man of prayer
A preacher, said with respect more than with a fancy title.
Updated September 24, 2026
man of prayer pronunciation
/MAN uh PRAY-er/
Meaning
In rural Southern and Appalachian talk, a man of prayer is the preacher or minister. Folks use it when they care more about calling and prayer than seminary degrees or church rank. You might hear it after church, in an obituary, or when somebody asks who is filling the pulpit Sunday.
How folks use it
- “We're gettin' a man of prayer from over the mountain to fill in Sunday.”
- “Granddaddy always said that old circuit rider was a real man of prayer.”
Origin and etymology
Christian English has long linked preachers with prayer. In Southern and Appalachian church talk it hardened into a plain name for the preacher himself, close kin to "man of the cloth" but more home-folks. Mountain stories about prayer-heavy circuit riders like Robert Sheffey helped keep the phrase in everyday mouth.
Frequently asked questions
Does man of prayer just mean somebody who prays a lot?
Out in the wider church world, maybe. In this redneck and mountain use, it usually means the preacher, not a compliment about how much time he spends on his knees.