Peter Hall (priest)


Peter Hall was an English cleric and topographer. He was a prolific writer and editor, but most of his works have been considered slight.

Life

Born 31 December 1803, he was the third son of James Hall of St. George's, Bloomsbury, London. Aged 13 he was sent to Winchester College, where he was educated on the foundation. He went on to Brasenose College, Oxford, matriculating 15 January 1822. He graduated B.A. 1 December 1825 and M.A. 21 January 1830.
In 1828 Hall was ordained and became curate of St Edmund's Church, Salisbury, where he remained until 1833. In September 1834 he was instituted to the rectory of Milston-cum-Brigmerston, Wiltshire, but had to leave because of the poor health of his wife. He was for a short time curate of St. Luke's, Chelsea, and afterwards, in May 1836, became minister of Tavistock Chapel, Drury Lane. In June 1841 he undertook the charge of Long Acre episcopal chapel, in the parish of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields. In 1843 he became minister of St. Thomas's Chapel, Walcot, at Bath, Somerset. He was also for some time travelling secretary to the Reformation Society.
Hall died at Great Malvern, Worcestershire, on 10 September 1849, leaving a widow and three daughters. His library was sold 27 May–4 June 1850.

Works

Hall's The Harmony of Protestant Confessions, his Reliquiae liturgicae, and Fragmenta liturgica are among his significant works. He wrote:
Hall also edited:
He edited, further, A Dialogue between a Popish Priest and an English Protestant, by Matthew Poole; Serious Thoughts on Marriage … Strictures on the Education of Children, by William Giles; Scripture Characters by the Rev. Thomas Robinson, 4 vols.
Hall published numerous sermons, including The Church and the World, a sermon preached at St. Thomas's Church, Salisbury, on 21 April 1833, with an account of his dismissal from his Salisbury curacy in the preface. He wrote also pamphlets and letters.