 Curate of St. Roch Parish, Quebec City.
- 1838 Vicar of the Parish of Beauport, Quebec. Founder of
the Temperance Society (1839).
- 1842 Vicar of the Parish of Kamouraska, Quebec.
- 1844 Publication of the Temperance Society Manual.
- 1847 Appointed Temperance Preacher in the Diocese of Montreal,
Quebec. Bishop Ignace Bourget gave him the title of Temperance Apostle
in 1850.
- 1852 Tranfered to Chicago Diocese, U.S.A., to work as a
missionary among French-Canadians of Kankakee County, Illinois. Mostt Rev.
L.O. van der Veld, Bishop of Chicago, blessed is Mission Church dedicated
to St. Anne.
- 1858 Opposed by R.C. authorities and clergy for his biblical
and community based teaching, he was excommunicated by the Diocese of Chicago.
At at general meeting held April 11, decision was made by the people to
turn St. Anne Parish into a Community Church, and to appoint Father Chiniquy
as Pastor in charge.
- 1859 A church society was organized under the name Christian Catholic (Community) Church.
It was filed for records in Kankakee County District Court on September
13. Rev. Chuiniquy was elected President of the Board of Directors.
- 1861 Intercommunion agreements were concluded between Christian
Catholics and other Christian bodies. The first of these agreements was
with the Presbyterian Communion.
- 1862 Extension of the ministry to the Michigan French-Canadian
colony of Muskegon. The Rev. R. Desroches was appointed pastor.
- 1870 Publication of his book The Church of Rome.
- 1875 Took charge of the Franco-Canadian
(Interdenominational Missionary) Society in Montreal. The missionary work
was supported by the Presbyterian Church. Preached against the New Roman
Dogma of the Infallibility of the Pope, defined by the Vatican Council
of 1870-1871. Published the book The Priest, the Woman & the Confessional.
- 1880 Was joined,
in Montreal, by two former teachers: J.
René Vilatte (left) and
Jean-Baptiste Gauthier (right). They
served the Church under the auspices of the Franco-Canadian Society, first
in Quebec (St. Hyacinthe and Maskinonge), then in the States (French-speaking
colonies of Illinois and Wisconsin). Were sent to McGill University to
be trained in theology, graduating in 1883.
- 1884 Preached in Wisconsin and supported
J.R. Vilatte's ministry among the French-Canadians and the Belgians. Refered
him to French reformer Hyacinthe Loyson (right),
who like him was opposing the New Roman dogma of the Infallibility of the
Pope, and had served as Christian Catholic rector in Geneva, under Swiss
Bishop Edward Herzog. The Swiss Church was and still is a member of the
Old Catholic Movement.
- 1885 Publication, in Chicago, of his book : Fifty Years
in the Church of Rome.
- 1893 Receives Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree from Presbyterian
College at McGill University, Montreal
- 1899 Died in Montreal, January 16, and was buried in Mount-Royal
Cemetery. The same year was published his last book: Forty Years in the
Church of Christ.
May he rest in peace!