History Main / PreacherMan

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

When played straight (or [[SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism idealistically]] if you happen to be a cynic), the preacher is a GoodShepherd, a force for reason and peace in the community. He usually understands that violence is an option the law has to take sometimes, but weighs heavily against it for civilians or for less-than-emergency situations. Don't think this makes the Preacher Man an easy target, though--when push comes to shove, they'll [[BadassPreacher fight]] for what's right with all their might. Even those who are [[ActualPacifist opposed to violence in all its forms]] can still [[BadassPacifist end a fight by putting themselves in the line of fire]], as few villains are either [[EvenEvilHasStandards impious enough to shoot a messenger of God]] or [[PragmaticVillainy stupid enough to shoot the one person in the town everyone would be willing to defend / avenge]].

Towns too small to have their own church may share a "circuit rider" with other communities in the same fix. Like the CircuitJudge, the circuit preacher moves from place to place on a schedule so that any necessary weddings, baptisms, funerals or general preachifyin' can take place once a month.

Towns too small to have their own church may share a "circuit rider" with other communities in the same fix. Like the CircuitJudge, the circuit preacher moves from place to place on a schedule so that any necessary weddings, baptisms or general preachifyin' can take place once a month.

May come with a "preacher's wife", who is usually long-suffering. (Preachers weren't paid much in the WildWest, and had to work any time of day or night they were needed.) The [[PreachersKid son of a Preacher Man]] will most likely be either a saint or a devil.

Most often spotted at weddings, funerals and town meetings. May be called on to deliver a SuspiciouslySpecificSermon.

Watch out though, as many characters introduced as the Preacher Man are in fact a SinisterMinister or indulging in BadHabits to exploit the respect generally given a man of the cloth.

* The only one who could reach and teach DustySpringfield was the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjydOI4MEIw Son]]'' of a Preacher Man. Worth mentioning.

* In ''Film/ShootOutAtMedicineBend'', Bother Abraham is the preacher for the local Brethren assembly. He comes to Devlin's aid and plays a vital role in recuing Maitland and Clegg from the gallows.

* ''Series/LittleHouseOnThePrairie'': The Rev. Robert Alden, who was not only a voice of reason, reassurance and understanding but an active part in the lives of everyone in Walnut Grove. Usually a pacifist, you did not want to make him angry -- as the Gallander brothers found out when they finally pressed their luck with him (and he learns that two of them had sexually harrassed Caroline Ingalls).

* D-Von Dudley briefly became Reverend D-Von, a wrestling minister. Reverend D-Von was a {{heel}} character, although strangely he didn't fit any of the other types of evil preachers, e.g. Sinister Minster. He was just an all-purpose jerk who happened to be a preacher. He's most noteable for introducing Wrestling/{{Batista}} to the mainstream wrestling world - Batista's first role was as Deacon Bautista, D-Von's musclebound goon.

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Sanctus in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4''.
* Matthieu in ''VideoGame/TheSpiritEngine''.
[[/folder]]

[[caption-width-right:300:[[Music/DustySpringfield The only one who could reach me.]]]]

* Father Mulcahy of ''Series/{{MASH}}''. Who was also an accomplished boxer, a go-between with the black market, and not opposed to raising orphanage money by gambling.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Baskerville in ''Manga/EtCetera.''

* ''Film/TheQuickAndTheDead'' featured a preacher that was a RetiredGunfighter.
* [[Film/HotFuzz "Fuck off, Grasshopper!"]]

* The Preacher With No Name, played by Creator/ClintEastwood in ''Film/PaleRider''. Armed with ImprobableAimingSkills.
* Reverend Kane from ''Film/PoltergeistIITheOtherSide'' and ''Film/PoltergeistIII'': Leader of a ghost army who would stop at nothing to get to Carol Anne.
* Rev. Eli Sunday, the [[SinisterMinister corrupt]] teenage preacher from ''Film/ThereWillBeBlood''.
* In ''Film/DeadInTombstone'', the preacher of Edendale has turned to drink since the town has become the WretchedHive that is Tombstone. But he still does his best to tend to the spiritual needs of his flock, and apparently has a vision regarding the coming of Guerrero to cleanse the town.
* Rev. Spence in ''Film/OneFootInHeaven'' is a completely straight example of this trope. He ministers to his flock, giving sermons, performing weddings and baptisms, and setting an example to the community, and he never complains when they don't pay him enough or don't maintain the upkeep on his parsonage.
* Father O'Hea fills this role in ''[[Film/NedKelly1970 Ned Kelly]]'', and Reverend Mitchell is a missionary in ''Film/DakotaHarris''.

* ''Film/LeftForDead'': Mobius Lockhardt was a preacher trying to bring the word of God to the mining town of Amnesty. However, he fell for the charms of the prostitute Mary Black and started an illicit relationship with her. When he broke off the affair to return to his wife, Mary became a WomanScorned and led her fellow whores on a killing spree that resulted in the deaths of everyone in Amnesty.
* In ''Film/PrairieFever'', the preacher of Clearwater arranged for 17 Mail Order Brides for the farmers. Now he wants to ship the three crazy ones back east to avoid embarrassment.

* Father Dmitri in ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' is never anything less than supportive in the protagonist's efforts to help rehouse Christian refugees, fight tyranny and injustice, and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick eradicate Islam from the face of the globe.]]

* ''Series/LittleHouseOnThePrairie'': The Rev. Robert Alden, who was not only a voice of reason, reassurance and understanding but an active part in the lives of everyone in Walnut Grove. Usually a pacifist, you did not want to make him angry -- as the Gallander brothers found out when they finally pressed their luck with him (and he learns that two of them had sexually harrassed Caroline Ingalls).

* "Reverend Mr. Black" by B.E. Wheeler & J. Peters is a song about a preacher facing down a lumberjack.

* Music/NeilDiamond's [[Music/BrotherLovesTravelingSalvationShow "Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"]]

* Sanctus in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4''.

* Revered Putty from ''WesternAnimation/MoralOrel'' serves as the pastor for the town of [[StepfordSuburbia Moralton]]. At first, he's shown to be a self-righteous Bible-thumper like every other resident, but [[spoiler:his daughter coming out as lesbian]] prompts him to reevaluate his views.

* Reverend Kane from the second and third ''Film/{{Poltergeist}}'' films. Leader of a ghost army who would stop at nothing to get to Carol Anne.

* Reverend Lovejoy of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', who embodies the archetype of the monotone preacher whose sermons drone on and on. Complete with the stereotypical Southern preacher's VerbalTic of adding an "-uh" at the end-uh of every important word-uh.