author
Charles Reynolds Brown
1862–1950
A well-known Protestant preacher and teacher of the early 20th century, his writing brings together practical faith, clear thinking, and a gift for speaking to everyday readers. He moved between the pulpit and the classroom with unusual ease, which gives his books both warmth and authority.
2 Audiobooks
The Cap and Gown
by Charles Reynolds Brown
Five Young Men: Messages of Yesterday for the Young Men of To-day
by Charles Reynolds Brown
About the author
Born in Bethany, West Virginia, in 1862, Charles Reynolds Brown became an American Congregational clergyman, educator, and prolific religious writer. He studied at the University of Iowa and Boston University, and built a reputation as a thoughtful preacher who could explain serious spiritual questions in plain, approachable language.
Brown served churches in Cincinnati and Boston before becoming pastor of the First Congregational Church in Oakland, California. His career then expanded into higher education: he lectured at major universities and went on to serve as dean of Yale Divinity School, where he was an important figure in Protestant theological education during the early 20th century.
His books reflect the same strengths that marked his public life—clarity, moral earnestness, and a strong interest in helping readers connect belief with daily living. For listeners coming to him now, he offers a window into a style of religious writing that aimed to be both intellectually serious and warmly encouraging.