The Historical Society of the Episcopal Church is pleased to announce that the 2026 Manross Lecture, presented by The Rev. Dr. Benjamin King on June 20, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee, is now available to watch on YouTube. Titled “Now Is the Time for a Black Bishop: The Surprising Agreement Between African Americans and English High Churchmen in the 1850s,” the lecture explores an overlooked chapter in the history of the Episcopal Church and Anglican missions in West Africa.

Drawing on archival research in the United States and England, King examines the efforts of African American Episcopal clergy Alexander Crummell and Eli Worthington Stokes to establish greater independence and secure Black episcopal leadership in Liberia and beyond. His research uncovers the surprising support these men received from English High Churchmen, who advocated for Black leadership despite differing views on race, churchmanship, and missionary work.

King also examines the racial hierarchies and institutional conflicts that shaped these efforts, including the unsuccessful 1857 campaign to secure Crummell's appointment as a bishop in Sierra Leone. Although these efforts ultimately failed, they reveal a significant moment when longstanding divisions were briefly set aside in pursuit of a more inclusive church leadership.

Watch the 2026 Manross Lecture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YeqI8O8fxAU

The Manross Lecture is an ongoing program of the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church, established in 2006 and named in honor of historian William Wilson Manross (1905–1987), a former librarian of the Church Historical Society and professor of church history.

The Historical Society promotes the preservation, publication, and sharing of the history of the Episcopal Church and its Anglican antecedents. Through its publications, educational programs, grants, research initiatives, and partnerships, the Society works to make this history accessible to scholars, congregations, students, and all who have an interest in the Episcopal Church.

Become a member and support this work. Membership helps sustain the Society's publications, historical resources, research, and educational programs while connecting members with a community committed to preserving and sharing our church's history.

Learn more and join or renew your membership at hsec.us.

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For over a century, the Historical Society of the Episcopal Church has been dedicated to promoting the preservation and study of Episcopal and Anglican history. Founded in 1910 in Philadelphia as the Church Historical Society, HSEC brings together individuals and institutions who share a commitment to understanding and supporting the historical legacy of the church.