A. T. McCormick

A. Thomas McCormick (1770–1840) was an Episcopal clergyman and Chaplain of the United States Senate. Historians often render his name as Andrew Thomas McCormick or as Alexander Thomas McCormick, which makes researching his life and ministry a bit challenging. The references upon which this biographical sketch are based use both, or A. T. McCormick, which seems to have been his preference. In each case, it is clear from the context that the same person is meant.

Early years

McCormick was born in Ireland in 1770. He was brought up as a Presbyterian. He came to the United States, became an Episcopalian, and was made a deacon by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas John Claggett, Bishop of Maryland, on June 15, 1794. When he was ordained as a priest is not on record.^[1]

Ministry

McCormick became assistant rector in Queen Anne Parish, (St. Barnabas Church (Upper Marlboro, Maryland)), Prince George's County, Maryland. In 1796, he took charge of a school in the new city of Washington, D.C. It was evidently of a higher grade than any in the vicinity. The Rev. George Ralph, his predecessor in the school, had recently resigned to take charge of the newly organized parish of Washington, known as Christ Church, Washington Parish.^[2]

In 1798, Mr. McCormick became assistant at Christ Church. On May 4, 1806, he was elected rector, a position he would continue to fill through 1823.^[3] Among his happy duties, McCormick officiated at the wedding of Lydia, Benjamin Latrobe's daughter. John Quincy Adams was a Unitarian, not an Episcopalian, but decided while Secretary of State to go to Christ Church. The reason, he wrote in his diary in 1819, was that its rector, Andrew McCormick, was the only preacher in town worth hearing. I have at last given the preference to Mr. McCormick, of the Episcopal Church, Adams noted in the entry for October 24, and spoke to him last week for a pew.^[4]

During this period, McCormick served as Chaplain of the Senate (1804–1805 and 1807–1808).

Later years

McCormick died in 1840 at age of 70.^[5]

References

1. The correspondence of John Henry Hobart, by John Henry Hobart, pages 226-7
2. A History of the National Capital from Its Foundation, Volume 1, 1914, by Wilhelmus Bogart Bryan, page 301
3. Washington's First Parish, Christ Church, 1956
4. Christ Church, Washington Parish, A Brief History, by Nan Robertson, 1994, page 3
5. The Correspondence of John Henry Hobart, by John Henry Hobart, pages 226-7