A funeral sermon for the Rev. Joseph Kinghorn

In the quiet of a September afternoon in 1832, a congregation gathers in St. Mary's Meeting‑House, Norwich, to hear a heartfelt tribute to their beloved minister, Joseph Kinghorn. The preacher, John Alexander, weaves Scripture from 2 Peter into a meditation on memory, duty, and the promise of everlasting life, echoing the very words his departed pastor often used. Listeners are invited to reflect on the pastor’s lifelong commitment to reminding his flock of the gospel’s core truths.

The sermon balances solemn remembrance with gentle encouragement, urging the grieving to hold fast to the doctrines that shaped their community. By recalling the pastor’s own habit of “stirring up” believers, Alexander paints a picture of a life devoted to faith, teaching, and service. The address offers comfort through the assurance that the pastor now enjoys the “abundant entrance” he proclaimed, while urging the living to keep his teachings alive.