Phineas Densmore Gurley
| Phineas Densmore Gurley | |
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Phineas Gurley, pastor of NYAPC, 1860–1868, was a spiritual advisor to Abraham Lincoln
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| 40th Chaplain of the United States Senate | |
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In office December 15, 1859 – July 10, 1861 |
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| Preceded by | Stephen P. Hill |
| Succeeded by | Byron Sunderland |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 12, 1816 Hamilton, New York, United States |
| Died | September 30, 1868 (aged 51) Washington D.C., United States |
| Spouse(s) | Emma Brooks |
| Alma mater | Union College |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
Phineas Densmore Gurley (November 12, 1816 – September 30, 1868) was Chaplain of the United States Senate and pastor of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.
Gurley was born in Hamilton, New York, on November 12, 1816, the son of Phineas and Elizabeth (née Fox) Gurley. Gurley graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1837, with the highest honors of his class, and from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1840.
Gurley served First Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, (1840–1849) and First Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Ohio, (1850–1854). In 1854, Gurley accepted a call from the F Street Church in Washington, D. C., which in 1859 was united with the Second Presbyterian Church, to become the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Gurley continued to be the pastor of the merged congregation until his death.
In 1859 he was chosen Chaplain of the United States Senate; one of fourteen Presbyterians to hold that office, to date. Gurley numbered among his worshiping congregation President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. Lincoln was a pew holder and regular attender but not a member of the church. Gurley and his wife were frequent guests at the White House. Gurley was at Lincoln's deathbed and accompanied Mrs. Lincoln when she informed her son, Tad, of Lincoln's death. Gurley later compared the experience of the assassination with a major battle: I “felt as though I had been engaged all night in a terrible Battle and had just strength enough to drag myself off the field.” He preached his funeral sermon on April 19, 1865 at the White House, lauding Lincoln for his commitment to American ideals:
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