Frederick Lee (priest) facts for kids

Frederick George Lee (born January 6, 1832, died January 22, 1902) was an English priest and writer. He was part of the Church of England, which is the main Christian church in England. He also helped start a group called the Order of Corporate Reunion.

Frederick Lee's Life Story

Frederick Lee studied to become a priest at Cuddesdon Theological College. In 1856, he became a priest, which means he was officially allowed to lead church services.

He helped create the Association for the Promotion of the Unity of Christendom (APUC) in 1857. This group wanted to bring different Christian churches closer together. Later, when he worked in Aberdeen, he had some disagreements with the local bishop. This was because of his "ritualistic" practices, which meant he liked to use more traditional ceremonies and symbols in church services. He later became the vicar (a type of priest) at All Saints' Church in Lambeth, London.

In 1874, Lee and two other people, John Thomas Seccombe and Thomas Wimberley Mossman, started a secret group called the Order of Corporate Reunion. This group aimed to continue the work of bringing churches together. They especially wanted the Roman Catholic Church to recognize their priests. It is believed that Lee was secretly made a bishop by some Roman Catholic leaders, whose names were kept secret for a long time. For a while, Lee called himself the Bishop of Dorchester and performed some ordinations (making new priests). However, he later felt that this was a mistake and became less involved.

In the late 1880s, Frederick Lee was part of the Order of the White Rose. This club helped start a movement called the Neo-Jacobite Revival in the United Kingdom. This movement was interested in the history of the Jacobites, who supported the Stuart royal family.

Just before he died, on December 11, 1901, Frederick Lee officially joined the Roman Catholic Church. Besides writing books and sermons, he also edited many church newspapers and magazines. Some of these included The Union Newspaper, The Scottish Miscellany, and The Church News.

Frederick Lee's Writings

Frederick Lee was a very active writer. He published many poems, sermons, and books throughout his life. He also edited several collections of writings by others. His works often focused on religious topics, church history, and ways to bring different Christian churches closer. Some of his notable books include Directorium Anglicanum, which was a guide for church services, and The Other World, Or Glimpses of the Supernatural, which explored spiritual topics. He also wrote about historical figures and events related to the church.