Acclaimed lecturer Peter Blaze Corcoran will be the guest speaker at St. Giles Jefferson on Sunday, July 13, to honor Frances Perkins, former U.S. Secretary of Labor whose family home in Newcastle was recently declared a national monument. 

Corcoran, who has served as a teacher, researcher and professor of environmental studies at universities in the United States and around the world, has shared with many audiences the story, often overlooked, of Perkins’ role in modern U.S. history.  He has titled his talk ”Frances Perkins: Working Mother, U.S. Secretary of Labor, Holy Woman of The Episcopal Church.” 

Perkins was an Episcopalian who lived out her faith in commitment to the poor and to working people. Her accomplishments during the Roosevelt administration reshaped American social policy, establishing the Social Security system, unemployment insurance, fair labor standards, and other reforms. 

Professor Corcoran, now a member of the Board of Directors of the Frances Perkins Center at the Newcastle homestead, will share insights on three aspects of her life and offer a Frances Perkins prayer--or two. 

 The remarks will be part of an Episcopal service of Morning Prayer at St. Giles, beginning at 9:30 am. The service will conclude around 10:30, followed by coffee and refreshments in the parish hall. All are welcome to join the service in person or by Zoom. For the Zoom link, email saintgilesjefferson@gmail.com. 

St. Giles regularly hosts inspiring and thought-provoking speakers from the community and the wider world. Recent topics have included historical preservation, healing from trauma, various projects supporting needy people on Lincoln County, the war in Ukraine, and recent books by local authors. As always, the Episcopal Church welcomes you. 

St. Giles is located at 72 Gardiner Road in Jefferson.