The Defects in Our Practical Catholicity

William Chauncy Langdon (1831-1895) was an American clergyman, born in Burlington, Vermont. He entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church, and was made deacon in 1858, and priest in 1859. He went to Rome, Italy, and founded the American Episcopal Church there, of which he was the first rector. Returning to the United States, he was rector of St. John's Church, Havre de Grace, Maryland, from 1862 till 1866. In the general convention of 1865 he brought forward the subject of Italian Catholic reform, and was appointed a member of the joint committee, and sent to Italy in 1867. He visited Florence, where he remained until 1878. He founded Emmanuel Church, Geneva, Switzerland, in 1873, and was in charge until 1875. He returned to the United States and accepted the rectorship of Christ Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1876. In 1883 he became rector of St. James's Church, Bedford, Pennsylvania.