# Mr. Pengilly — Elmer Gantry character guide

> Mr. Pengilly in Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Andrew Pengilly, Father Pengilly

**First appearance:** 0014-chapter-iii

## Who they are

An old, kind minister who mentors Elmer early on.

## In the story

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

Dean's elderly father-in-law; a retired pastor who insists he would still choose the ministry despite his wife's skepticism.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xvii)

An elderly, mystical minister who mentors Frank, teaching him the practice of the presence of God and finding God in nature.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as the pastor of the Catawba Methodist Church, who might have helped Frank stay in the ministry.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

The elderly Methodist minister of Catawba, a gentle mystic who believes in accepting God through faith and heart; he becomes Frank's mentor and is called 'Father Pengilly.'

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/v)

Frank thinks of him as someone he would hurt by leaving the ministry.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as a village saint whose tenderness and uprightness could not keep Frank satisfied with the Baptist ministry.

### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xxvii)

Hosts Elmer in his cottage, feeling lonely since Frank Shallard left; idealizes Elmer as a St. Michael.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

The Methodist minister in Blackfoot Creek, Indiana, who hosts Elmer during his visit.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iv)

Old Andrew Pengilly, a lonely and mystical village curé, looks forward to hosting Elmer Gantry, seeing him as a St. Michael in dazzling armor.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/v)

Hosts Elmer in his hovel and directly challenges Elmer's belief in God.

### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xxix)

Sends a letter to Frank urging him to stand true and not abandon his flock.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/v)

Andrew Pengilly sends a scrawled, shaky letter begging Frank to stand true and not deliver his flock to the devil.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/mr_pengilly
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters