author
William Alexander
1824–1911
A Victorian-era Irish churchman who also wrote poetry, he brought a preacher’s seriousness and a poet’s eye to his work. His verse and religious writing reflect a life spent balancing faith, language, and public duty.
1 Audiobook
Expositor's Bible: The Epistles of St. John
by William Alexander
About the author
Born in Derry in 1824, he became an important figure in the Church of Ireland, serving first as Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and later as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. He studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, and built a reputation as an eloquent preacher as well as a thoughtful religious writer.
Alongside his church career, he published poetry and theological works. He is especially associated with St. Augustine's Holiday and Other Poems, and his writing was noted for its reflective, dignified style. He was also married to Cecil Frances Alexander, the celebrated hymn writer.
He died in 1911, leaving behind a body of work that connects Victorian religious life with literary culture. For readers today, his books offer both spiritual reflection and a glimpse into the moral and poetic world of nineteenth-century Ireland and Britain.