Price, Roger

(Dec. 6, 1696-Dec. 8, 1762). Commissary to New England. He was born in Whitefield, England. Price graduated from Balliol College, Oxford on Feb. 21, 1717. He was ordained deacon and priest around 1720. On Apr. 22, 1725, he was given the living at Leigh in Essex County, England, which he retained throughout his life. Price was inducted as rector of King's Chapel, Boston, on July 25, 1729. In 1730 the Bishop of London appointed him “the Bishop's Commissary over all Episcopal Churches in New England.” He served in that position until Sept. 6, 1748. On Apr. 15, 1734, Price laid the cornerstone of Trinity Church, Boston. He resigned as rector of King's Chapel in Apr. 1747, and returned to England. In 1748 he came back to America and served St. Paul's Church, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, which he founded in 1735. In 1753 Price and his family returned to England. He became incumbent of his parish in Leigh, where he died. He was the only commissary to New England. The Church of England grew rapidly there under his leadership.