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The Gown of Glory
David Lyall brings his new wife from the city to his rural manse expecting to stay only a year. Instead he is there for the long haul, bringing up his three children, and doing his best for his small community
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
1 person is currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Agnes Sligh Turnbull
50 books37 followersNovelist Agnes Sligh Turnbull was born in 1888 in New Alexandria, PA. After a dozen years as a short story writer, Turnbull wrote her first novel, The Rolling Years, published in 1936. In the 14 additional novels she wrote over the next 40-plus years, Turnbull built a thorough chronicle of the Scots who settled and farmed rural Westmoreland County. Turnbull died in 1982.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 12, 2024
I really liked this book- slow paced, sweetly nostalgic, carefully drawn family and small village relationships; with beautiful messages of forgiveness and grace throughout; reminded me of the Karon Mitford series but much older of course.
June 19, 2021
I first saw this book on The Captive Reader's blog. The words "small town" and "preacher" caught my eye and there was no going back. I found a flimsy, ugly copy for $3 at Powells and was expecting a tale as sentimental as the awful cover. While I am sure readers with a grittier taste in books would find this sentimental, I found it refreshingly realistic and clear-eyed about the problems that beset humans in any time and place.
The cental character is David Lyall, a Presbyterian pastor in a small Pennsylvania town called Ladykirk around 1910. He and his wife Mary are happily married with three young adult children, Faith, Jeremy, and Lucy. We get the most of Lucy's story in the book and her storyline was definitely the most sentimental to me, though perhaps it's just because my experience is so different from hers. (I didn't fall in love at 18 and marry at 19.) The Lyalls are a happy, boisterous family. And actually I'd say we get more of them as a family unit than we get the children's individual perspectives, but I like that immensely. I felt as though I had stepped into the Lyall household with all its bustling and merriment and sometimes grief and sorrow and become a member of the family.
I love that David and Mary, firmly in middle age, are the clear protagonists of the story. They are both wonderfully well rounded and sympathetic, flawed and yet good-hearted. David is my favorite character, and he is my favorite kind of pastor too. I'm fortunate that my current pastor is much like David. David has a sensitive soul. He loves his garden and bees and the old hymns that have theological richness, he loves the Romantic poets and preaches a sermon (rather scandalously for some Scots Calvinists in his congregation) about laughter being a gift of God. He is chastised by his Elders at one point for not bringing enough fire and brimstone into the pulpit and enough discipline to wayward church members. And yet he courageously meets with stricken congregants--the adulterer, the mother-with-a-child-out-of-wedlock, the alcoholic, the bereaved, the atheist--and brings real comfort to them and trains his congregation by example and exhortation to be kind to the sinner. (The sinner here being one whose sin is gossiped about in the community.) This is just his bent, and he has been so faithful in Ladykirk that his parishoners and the townspeople respect and love him. There's so much more I could write about David (I haven't even mentioned his ambitions), but I'll end with saying that he's a precursor to Father Tim of Jan Karon's Mitford novels and that will always make him a favorite with me.
This is surprisingly funny too. I had many times where I laughed aloud. I also had times where tears came to my eyes because I was so moved by a scene. The book has so much wisdom about human nature and about theology enacted in real lives. Having grown up Presbyterian, the theology and church structure was very familiar to me. One chapter of the book is focused on a Revival preacher who comes to town and preaches for seven nights in a row. The whole town turns out. I studied American religion in college and remembered feeling something bordering on disgust about the sound of a revival, so I love that David feels the same. And yet...things happen during the Revival. There are numerous curious effects, and I love that Turnbull made it nuanced like that. Actually, we read novels for my Religion in American Public Life class in college, and I think this would have been a great fit.
I put this book straight into my mom's hands because I think she'll love it and there's so much to talk about. The only thing I wish were different about the book is I would have liked to get to know Faith better. I would happily read a whole book from her perspective. She seems like a kindred spirit.
The cental character is David Lyall, a Presbyterian pastor in a small Pennsylvania town called Ladykirk around 1910. He and his wife Mary are happily married with three young adult children, Faith, Jeremy, and Lucy. We get the most of Lucy's story in the book and her storyline was definitely the most sentimental to me, though perhaps it's just because my experience is so different from hers. (I didn't fall in love at 18 and marry at 19.) The Lyalls are a happy, boisterous family. And actually I'd say we get more of them as a family unit than we get the children's individual perspectives, but I like that immensely. I felt as though I had stepped into the Lyall household with all its bustling and merriment and sometimes grief and sorrow and become a member of the family.
I love that David and Mary, firmly in middle age, are the clear protagonists of the story. They are both wonderfully well rounded and sympathetic, flawed and yet good-hearted. David is my favorite character, and he is my favorite kind of pastor too. I'm fortunate that my current pastor is much like David. David has a sensitive soul. He loves his garden and bees and the old hymns that have theological richness, he loves the Romantic poets and preaches a sermon (rather scandalously for some Scots Calvinists in his congregation) about laughter being a gift of God. He is chastised by his Elders at one point for not bringing enough fire and brimstone into the pulpit and enough discipline to wayward church members. And yet he courageously meets with stricken congregants--the adulterer, the mother-with-a-child-out-of-wedlock, the alcoholic, the bereaved, the atheist--and brings real comfort to them and trains his congregation by example and exhortation to be kind to the sinner. (The sinner here being one whose sin is gossiped about in the community.) This is just his bent, and he has been so faithful in Ladykirk that his parishoners and the townspeople respect and love him. There's so much more I could write about David (I haven't even mentioned his ambitions), but I'll end with saying that he's a precursor to Father Tim of Jan Karon's Mitford novels and that will always make him a favorite with me.
This is surprisingly funny too. I had many times where I laughed aloud. I also had times where tears came to my eyes because I was so moved by a scene. The book has so much wisdom about human nature and about theology enacted in real lives. Having grown up Presbyterian, the theology and church structure was very familiar to me. One chapter of the book is focused on a Revival preacher who comes to town and preaches for seven nights in a row. The whole town turns out. I studied American religion in college and remembered feeling something bordering on disgust about the sound of a revival, so I love that David feels the same. And yet...things happen during the Revival. There are numerous curious effects, and I love that Turnbull made it nuanced like that. Actually, we read novels for my Religion in American Public Life class in college, and I think this would have been a great fit.
I put this book straight into my mom's hands because I think she'll love it and there's so much to talk about. The only thing I wish were different about the book is I would have liked to get to know Faith better. I would happily read a whole book from her perspective. She seems like a kindred spirit.
May 23, 2020
One of the very best book surprises I have read in a long time. It reminded me in turns of Elizabeth Goudge and LM Montgomery and Hannah Coulter, yet uniquely its own. Religion and relationship with God and theological ponderings played a huge part, and yet not once did I feel ‘preached at.’ This was an astonishingly well written book that dealt so well with the role of faith in daily life in a very real and beautiful way. I have read so few books with a point of view of motherhood from a woman with children on the verge of being grown up... (that was not by any means the only perspective touched upon in this lovely story, but a significant one to me).... perhaps that is why it put me in mind of the later Anne books, or Hannah Coulter. This was just a lovely, lovely story that had me in tears at times and sent my heart singing at others.
April 22, 2019
This is one of my favorite books. I found this as a used book when I was a teenager. Usually those stories don’t last for us as an adults but in this case this one is still beloved.
A young presbyterian minister brings his family to a small Pennsylvania town at the turn of the last century. He wants to grow as a minister so he can move on to larger churches but somehow his family has stayed right there in that little town. He has a son and two daughters. He and his wife have a backstory and each of his children do. It would take too long to go into each one but the one that I love the most is that of the youngest daughter. She meets a young man who has lived I dissipated life. He is in her small town to recover from overindulgence. She brings out the best in him and he wants very much to live up to her standards. This is one of the sweetest love stories I have ever read. For someone who wants sex in I book this one is not for you but for someone who wants deep love stories this is the perfect one. I cannot recommend this enough and would give 100 stars if allowed.
A young presbyterian minister brings his family to a small Pennsylvania town at the turn of the last century. He wants to grow as a minister so he can move on to larger churches but somehow his family has stayed right there in that little town. He has a son and two daughters. He and his wife have a backstory and each of his children do. It would take too long to go into each one but the one that I love the most is that of the youngest daughter. She meets a young man who has lived I dissipated life. He is in her small town to recover from overindulgence. She brings out the best in him and he wants very much to live up to her standards. This is one of the sweetest love stories I have ever read. For someone who wants sex in I book this one is not for you but for someone who wants deep love stories this is the perfect one. I cannot recommend this enough and would give 100 stars if allowed.
February 2, 2017
A historical novel about a village minister, his family, and the everyday humor and drama of life in their small, adopted community. 1951.
Full review (and other recommendations!) on my site here.
Such a lovely read. I actually struggled a bit with writing the official review...It just seemed so inadequate to reduce this novel to matters of storyline. I loved the main character of the minister David, and was equally drawn to his family members. Several episodes of the novel brought me close to sentimental tears--which in fact happens to me very rarely with a book. Completely, completely recommended.
Full review (and other recommendations!) on my site here.
Such a lovely read. I actually struggled a bit with writing the official review...It just seemed so inadequate to reduce this novel to matters of storyline. I loved the main character of the minister David, and was equally drawn to his family members. Several episodes of the novel brought me close to sentimental tears--which in fact happens to me very rarely with a book. Completely, completely recommended.
April 10, 2022
This book couldn’t have been more perfect…the plot, the characters, the writing. It will surely be a top read of 2022 for me and will be one I will be looking to add to my personal collection. So grateful to Ruth @two.clumsy.hands for the recommendation.
February 13, 2009
This was a truly old fashioned book in the best meaning of the phrase. I loved the family from the beginning and found myself so immersed that when the shocking occurance happens, I think I was as surprised as the entire town. I don't know if there are more books about this same family, but I certainly want to know more about their lives. Thank you so much, Rachel, for indroducing me to this author. I am now on the lookout for more of her!
July 28, 2021
A new favorite author. The book jacket told me I would live in this town. It was correct.
May 2, 2025
I stood in a Sydney bookstore, pulled this book from the shelf and instinctively knew it was the one for me. I don't believe I'd ever heard of it or the author before, but it just felt right. And I'm so glad I trusted my gut feeling on it: it's one of the sweetest books I've read in a while and everyone is happy/attached/engaged/satisfied with life by the end. I started it in a cemetery (always a good plan) and cracked up so many times reading it on the plane.
Now I'd really like to attend a Presbyterial and live in a tiny country town where the minister keeps bees and walks around quoting poetry while his wife writes the best obituaries and settles the squabbles in the foreign missions society.
Now I'd really like to attend a Presbyterial and live in a tiny country town where the minister keeps bees and walks around quoting poetry while his wife writes the best obituaries and settles the squabbles in the foreign missions society.
February 5, 2025
The Gown of Glory was a rather cute book that explored the intricacies of village life in 1800s America. I loved how cozy and familial it felt, especially all the relationship dynamics which were rather sweet. Some parts were rather boring, but that was only really a small fraction of the book. It was an enjoyable read and I recommend anyone to read it around Christmas time (if you celebrate of course) to add to the cozy vibes.
November 8, 2014
In this old novel from 1952, Agnes Sligh Turnbull tells us the story of a Presbyterian minister and his family in a small town in Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. When I began this book it read like it would be like another version of Alcott's "Little Women", a novel of which I am not a fan. But as I got into this novel I realized that "Gown of Glory" is a much more profound and interesting novel.
David Lyell, a Presbyterian minister in Pennsylvania, comes to a small town in Western Pennsylvania intending to stay for only a short time. 30 years later, the minister and his wife has three grown children and a thriving congregation. What I really enjoyed about this novel is that the characters, while somewhat simplistic, are interesting, and the situations in the book contain quite a bit of social commentary. There is the prominent spinster in town who turns out to the pregnant, the town atheist who befriends the minister, the egotistical evangelist who comes to town to do a revival, and the wandering young man who turns out to be the son of a tycoon. All of these characters bring interesting twists to the story and make it much more than a children's novel.
My only criticism of the book is that the family members are just a little too perfect. That part of the book made it resemble "Little Women". But the ways in which the pastor acts very much like a Christ figure in his little town is touching, and the social commentary aspect of this novel is great. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels about small town America.
David Lyell, a Presbyterian minister in Pennsylvania, comes to a small town in Western Pennsylvania intending to stay for only a short time. 30 years later, the minister and his wife has three grown children and a thriving congregation. What I really enjoyed about this novel is that the characters, while somewhat simplistic, are interesting, and the situations in the book contain quite a bit of social commentary. There is the prominent spinster in town who turns out to the pregnant, the town atheist who befriends the minister, the egotistical evangelist who comes to town to do a revival, and the wandering young man who turns out to be the son of a tycoon. All of these characters bring interesting twists to the story and make it much more than a children's novel.
My only criticism of the book is that the family members are just a little too perfect. That part of the book made it resemble "Little Women". But the ways in which the pastor acts very much like a Christ figure in his little town is touching, and the social commentary aspect of this novel is great. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels about small town America.
May 21, 2020
If you wish to step back in time and simply “forget” the crazy times in which we are currently living reading this book is a wonderful way to accomplish that. A story of a turn-of-the-20th century parson and his family. The setting is a small community in Pennsylvania. Great characters. Loved It! (Copyright 1951. You may have to dig to find this one. I found it in my attic!)
April 5, 2010
This is a sweet and gentle story set in a small town in 1900, describing the ups and downs of village life from the point of view of the local pastor and his family. Nicely paced, and not saccharine, I enjoyed this one.
April 3, 2008
I loved Agnes Sligh Turnbull as teenager, and still enjoy rereading her books. Her stories are almost all about ministers - clean - good characters - a little romance.
June 23, 2012
Wonderful story of a simpler time.
November 6, 2013
Quite a slight book in many ways, but also the kind of book that makes you feel better about life - that good things can happen to good people!
April 27, 2017
Very well written and such a refreshing story.
May 15, 2020
If you love Father Tim and the Mitford series, you will enjoy David Lyall and his family. Charming and inspiring. Beautifully written and memorable.
October 20, 2023
Kunnian kruunu -nimellä suomennettua laitosta ei löytynyt Goodreadsista, joten arvioidaan tämä. Lapsuuden ja nuoruuden suosikkikirja, jonka nimen olin unohtanut ja jota olen kaikin voimin vuosia yrittänyt jäljittää. Ei auttanut Google, ei tämä palvelu, ei chatGPT, ei kirjaston täti. Yhtäkkiä kahvipöydässä sisareni sitten kysyi muistanko Kunnian kruunua, oli törmännyt antikvariaatissa. Muistan. Jokaisen lauseen, mutta en kuitenkaan. Monet lapsuudessa viehättäneet kirjat (Puu kasvaa Brooklynissä, Maggie, Vihreän delfiinin maa, Jalna-sarja) ovat vanhanaikaisia, kohottavia ja jollain tavalla eksoottisia. Niin tämänkin, mutta siksi, että näin pientä, hyveellistä ja uskonnollista yhteisöä ja läpeensä kirkasotsaista pappisperhettä on vaikea kuvitella enää nykykirjallisuudessa näkevänsä.
Lyallien kirkollinen perhe on jäänyt jumiin pieneen Ladykirkin kaupunkiin isän suuren urasiirron antaessa odottaa itseään. Sulahkossa sovussa siellä vaikuttaa myös useampi muu presbyteerinen yhteisö, ja muitakin protestantteja tapaamme; jopa jonkun irlanninkatolilaisen. Perheen kolme lasta Faith, Jeremy ja Lucy ovat tukevasti naimaiässä, ja vanhemmilla on omat suunnitelmansa heidän suhteensa. Elämä kuitenkin päättää somasti omilla tavoillaan kunkin lapsen - ja vanhempien - kohtalon. Uskonyhteisön vanhanaikaisuus, ahdasmielisyys, misogynia ja kyttääminen eivät viihdytä kuten nuorena, mutta jokaiselle toivoo hyvää, ja kirjan tunnelma palaa vahvana mieleen. Ihana lomalukeminen.
Lyallien kirkollinen perhe on jäänyt jumiin pieneen Ladykirkin kaupunkiin isän suuren urasiirron antaessa odottaa itseään. Sulahkossa sovussa siellä vaikuttaa myös useampi muu presbyteerinen yhteisö, ja muitakin protestantteja tapaamme; jopa jonkun irlanninkatolilaisen. Perheen kolme lasta Faith, Jeremy ja Lucy ovat tukevasti naimaiässä, ja vanhemmilla on omat suunnitelmansa heidän suhteensa. Elämä kuitenkin päättää somasti omilla tavoillaan kunkin lapsen - ja vanhempien - kohtalon. Uskonyhteisön vanhanaikaisuus, ahdasmielisyys, misogynia ja kyttääminen eivät viihdytä kuten nuorena, mutta jokaiselle toivoo hyvää, ja kirjan tunnelma palaa vahvana mieleen. Ihana lomalukeminen.
January 18, 2024
The story was well written and engrossing but I ended SO confused about what the author's message was supposed to be. There is a Obviously this reflects the misogyny of the time etc (although the constant double standards in the book were infuriating nevertheless). What was confusing to me is that the only male character that acts with human decency in the book is the I assume that Agnes Sligh Turnbull is christian yet her book just reads as a scathing critique of religion.
September 17, 2023
I enjoyed this book very much. David, the Presbyterian pastor, whose life and family the story is about, reminds me in many ways of myself. I, too, am named David and I am a Lutheran pastor. Though the time of our ministry is different, I could relate to his many trials and family events and felt him to be a kindred spirit with myself in many ways.
August 12, 2019
Lovely sweet book, about a town and a family rather than the bodice ripper the cover suggested (I nearly turned the recommendation down). I want to turn the book over and start all over again.
November 22, 2022
What a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful book!!! Sad to turn the final page. Life affirming for me.
“Happy is he to whom God has given, with sparing hand, as much as is enough.” - Horace
“Happy is he to whom God has given, with sparing hand, as much as is enough.” - Horace
July 16, 2024
4.5 stars
"Happy is he to whom God has given,
with sparing hand, as much as is enough."
-Horace
This is an old fashioned book. It's a little slice of life at the turn of the century. David Lyall is the pastor of a small town. His wife, Mary, and three children, Faith, Jeremy, and Lucy comprise his family. The story begins with his first assignment in 1881. David and Mary are both sure that this is a stepping stone to bigger congregations and greater opportunities. 20 years later they are still in Ladykirk.
This is a tender tale of family, friendship, forgiveness, love. It is about learning to cope with disappointment and to see God's hand in it.
One sweet theme comes from the book of Jude in the New Testament:
"And of some have compassion, making a difference." (Jude 1:22)
I loved it.
"Happy is he to whom God has given,
with sparing hand, as much as is enough."
-Horace
This is an old fashioned book. It's a little slice of life at the turn of the century. David Lyall is the pastor of a small town. His wife, Mary, and three children, Faith, Jeremy, and Lucy comprise his family. The story begins with his first assignment in 1881. David and Mary are both sure that this is a stepping stone to bigger congregations and greater opportunities. 20 years later they are still in Ladykirk.
This is a tender tale of family, friendship, forgiveness, love. It is about learning to cope with disappointment and to see God's hand in it.
One sweet theme comes from the book of Jude in the New Testament:
"And of some have compassion, making a difference." (Jude 1:22)
I loved it.
January 29, 2013
It isn't that Turnbull produced a great work of literature. This isn't a book for those aspiring to erudition. But it is a book I found encouraging. It summoned me back to the day of small things, reminded me that my place of service is in my corner of the world, that this here and this now is worth doing well, however un-glamorous it might be. And I needed that reminder when I read it.
As a sweet, old, encouraging story, I recommend this.
As a sweet, old, encouraging story, I recommend this.
March 28, 2016
this is an old fashion book written in 1950’s but it could have been in 1880's. lots of descriptions and we'll built plot and story. I enjoyed it but it's definitely not the kind of writing in used to. it was worth the trading though. old fashion family and village life. nothing like today. in spite of not relating to the life style of back then, I mean the highlight if this family was getting a bathroom in their house at the end, I enjoyed the spiritual thoughts that are timeless
March 11, 2017
Lovely book! I thoroughly enjoyed every page spent with the Lyall family.
Want to read
September 18, 2017Recommended by Jen Carlson; parsonage life, etc.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews