Joshua Bennett
Former first lady Barbara Bush was married to George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. Their son, George W. Bush, was the 43rd president. Barbara was raised in an Episcopalian family and married George H.W. in the Rye First Presbyterian Church in 1945. She later decided to convert to her husband's denomination of Episcopalianism but did not officially join. George W. Bush left his family's Episcopal Church to join his wife Laura Welch's United Methodist Church. One of George and Barbara's other sons, Jeb, followed his wife into the Catholic Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Barbara Bush's religion | Christian, Episcopalian |
| George H.W. Bush's religion | Episcopalian |
| George W. Bush's religion | Evangelical Protestant, United Methodist |
| Jeb Bush's religion | Catholic |
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What You'll Learn
George W. Bush was raised in the Episcopal Church
George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, where his father was enrolled as a freshman at Yale University. The family moved to Texas in 1948 when George H.W. Bush graduated from Yale, as he had accepted a job in the oil industry. The Bushes moved to California in 1949, where they lived in several different towns over the course of a year for George H.W. Bush's work. In 1957, the Bushes drove across the country, accompanied by their Black housekeeper and babysitter, and faced interruptions and barriers to entry due to the racial dynamics of the time.
In 1959, the Bush family settled in Houston, Texas, where George H.W. Bush found success in the petroleum industry. Barbara Bush supported her husband's political career, and in 1966, he was elected to Congress for the first time. The following year, the Bush family moved to Washington, D.C. George W. Bush left his family's Episcopal Church to join his wife Laura Welch's United Methodist Church. Before marrying Laura, George W. Bush struggled with alcohol abuse. After their marriage, he embraced a more evangelical form of Protestantism, reading the Bible daily and "surrendering to the Almighty."
George W. Bush followed in his father's footsteps, becoming the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000. He was also the managing general partner of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers for five years, starting in 1989. George W. Bush's mother, Barbara Bush, was known for her strong Christian faith, which sustained her throughout her public and private life. She was the only woman, besides Abigail Adams, to be both the wife and mother of a president of the United States.
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George W. Bush converted to Methodism in 1977
George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, converted to Methodism in 1977. He was raised in the Episcopal Church, the same denomination as his parents, George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, and his wife, Laura Bush. However, he chose to convert to Methodism upon his marriage. Bush has been noted as one of the most religious US presidents. He attributes his deep faith to a 1985 meeting with Billy Graham, a prominent preacher in the evangelical movement.
Bush's religious views have been a subject of debate, with researchers questioning his closeness to Evangelicals and his true religious beliefs. While he has been considered an ally of the American evangelical movement and claimed as an evangelical by some, Bush has never explicitly stated that he is "born again" or fully embraced standard evangelical doctrines. His administration's policies reflected his religious influence, as he pushed for socially conservative initiatives and faith-based programs.
Barbara Bush, the former first lady, also embodied the virtues of 20th-century American Protestantism, including loyalty, duty, and family. She was known for her old-fashioned religious faith, rooted in the Episcopal Church. Barbara and her husband, George H.W. Bush, were loyal to their Episcopalian roots throughout their 73-year marriage. They actively participated in the life of their congregation at Houston's St. Martin's Episcopal Church.
While George W. Bush embraced a more evangelical form of Protestantism, his brother, Jeb Bush, followed his wife into the Catholic Church. The Bush family's religious beliefs played a significant role in shaping their public and private lives, with Barbara's Christian faith sustaining her through life's challenges and providing strength and inspiration.
In summary, George W. Bush's conversion to Methodism in 1977 marked a shift from his Episcopalian upbringing, and his deep faith influenced his presidency and policies. Barbara Bush's old-fashioned Episcopalian faith, meanwhile, reflected the virtues of loyalty, duty, and family, and she gracefully navigated her public and private duties as first lady.
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Barbara Bush was a Protestant
Barbara and George H.W. Bush were actively involved in the life of their congregation at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, where they nurtured their faith and raised their young family. The rector of St. Martin's, Rev. Russ Levenson Jr., recalled the Bushes' decades-long participation and dedication to the church community. Barbara's Christian faith was a constant source of strength and inspiration for her, and she embodied the virtues of womanhood promoted in 20th-century American Protestantism, including loyalty, duty, and family.
Barbara's faith was evident in how she spoke about her late daughter, Robin, who died of leukemia in 1953 at the age of three. Barbara's deep faith provided her with comfort and resilience in the face of tragedy. She once said, "Robin to me is a joy. She is like an angel to me, and she's not a sadness or a sorrow."
While Barbara Bush was a devoted Episcopalian, her son, George W. Bush, embraced a more evangelical form of Protestantism, and another son, Jeb Bush, converted to Catholicism, following his wife's faith. Barbara's faith remained private, and she did not publicly discuss how it influenced her family or political life.
Barbara Bush's funeral was held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, reflecting her long-standing affiliation and commitment to the Episcopal Church.
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Barbara Bush was a member of the Episcopal Church
Barbara Pierce, born in 1925, grew up in an Episcopalian household in Rye, New York. She was an athletic and witty child who enjoyed reading. Barbara met her future husband, George H.W. Bush, at a Christmas dance in 1941 when she was 16 years old. They married in 1945, and after George's service in World War II, they moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where he attended Yale University.
The couple's first child, George Walker Bush, was born in 1946. In 1948, George graduated from Yale and moved the family to Texas and California to pursue a career in the oil industry. During this time, Barbara and George attended Houston's St. Martin's Episcopal Church, where they actively participated in the congregation's life. They taught in the Sunday school program and were involved in outreach ministries.
Barbara's faith was an important part of her life, and she embodied the virtues of womanhood promoted in 20th-century American Protestantism, including loyalty, duty, and family. Her Christian faith sustained her through the challenges of public and private life, including the loss of their daughter, Robin, who died of leukemia in 1953. Barbara's deep faith provided her with strength and inspiration, and she approached her obligations with dignity and grace.
While Barbara and George remained loyal to their Episcopal roots, their sons followed different religious paths. Their son George W. Bush embraced evangelical Protestantism, while their other son, Jeb, converted to Catholicism, following his wife's faith. Despite these variations in religious affiliation, the Bush family's strong religious values and participation in the Episcopal Church left a lasting impact on their lives.
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George W. Bush's son, Jeb, is Catholic
Jeb Bush was raised in the Episcopal Church, like his parents. However, he later converted to Roman Catholicism, following his wife, Columba, who is a committed Catholic and a member of Regnum Christi. Jeb and Columba's son, George P. Bush, has also publicly professed the Catholic faith.
Jeb Bush's religious beliefs have influenced his political stances. For example, he has opposed same-sex marriage, stating that it is not a constitutional right and affirming that traditional marriage is a core element of the Catholic faith. Additionally, he has taken a pro-life stance, opposing physician-assisted suicide and the use of public funds in embryonic stem cell research.
Jeb Bush's Catholic faith has been a notable aspect of his public life and has influenced his political career and positions. As a member of the prominent Bush family, his religious choices have been a topic of interest and have contributed to his political identity.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they were Episcopalian.
No, but their son George W. Bush embraced evangelical Protestantism, and their other son, Jeb, converted to Catholicism.
The Episcopal Church is a part of the Anglican Communion and is a Christian denomination that follows a liturgical tradition and church structure similar to the Catholic Church.
Yes, both George and Barbara Bush were religious. Barbara's Christian faith, in particular, was a constant source of strength and inspiration for her.
