author
William Morley Punshon
1824–1881
An English Methodist preacher with a gift for public speaking, he became one of the best-known nonconformist voices of the Victorian era. His sermons and lectures were admired for their energy, polish, and moral seriousness.
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About the author
Born in Doncaster on May 29, 1824, William Morley Punshon trained for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry at Richmond College after first spending some time in business. He received his first appointment in 1845 and quickly built a reputation as a preacher whose eloquence drew wide attention.
Punshon went on to serve in several important circuits, including London, and became known not just as a minister but also as a lecturer and religious writer. He was closely associated with Methodism in Canada as well, serving as president of the Canadian Methodist Church during part of the late 1860s and early 1870s.
He died on April 14, 1881. Remembered as a powerful orator as much as a pastor, he left behind sermons, addresses, and biographical collections that capture the style and influence that made him such a notable figure in nineteenth-century Protestant life.