Hugh Thomson Kerr

Dr. Hugh Thomson Kerr attended the University of Toronto and Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served as fifth pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian Church from 1913 to 1945. He is the author of 20 books both for children and adults. His children's books include Children's Nature Story-Sermons, Children's Missionary Story-Sermons and My First Communion for children. His adults books include A God Centered Faith, The Christian Sacraments and Preaching in the Early Church for...See more

Dr. Hugh Thomson Kerr attended the University of Toronto and Western Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served as fifth pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian Church from 1913 to 1945. He is the author of 20 books both for children and adults. His children's books include Children's Nature Story-Sermons, Children's Missionary Story-Sermons and My First Communion for children. His adults books include A God Centered Faith, The Christian Sacraments and Preaching in the Early Church for adults. He helped compile the Presbyterian Hymnal in 1933, and the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship. Dr. Kerr was also the author of the hymn "God of Our Life, Through All the Circling Years," which he wrote for the fiftieth anniversary of Shadyside in 1916. World Wide Communion Sunday was originated in Shadyside Presbyterian Church by Dr. Hugh Thomson Kerr In 1933. It is still going strong today. Originally only in Presbyterian churches, it has since helped bridge the gap between differing communions and is now celebrated across the world in many different denominations. He was the first to use the power of the radio to get the message of the Cross into homes. His Sunday morning sermons were sent out over the airwaves on the world's first commercial radio station, which was in Pittsburgh. See less