author
Basil Wilberforce
1841–1916
A well-known Anglican preacher at Westminster Abbey, he mixed traditional church life with an unusually open interest in mysticism and spiritual experience. His sermons and books made him a distinctive religious voice in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain.
1 Audiobook
Mystic Immanence, the Indwelling Spirit
by Basil Wilberforce
About the author
Born in Winchester on 14 February 1841, he was the younger son of Samuel Wilberforce and was educated at Eton and Exeter College, Oxford. He was ordained in 1866 and went on to serve in several prominent church roles, including Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, Canon of Westminster, and Archdeacon of Westminster.
He became especially known as a preacher and religious writer. Alongside his official church work, he drew attention for his interest in the inner life of faith, speaking warmly about prayer, spiritual renewal, and the nearness of God in everyday experience.
That combination of establishment position and adventurous spirituality made him an unusual figure in the Church of England. He died on 13 May 1916, leaving behind a reputation as both a popular clergyman and a thoughtful author.