author
Benjamin Parsons
1797–1855
A fiery English Congregational minister and social reformer, he turned the chapel at Ebley into a lively center for worship, education, and political debate. His preaching and activism linked faith with campaigns for temperance, peace, and wider political rights.
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About the author
Born in Gloucestershire on February 16, 1797, he grew up in modest circumstances and trained for the ministry after early work as a teacher. He studied at Cheshunt College and went on to serve as a Congregational minister, eventually becoming closely associated with Ebley near Stroud, where his preaching drew large crowds.
He was known not only as a minister but also as a public campaigner. He supported causes such as temperance, peace, and political reform, and was remembered for involving ordinary members of his congregation in questions of public life rather than keeping religion separate from social issues.
He also wrote widely, producing religious and moral works for general readers. He died on January 10, 1855, leaving a reputation as an energetic preacher, organizer, and reform-minded churchman.