author
Sartell Prentice
1867–1937
A minister and writer with a deep love of cathedral art and symbolism, he brought religious history to life for general readers as well as church audiences. His books range from fiction to reflections on war, chaplaincy, and the meaning of sacred architecture.
1 Audiobook
The Cloud
by Sartell Prentice
About the author
Born in Albany, New York, on September 30, 1867, he became an American clergyman and author whose work blended religion, history, and storytelling. He studied at Amherst College, then at McCormick Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary, preparing for a career in ministry.
He served as a minister in the Reformed Church and is especially associated with the First Reformed Church of Nyack, where he led the congregation in the early 20th century. Alongside his church work, he wrote books including The Cloud (1918), Padre: A Red Cross Chaplain in France, and The Heritage of the Cathedral (1936), showing a wide range of interests from fiction and wartime service to the history and spiritual meaning of cathedrals.
Prentice died in 1937. Though not widely known today, his writing still offers a window into the religious imagination of his time, especially his effort to make churches, symbols, and sacred spaces feel vivid and approachable to readers.