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Over the course of the 334-year history of King’s Chapel, ministers have contributed a substantial amount to the church’s written history. A large portion of these written works consists of sermons given as part of these ministers’ regular responsibilities—sermons for weekly services, as well as those celebrating a marriage or baptism, or commemorating a life at a funeral service. However, many historic ministers of King’s Chapel also wrote poems, prose, hymns, or histories on subjects religious or otherwise.
The Reverend Ephraim Peabody (1807-1856) was the minister of King’s Chapel for about a decade before his death, though he also served other congregations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Throughout his life, Peabody contributed as a writer and editor for religious literary magazines, including The Western Messenger and The Christian Register. One of Peabody’s published poems, “New-England Emigration Westward”, was presented in front of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard in 1835. He came to King’s Chapel toward the end of his career, when he was already a prolific writer, yet continued to publish works.
While the majority of his published work was spiritual in nature, it is important to acknowledge the troubling views on slavery and anti-abolitionist stances that are found throughout several of his works, which we do not condone.
In addition to his published poetry and prose, Peabody wrote poems intended for a sole recipient: his wife, Mary Jane. For years, Ephraim Peabody wrote a new love poem for his wife in celebration of her birthday. Folders of these poems remain in King’s Chapel’s collection today, allowing us a glimpse of Peabody’s more private writings.
The Reverend Ephraim Peabody (1807-1856) was the minister of King’s Chapel for about a decade before his death, though he also served other congregations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. Throughout his life, Peabody contributed as a writer and editor for religious literary magazines, including The Western Messenger and The Christian Register. One of Peabody’s published poems, “New-England Emigration Westward”, was presented in front of the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard in 1835. He came to King’s Chapel toward the end of his career, when he was already a prolific writer, yet continued to publish works.
While the majority of his published work was spiritual in nature, it is important to acknowledge the troubling views on slavery and anti-abolitionist stances that are found throughout several of his works, which we do not condone.
In addition to his published poetry and prose, Peabody wrote poems intended for a sole recipient: his wife, Mary Jane. For years, Ephraim Peabody wrote a new love poem for his wife in celebration of her birthday. Folders of these poems remain in King’s Chapel’s collection today, allowing us a glimpse of Peabody’s more private writings.
Read Reverend Peabody's Romantic Poetry
Birthday Poem from Rev. Ephraim Peabody to his wife, Mary Jane Derby (n.d.) |
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