by Dr. Peter Marshall
On Sunday, April 9, 1944, as wartime tensions gripped the nation and just one year before his appointment as Chaplain of the United States Senate, Dr. Peter Marshall delivered his moving sermon “Were You There?” at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. This powerful Good Friday message invited his congregation to personally reflect on their presence—not just physically, but spiritually—at the crucifixion of Christ.
About Dr. Peter Marshall
Dr. Peter Marshall (1902-1949) was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister whose eloquent preaching and powerful spiritual convictions made him one of the most influential religious voices in America during the 1940s. Born in Coatbridge, Scotland, Marshall immigrated to the United States in 1927, where he attended Columbia Theological Seminary. His exceptional oratorical gifts and deep spiritual insight quickly distinguished him among his contemporaries.
Marshall served as pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. from 1937 until his untimely death from a heart attack at age 46. In 1947, he was appointed as Chaplain of the United States Senate, a position he held until his passing. During his brief but impactful career, Marshall became known for his vivid, storytelling approach to preaching that made biblical passages come alive for his listeners.
“Were You There?” represents one of Marshall’s most memorable sermons, later published in the collection “Mr. Jones, Meet the Master.” His legacy was further immortalized through his wife Catherine Marshall’s biography “A Man Called Peter,” which became a bestseller and was adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film in 1955.
The Wartime Sermons of Dr. Peter Marshall
