Religion of Teddy Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt's ancestors were part of the Dutch Reformed church (a staunchly Calvinistic denomination). His mother was a Presbyterian (another Calvinist denomination), and as a boy and young man in New York City and Oyster Bay, he often attended Presbyterian churches. As an adult he followed his ancestors in the Dutch Reformed tradition, and was basically a mainline Protestant in his religious views. He was however, very ecumenical in his practice, probably resulting from the fact that he had no real interest in abstract theology or philosophy.

Roosevelt's ecumenical views and lack of interest in abstract religious ideas are emphasized by the fact that he counted Roman Catholics (including priests, bishops, and nuns) and Jews among his close friends, and are further emphasized by the fact that his first wife, Alice Lee Roosevelt was a Unitarian, and his second wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was a devout Episcopalian (both denominations are significantly different than his background).

In fact, Roosevelt seemed comfortable with the various mainline protestant practices, and even activelly participated by joining loudly and enthusiastically in the hymn singing in services at the Episcopal Church (Christ Church) with Edith in Oyster Bay because there was no Dutch Reformed Church there. He returned to his roots later, when he and his family moved to Albany, where he attended a Dutch Reformed church even though Edith chose to attend an Episcopal church. He continued that tradition when, as President, he attended Grace Reformed Church, a German Reformed church close to the White House (notably, the German reformed denomination later merged with the Congregational Church, forming the present United Church of Christ, and Grace Reformed Church is today the United Church of Christ). During that time, Edith attended St. John's Church, Lafayette Square (Episcopal), the "church of the presidents."

Adapted from The Religion of Theodore Roosevelt, http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/Religion.htm