Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives

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The election of William Linn as Chaplain of the House on May 1, 1789, continued the tradition established by the Continental Congresses of each day's proceedings opening with a prayer by a chaplain. The early Chaplains alternated duties with their Senate counterparts on a weekly basis. The two conducted Sunday services for the Washington community in the House chamber every other week.

In addition to opening proceedings with prayer, the Chaplain provides pastoral counseling to the House community, coordinates the scheduling of guest chaplains, and arranges memorial services for the House and its staff. In the past, Chaplains have performed marriage and funeral ceremonies for House members.

Date of Appointment Chaplain Denomination
May 1, 1789 William Linn Presbyterian
January 4, 1790 Samuel Blair Presbyterian
November 5, 1792 Ashbel Green Presbyterian
November 17, 1800 Thomas Lyell Methodist
December 7, 1801 William Parkinson Baptist
November 5, 1804 James Laurie Presbyterian
December 1, 1806 Robert Elliot Presbyterian
October 26, 1807 Obadiah Bruen Brown Baptist
May 22, 1809 Jesse Lee Methodist
November 4, 1811 Nicholas Sneathen Methodist
November 2, 1812 Jesse Lee Methodist
September 19, 1814 Obadiah Bruen Brown Baptist
December 4, 1815 Spencer Houghton Cone Baptist
December 2, 1816 Burgess Allison Baptist
November 18, 1820 John Nicholson Campbell Presbyterian
December 3, 1821 Jared Sparks Unitarian
December 2, 1822 John Brackenridge Presbyterian
December 1, 1823 Henry Bidleman Bascom Methodist
December 6, 1824 Reuben Post Presbyterian
December 6, 1830 Ralph Randolph Gurley Presbyterian
December 5, 1831 Reuben Post Presbyterian
December 3, 1832 William Hammett Methodist
December 2, 1833 Thomas H. Stockton Methodist
December 1, 1834 Edward Dunlap Smith Presbyterian
December 7, 1835 Thomas H. Stockton Methodist
December 5, 1836 Oliver C. Comstock Baptist
September 4, 1837 Septimus Tustin Presbyterian
December 4, 1837 Levi R. Reese Methodist
December 2, 1839 Joshua Bates Congregationalist
December 7, 1840 Thomas W. Braxton Baptist
May 31, 1841 John W. French Episcopalian
December 6, 1841 John Newland Maffit Methodist
December 5, 1842 Frederick T. Tiffany Episcopalian
December 4, 1843 Isaac S. Tinsley Baptist
December 4, 1844 William M. Daily Methodist
December 1, 1845 William Henry Milburn Methodist
December 7, 1846 William T.S. Sprole Presbyterian
December 6, 1847 Ralph Gurley Presbyterian
December 1, 1851 Littleton F. Morgan Methodist
December 6, 1852 James Gallagher Presbyterian
December 5, 1853 William Henry Milburn Methodist
March 4, 1855 None See note*
July 4, 1861 Thomas H. Stockton Methodist
December 7, 1863 William Henry Channing Unitarian
December 4, 1865 Charles B. Boynton Congregationalist
March 4, 1869 John George Butler Presbyterian
December 6, 1875 S.L. Townsend Episcopalian
October 15, 1877 John Poise Methodist
December 3, 1877 W.P. Harrison Methodist
December 5, 1881 Frederick Dunglison Power Disciples of Christ
December 3, 1883 John Summerfield Lindsay Episcopalian
December 7, 1885 William Henry Milburn Methodist
August 7, 1893 Samuel W. Haddaway Methodist
December 4, 1893 Edward B. Bagby Christian
December 2, 1895 Henry N. Couden Universalist
April 11, 1921 James Shera Montgomery Methodist
January 3, 1950 Bernard Braskamp Presbyterian
January 10, 1967 Edward G. Latch Methodist
January 15, 1979 James D. Ford Lutheran
March 23, 2000 Daniel P. Coughlin Roman Catholic
  • From 1855 to 1861 the local clergy in the District of Columbia conducted the opening prayer. Thereafter, the House has elected a Chaplain at the beginning of each Congress.

United States Congress
House of Representatives, Senate — 110th Congress
Members House: Current, Former, Districts (by area) | Senate: Current (by seniority, by age), Former (expelled/censured), Classes
Leaders House: Speaker, Party leaders, Party whips, Dem. caucus, Rep. conference, Dean | Senate: President pro tempore (list), Party leaders, Assistant party leaders, Dem. Caucus (Chair, Secretary, Policy comm. chair), Rep. Conference (Chair, Vice-Chair, Policy comm. chair), Dean
Groups African Americans, Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanic Americans, Caucuses, Committees, Demographics, Senate Women
Agencies, Employees & Offices Architect of the Capitol, Capitol guide service (board), Capitol police (board), Chiefs of Staff, GAO, Government Printing Office, Law Revision Counsel, Librarian of Congress, Poet laureate | House: Chaplain, Chief Administrative Officer, Clerk, Doorkeeper, Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations, Historian, Page (board), Parliamentarian, Postmaster, Reading clerk, Recording Studio, Sergeant at Arms | Senate: Chaplain, Curator, Historian, Librarian, Page, Parliamentarian, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms
Politics & Procedure Act of Congress (list), Caucuses, Committees, Hearings, Joint session, Oversight, Party Divisions, Rider | House: Committees, History, Jefferson's Manual, Procedures | Senate: Committees, Filibuster, History, Traditions, VPs' tie-breaking votes
Buildings Capitol Complex, Capitol, Botanic Garden | Office buildings– House: Cannon, Ford, Longworth, O'Neill, Rayburn, Senate: Dirksen, Hart, Russell
Research Biographical directory, Congressional Quarterly, Congressional Record, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, The Hill, Roll Call, THOMAS
Misc Mace of the House, Power of enforcement, Scandals, Softball League
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/h/a/Chaplain_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_7e77.html"
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