Father Charles Chiniquy

He was a controversial religious figure from Kamouraska, Quebec, and he founded St. Anne, Illinois in 1851.

His early life and his family life

Father Charles Chiniquy was born in Kamouraska, Quebec on July 30th, 1809. He died on January 16, 1899. He was the eldest of three sons to notary public figure Charles Chiniquy and his wife Marie-Reine Perreault.

In 1809, he was orphaned at the young age of twelve. He went to Nicolet Seminary School. After attending Nicolet Seminary School, he went to continue his religious education at a different school due to a sexual scandal.

His religious career

In September of 1833, this is where he reached Priesthood status in the Catholic Church. 

1844 he wrote the Manual of Temperance, which sold out immediately. 

In the Spring of 1851,  Bishop Van de Velde of Chicago requested that Rev. Father Chiniquy of Montreal come to Illinois. He helped move small thriving groups of French Canadians to Bourbonnais, IL.

In 1851, he founded St. Anne 

He helped move the largest number of early settlers in Kankakee County.

He mostly helped with French-Canadian immigration. He was known for the rapid settlement of the Southeastern corner of town. He was instrumental in the settlement of Beaverville and L’erable in Iroquois County.

He also wrote the book Fifty Years of Rome.

Controversy

The conflict between Father Chiniquy and the Catholic Church was an emotional one. They had opposing viewpoints. He clashed with Bishop Anthony O’Regan. It was around the time that he left the Catholic Church.

Chiniquy was suspended on 19 August 1856, for public insubordination by Bishop Anthony O’Regan, Van de Velde’s successor in Chicago.

He was no longer a priest in the Roman Catholic Church starting in 1858. He got into trouble in October of 1858 by Bishop Bouget, who suspended him from the priesthood.

 In August of 1856, he refused to acknowledge his suspension from his duties for two more years and continued to commission French Canadian parishioners as a Catholic Priest.

He also believed that the Roman Catholic Church was somehow involved in the assassination of President Lincoln and that the Roman Catholic Church was involved in the Civil War. He had no proof.

After he left the Catholic Church, he switched religions to Presbyterian, and he renamed the Catholic Church of St. Anne to the Presbyterian Church of St. Anne.

Spink vs. Chiniquy

Spink sued Chiniquy for slander.

The trial took place in May of 1856.

Lincoln defended Chiniquy, as his lawyer. He was sued twice by Spink. The Jury acquitted Chiniquy. He became friends with President Lincoln until Lincoln’s death.