Monument to Phillips Brooks, in front of Trinity Church in Copley Square.

The Phillips Brooks Monument, designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, was commissioned in 1893 by the Trinity Church congregation. The memorial was unfinished when Saint-Gaudens died in 1907. The artist’s early sketches included a figure in relief; an idealized, winged angelic figure; and finally the Christ, which was inspired by James Jacques Tissot’s drawings. Frances Grimes, Elsie Ward, and Henry Hering assisted in the work and its completion and Stanford White drew up the original architectural design, which was by William Kendall, of McKim, Mead and White. The monument was installed outside Trinity Church in 1910.

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was a popular Episcopal bishop. He was a stimulating preacher and author of several theological works. He began his career in the ministry at the Church of the Advent in Philadelphia, where he preached a sermon entitled "Character, Life and Death of Mr. Lincoln," which attracted wide attention at the time. He returned to Boston in 1868 to be the minister of Trinity Church.

Photo 305, Jan 2012

Monument to Phillips Brooks, in front of Trinity Church in Copley Square.

Photo 82g, Sept 2012

Monument to Phillips Brooks, in front of Trinity Church in Copley Square.

Photo 83g, Sept 2012