History of Phillips Brooks Statue at the Trinity Church Boston

If you make your way around the left corner from the front façade of Trinity Church (that would be the north side) there is a memorable bronze statue which commemorates the long time preacher for Trinity, Phillips Brooks. Brooks was known for delivering some of the most noted sermons across American right here during the late 19th century.

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It was Brooks who, after the original Trinity Church was destroyed via fire in 1872, who worked so diligently to ensure the construction of the building in front of you. Brooks’ powerful sermons, including the funeral of Abraham Lincoln, were the product of much hard work. When he delivered his 1st sermon in London’s Westminster Abbey it was said, his voice could not be heard beyond the 1st row. Through much effort and motivation, Phillips became one of the most influential speakers of our time. Ironically, despite his countless motivational speeches, it is a little song known as O’ Little Town of Bethlehem for which we wrote that he is best known for.

The statue was constructed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1910, although not formally moved to its current location until 1925. The statue depicts Brooks standing in his robes with his left arm resting on a podium while raising his right arm while no doubt delivering one of his infamous speeches. Situated directly behind Brooks is Jesus Christ with his hand resting on the Brooks’ shoulder as if providing support or perhaps filtering his own message directly through Brooks. Just below the statue are the words, “Preacher of the Word of God / Lover of Mankind / Born in Boston / Died in Boston.”

• Website: http://www.trinitychurchboston.org/
• Address: 206 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA
• Cost: Tours are $6 for adults (guided or self-guided) and free for children under 16