Unitarians,
Frequently termed Socinians from Laelius Socinus, who founded a sect in
Italy about 1546.
In
America Dr. James Freeman, of
King's Chapel,
Boston, in 1783, removed from the
Prayer book of common prayers all reference to the
Trinity or Deity and worship of
Christ; his church became distinctly
Unitarian in 1787.
In 1801 the Plymouth Church declared itself
Unitarian.
Dr. William Ellery Channing (1780-1842) was the acknowledged head of this church until his death.
The American Unitarian association was formed May 24, 1825; headquarters at
Boston, Mass. The Western conference organized 1852, and a national
Unitarian conference at New York City, April 5, 1865.
Reports for 1900 showed: 550 ministers, 459 churches, and 71,000 members.