Phillips Brooks
In the south aisle of St Margaret's church Westminster is a memorial to American bishop Phillips Brooks. It takes the form of three panels of opus sectile work executed by J.C. Powell of the firm of Powells of Whitefriars. In the centre Our Lord is depicted as the Good Shepherd with a crook while St Peter kneels at his feet. On the right are figures of St John and St Thomas and on the other side is a shepherd boy with sheep and a sailing ship in the background. The texts are "Comfort ye my people, saith our God" and "Jesus said unto him, feed my sheep". On a plaque below is the inscription:
In memory of Phillips Brooks, D.D. Bishop of Massachusetts, honoured and beloved. A.D. 1894
Underneath is a Latin inscription by Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, which can be translated:
True priest of God, whose glowing utterance stayed the failing feet, the heart that was afraid, Pastor and Friend, beloved, most desired, thy people called thee, but thy God required. E.W. Cantuar.
The memorial was erected by his English and American admirers during the time Archdeacon Frederic William Farrar was rector of the church. The Bishop wrote the words of "O Little Town of Bethlehem".
(Kentucky Digital Library) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
This image can be purchased from Westminster Abbey Library
Image © 2024 Dean and Chapter of Westminster
