He was a descendant on his mother's side from Colonel Benjamin Church, an early settler in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and the father of American ranging.

Brownell's extensive writings include diocesan charges, liturgical material, scriptural commentaries and other works.

[1] In the 1830s, Brownell worked tirelessly to expand the Episcopal Church in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, places beginning to flourish due to the expansion of American slavery.

[2] Brownell served as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1852 until his death, succeeding Philander Chase.

In consequence of this it is that they are what they are.” The rigid racial order upheld by the Connecticut managers thus justified the sole purpose of their national organization.

Moving Black persons from the United States to Africa, the members of the CCS believed, would solve the issue of American slavery.