Gray, Henry David, 1908-

Congregational clergyman, author, and civic leader, of Hartford, Conn.

From the description of Henry D. Gray papers, 1953-1970. (University of Connecticut). WorldCat record id: 28415191

Following his retirement from the ministry Gray served as dean of the American Congregational Center in Ventura, California. He has published numerous works in the fields of church polity, worship and youth work and has edited Congregational periodicals.

Gray was active in youth work, leading eight "odysseys" overseas and coordinating youth assemblies. He was one of the founders of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches, the group of continuing Congregationalists formed following the merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church to form the United Church of Christ in 1957.

He was National Secretary for High School and Student Work of the Congregational Christian fellowship from 1939 to 1942. From 1942 to 1955 he was minister of Oneonta Congregational Church, South Pasadena, California. From 1955 to 1971 he was minister of South Congregational Church, Hartford, Connecticut.

Henry David Gray was born in Northern Ireland and emigrated first to Canada in 1919 and then to the Los Angeles area in 1923. He received degrees from Pomona College, Hartford Theological Seminary and the University of Edinburgh. Gray was minister of First Congregational Church in South Hadley, Massachusetts from 1935 to 1939.

From the description of Henry David Gray papers, 1910-1985 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702130625

• 1908 Jan 18: Henry David Gray born in Antrim, Northern Ireland, son of Nathaniel and Margaret Lawther Gray.
• 1919: Emigrated first to Canada, then in 1923 to the Los Angeles area
• 1928 - 1929 : Director of Youth, Bethel Congregational Church, Ontario, California
• 1929 - 1930 : Assistant minister, First Methodist Church, Pomona, California
• 1930 B.A.,: Pomona College, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
• 1930 - 1931 : Director of youth work, Center Congregational Church, Hartford, CT
• 1931: Boston University School of Theology, religious education courses (summer)
• 1931 - 1933 : Religious education director, Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford
• 1933: B.D., Hartford Theological Seminary, awarded William Thompson Fellowship
• 1933 - 1935 : Minister, Hope Park and Buccleuch Congregational Church, Edinburgh, Scotland
• 1935: Ph.D., University of Edinburgh
• 1935: Study at Tubingen University, Germany
• 1935 - 1939 : Minister, First Congregational Church, South Hadley, Massachusetts
• 1939 - 1942 : National Secretary for High School and Student Work of the Congregational Christian fellowship
• 1942 - 1955 : Minister, Oneonta Congregational Church, South Pasadena, California
• 1945: Member of team to investigate war damage in British Congregational Churches
• 1948: First of eight "Youth Odysseys" led by HDG
• 1949: Convened First International Congregational Youth Assembly
• 1954: Honorary Doctorate of Divinity, Pomona College
• 1955 - 1970 : Minister, South Congregational Church, Hartford, Connecticut
• 1955: One of the founders of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches
• 1962 - 1966 : Editor, The Congregationalist
• 1971: Interim minister, Hollywood Congregational Church
• 1971 - 1972 : Interim minister, Congregational Church of the Valley
• 1972 - : Established, served as dean of Hollywood Congregational Center for Study and Service/ now known as American Congregational Center; Editor, Congregational Journal
• 1985: 1989: Coordinated C-Way: Congregational World Youth Assembly (re-establishment of 1949 Congregational Youth Assembly)

Partial list of organizations served:

Moderator:

Founding member:

Board of Directors:

From the guide to the Henry David Gray Papers, 1924-1981, (Yale University Divinity School Library)