author
Howard J. (Howard James) Chidley
1878–1966
A Canadian-born Congregational minister who brought warmth and imagination to religious writing for children, he is best remembered for story-based talks that turn everyday objects and moments into simple moral lessons. His work speaks in a direct, gentle voice that was meant to be heard as much as read.
1 Audiobook
Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and Girls
by Howard J. (Howard James) Chidley
About the author
Born in Ontario in 1878, Howard J. Chidley was a Canadian-born clergyman who built much of his career in the United States. He studied at Dartmouth and Union Theological Seminary, and by the time Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and Girls appeared, he was serving as pastor of Trinity Congregational Church in East Orange, New Jersey.
Chidley wrote for young listeners and readers with the instincts of a preacher who knew how to hold a room. Books such as Fifty-Two Story Talks to Boys and Girls, Story Sermons for Children, and The Child's World in Story Sermons show his gift for turning familiar scenes into short, memorable lessons shaped for children.
He later became closely associated with the First Congregational Church in Winchester, Massachusetts, where he served for many years and was honored for the length and impact of his pastorate. He died in Winchester in 1966, leaving behind both a long ministry and a body of writing designed to make faith feel clear, practical, and inviting to younger audiences.