Phillips Brooks

1835-1893. Preacher and bishop. Born in Boston and educated at Harvard College and the Protestant Episcopal Seminary at Alexandria, Virginia, he was made deacon in 1859, ministered in Philadelphia, and in 1862 became rector of Holy Trinity Church, also in that city. His eloquence brought a call to Trinity Church, Boston. At first he refused, but after further urging he began his memorable twenty-two years of ministry there in 1869. Early in 1877 he delivered his Lectures on Preaching before Yale Divinity School; in these he stressed preaching as “the bringing of truth through personality.” In 1880 he preached in Westminster Abbey, and before Queen Victoria in the Royal Chapel at Windsor. He wrote the lovely hymn “O little town of Bethlehem.” In 1891 he was consecrated bishop of Boston. He died fifteen months later.