Preston Bradley
Preston Bradley
Dr. Preston Bradley (1888-1983) was a clergyman, author and lecturer. He believed that ethics, religion and economics could not be separated. As a follower of Henry George, he believed that ministers must be concerned with social justice, poverty, and civic wrongs. (2 american article) This liberal ideology guided his life and he was viewed as a forceful liberal voice and a reformer. (defender) He was the founder and pastor of the Peoples Church in the Uptown Neighborhood of Chicago. Dr Bradley was a civic leader who was active in Chicago in many areas, such as conservation, arts, racial issues and education.
The Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall is named for him.
Early Life and Religious Affiliations
Dr. Bradley was born and raised in Linden, MI, in a conservative Christian home. He attended Alma College and a Flint MI law school. He worked as a weekend pastor while a student. In 1911, he moved to Chicago to attend the conservative Moody Bible Institute. (3 obit) After being ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1912, he left the church saying, "I am not orthodox about anything. I am thoroughly, completely, adequately, gloriously and triumphantly a heretic." (3obit) He rejected Christian orthodoxy and developed his own form of liberal religious humanism called Christian Unitarianism. (4 chicago ency). From 1912 until the founding of the People's Church in 1922, Dr. Bradley conducted Sunday services at a number of Chicago theaters. (5 obit)
Peoples Church
Dr. Bradly founded the Peoples Church in 1922, basing it on the creed of "the Good, the True and the Beautiful" and affiliating with the Unitarian Conference (6 SPE) In 1926, the Church moved into its home at 941 W. Lawrence. Bradley built the Church into a major Chicago institution with four thousand members. His radio program reached millions of listeners. (8 ency of chicago) The Church continued to grow, adding new buildings. It was "one of the most largely attended liberal churches in the world" (9 peoples church web site). Dr Preston retired from the church in 1968, but continued to give sermons and radio programs until 1976. (10 obit)
Boards and Honorary Degrees
Dr. Bradly served on the Chicago Public Library Board, the Illinois State Teachers College and Normal School Boards. )SPE) He was a founder and president of the Izaack Walton League (a conservation group), a charter member of the Chicago Human Relations Commission 11(obit), and a trustee of the Municipal Art League (SPE)
Dr. Bradley was granted many honorary degrees: a D.C.L. from Hamilton College of Law [Chicago, Illinois], an L.L.D. from Lake Forest [Illinois] College, and a D.D. from Meadville Theological Seminary [Chicago, Illinois]. (SPE)
Personal Life
Dr Bradley married Grace Thayer in 1915. She died in 1950. Their adopted son, James, died in 1951. He married June Haslet in 1952. (11 SPE) In 1976 he moved to Stowe, VT, where he died in 1983. (obit)
Works by Preston Bradley
Dr. Bradley was a prolific speaker and writer. Many of his sermons, radio programs and other writings are held at the University of Illinois, Chicago. A list is available. Following is a list of his books:
Along the Way: An Autobiography. New York: McKay, 1962 Between You and Me. Chicago: Aspley House, 1967 Courage for Today. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1934 Happiness Through Creative Living. Garden City, New York: Hanover House, 1955 Life and You. New York, London: Harper & Brothers, 1939 Mastering Fear. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1935 Meditations and My Daily Strength. New York: Permabooks, 1950 New Wealth for You. New York: Stokes, 1941 Power from Right Thinking. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1936 Was Abraham Lincoln a Christian? Peoria,IL: Edward J. Jacob, 1949