author
Clovis Gillham Chappell
1882–1972
A celebrated Methodist preacher and religious writer, he became known for clear, memorable sermons that reached audiences far beyond his own pulpit. His books drew on years of ministry and helped make him one of the best-known sermon voices of his era.
1 Audiobook
Sermons on Biblical Characters
by Clovis Gillham Chappell
About the author
Born in Flat Woods, Tennessee, on January 8, 1882, Clovis Gillham Chappell built a long career in the Methodist ministry after studying at Webb School, Trinity College at Duke, and Harvard. Early in his working life he served as principal of E. W. Grove High School in Paris, Tennessee, and he was ordained in 1908.
Over the following decades, he served major pastorates in cities including Washington, Memphis, Houston, Birmingham, and Charlotte. Library and archival sources describe him as a prolific preacher and author, and his papers and sermon collections preserved at Emory reflect the wide reach of his work.
Chappell died in 1972, but his writing continued to circulate among readers interested in practical, devotional preaching. He is especially remembered for sermons that aimed to be direct, warm, and easy to carry into everyday life.