Eugène Bersier

BERSIER, Eugène. b. Morges, Switzerland, 5 February 1831; d. Paris, 18 November 1889. He was a French Evangelical Reformed Pastor, liturgist, preacher, historian and hymnwriter. His Swiss parents, Jacques Bersier and Louise Coindet (she was born in England), were of French Huguenot descent. So Eugène was naturalised French in 1855. His grandmother, on his mother’s side, taught him English. He lived in Geneva with his widowed mother from 1838 to 1848. She prayed the ‘Prayer-Book’ services with him. His schooling took place in the ‘Collège de Genève’.  In America 1848-1850 at New Rochelle, learning Hebrew and Greek, he decided to enter the ministry. He became friends with Jean-Frédéric Astié...