The Rev. William Augustus Muhlenberg

A nineteenth century visionary for our time

As part of our lecture series for our 275th anniversary, Dr. Walter Prehn shared, via Zoom, a summary of the life and work of William Augustus Muhlenberg–co-rector at Saint James in the 1820s and one of the most influential Episcopal priests of his time. Below is Dr. Prehn’s presentation. Click here to view additional information related to the lecture.

WA Muhlenberg

William Augustus Muhlenberg, Jacob Eichholtz, 1836 Oil on canvas Courtesy of The Arthur H. Aufses, Jr., MD Archives, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY.

The Rev. Dr. Walter L. Prehn III is a freelance journalist, an independent scholar and a school consultant. He has a B.A. in history from Texas A&M and a M.Div. from Nashotah House Seminary, Wisconsin. His dissertation for his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia is entitled “Social Vision, Character and Academic Excellence in Nineteenth Century America: William Augustus Muhlenberg and the Church School Movement, 1828-1877.”

Dr. Prehn was a parish priest and rector for 12 years. Since then, he has served in variety of Episcopal schools, most recently at St. John’s Parish Day School, Ellicott City MD as chaplain, teacher and headmaster. He is the author of a forthcoming book, Saint James School, Maryland: 175 Years, and is working on a book about Muhlenberg’s scholastic vision for 21st century needs.