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Who was Rev. Edmund Hamilton Sears?

Edmund Hamilton Sears was a prominent American Unitarian minister, theologian, and hymn writer best known as the author of the beloved Christmas carol “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.” Born in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, and educated at Union College and Harvard Divinity School, Sears served several congregations in Massachusetts throughout his career, including in Wayland and Lancaster.

Ordained in 1839, Sears was known for his deeply reflective and poetic preaching style, as well as for integrating social justice themes into his theology. His famous hymn, written in 1849, stands out for its focus not on the nativity itself, but on peace and human suffering—an unusual and progressive emphasis during a time of mounting tension before the American Civil War. The hymn has since become a standard in Christian hymnals worldwide.

Sears also authored several theological books, including Regeneration and The Foregleams of Immortality, reflecting his commitment to liberal Christian thought and the moral imperative of compassion and peace. He was outspoken in his opposition to slavery and championed the equality of all human beings.

Though not a political figure, Sears’s influence on 19th-century American religious life was significant. His integration of Christian theology with calls for social reform positioned him as a leading voice of liberal Protestantism in his era. His enduring legacy is enshrined each Christmas when congregations sing his call for peace on earth.

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