George Washington attended church but his actions and words revealed that he was a Deist. These two quotations are from The Reverend Doctor James Abercrombie, rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia that Washington attended:
"With respect to the inquiry you make, I can only state the following facts: ... he had received a very just rebuke from the pulpit for always leaving the church before the administration of the sacrament; ... Accordingly, he never afterwards came on the morning of sacrament Sunday, though at other times he was a constant attendant in the morning." - letter to a friend, 1833
"Sir, Washington was a Deist." - letter to the Reverend Bird Wilson, an Episcopal minister who asked about Washington's religious beliefs
On a few occasions, Washington expressed approval of Christian belief on the part of others.
"The General hopes and trusts that every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his country." - General Order, July 9, 1776
On May 12, 1789, a group of Delaware Indians who had been converted to a pacifist Christianity sent him a petition regarding several issues and expressing their "firm resolution to continue an inviolate friendship with the United States of America." They explained that they had "embraced Christianity under the Instruction of the Reverend and worthy Mr. David Ziesberger whose honest zealous labours & good examples have induced many of them to listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which has been a means of introducing considerable order, regularity and love of peace into the minds of the whole Nation."
Washington wrote of his reaction to the petition:
The deputies from the Delaware Nation arrived at Head Quarters two days ago. They presented me with a long memorial on various points, which they intend to present also to Congress. I was a little at a loss what answer to give and could have wished they had made their first application there. But as an answer could not be avoided, I thought it safest to couch it in general but friendly terms and refer them to Congress for a more particular one.
Washington replied to the Delawares,
My ears hear with pleasure the other matters you mention. Congress will be glad to hear them too. You do well to wish to learn our arts and ways of life, and above all, the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do every thing they can to assist you in this wise intention; and to tie the knot of friendship and union so fast, that nothing shall ever be able to loose it. - The writings of George Washington
Although Washington frequent made references to "that Almighty Being" and "Providence," there is no record of any statement by him expressing a belief in Christ. He stated his philosophy succinctly:
"Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy people." - letter to Marquis de Lafayette, January 29, 1789
When Presbyterian clergymen complained that the Constitution did not mention Jesus Christ, Washington replied,
I am persuaded, you will permit me to observe that the path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction. To this consideration we ought to ascribe the absence of any regulation, respecting religion, from the Magna-Charta of our country.
Washington, like Jefferson and Madison, was a defender of everyone's right to their own religious beliefs.
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens. - letter to Touro Synagogue, 1790
When Washington was dying, and knew it, he did not ask for a minister. This is from the account of his secretary, Tobias Lear, who was with him:
About ten o'clk he made several attempts to speak to me before he could effect it, at length he said, - "I am just going. Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead." I bowed assent, for I could not speak. He then looked at me again and said, "Do you understand me?" I replied, "Yes. "Tis well," said he.
About ten minutes before he expired (which was between ten and eleven o'clk) his breathing became easier; he lay quietly; - he withdrew his hand from mine, and felt his own pulse. I saw his countenance change. I spoke to Dr. Craik who sat by the fire; - he came to the bed side. The General's hand fell from his wrist - I took it in mine and put it into my bosom. Dr. Craik put his hands over his eyes and he expired without a struggle or a sigh!
In 1831, Reverend Bird Wilson gave a sermon in Albany, NY. He said:
The founders of our nation were nearly all Infidels, and that of the presidents who had thus far been elected [George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson] - not a one had professed a belief in Christianity.Wilson's sermon was published and read by Robert Dale Owen who interviewed Wilson. Owen wrote about the interview in a letter to Amos Gilbert who published it. According to the letter, Wilson told Owen that:
I have diligently perused every line that Washington ever gave to the public, and I do not find one expression in which he pledges himself as a believer in Christianity. I think anyone who will candidly do as I have done, will come to the conclusion that he was a Deist and nothing more.
Like Jefferson and Madison, Washington strongly defended the rights of non-Christians to live and worship in accordance with their beliefs. By the late eighteenth century, Rhode Island, which had been founded on the principle of the separation of church and state, had attracted Baptists, Quakers, Jews, and other non-Puritans who had been persecuted in Massachusetts. In August 1790, after Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, Washington visited Newport. Among the politicians, businessmen, and clergymen who read letters of welcome to Washington was Moses Seixas, an official of the Hebrew Congregation of Newport. He told Washington,
Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invaluable rights of free Citizens, we now (with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty disposer of all events) behold a Government, erected by the Majesty of the People - a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance—but generously affording to All liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language, equal parts of the great governmental Machine ...
Later that month, Washington replied to the Hebrew Congregation. These are a few excerpts:
The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy—a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants—while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.
May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.