Countess Huntingdon

A woman of noble character,

Countess Huntingdon (18th century)

Proverbs 31:29-31

Basically what I want to say about this woman is from Proverbs 31, firstly, to honor her for doing so well “Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” She was a great principal benefactor to the poor across the British Isles, America, Africa and India. Secondly, praise her for being “a woman who fears the Lord,” She was well known for her involvement in the ‘nonconformist’ movements within the Church of England and in the face of opposition for setting up numerous chapels which sought to change the doctrine

and practices, of the church from within to a new style of preaching ‘evangelical revival’. Thirdly,  “let her own works praise her in the gates” She was responsible for an evangelical college in Wales to train more clergy and organized and bore all the costs for her ministers, student preachers from her college to go out to Georgia, America and work for her orphanage there (there still exists a Bethesda home for boys today). Into retirement and widowhood she did not recluse but rather became much more devoted to matters of travelling and looking for new places where she might be able to set up new congregations.  She continued working until the last day of her life, age 84 paying wages and instructing ministers of duties concerning next responsibilities. 

During a prayer walk in Bath, we arrived at her chapel and house; which was opened in 1765 when the city of Bath was a place to find entertainment, card tables and gaming. At her chapel especially in front of her house, which would have housed her chaplain but also, been her lodge during her visits, we prayed and honored her work and had a sense of the need for her legacy to be known. Also we prayed for more women like her to rise up and be true to their call as benefactors to spiritual causes, including Forerunners in Bath. 

She would have surely been called to five-fold ministry, as an Apostle within the church, but was not, permitted to, at that time (18th century). Nevertheless by today’s standards she is honored and praised for stepping up to excel, alongside the likes of John Wesley and George Whitefield. Although at that time, the church never realized or accepted the spiritual authority she carried, and actually criticized and opposed her. She kept her heart right. Her chapels ceased to be societies within the Church of England and became known as “the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion” forcing her into being a dissenter but even so, she found occasion to rejoice (quote) “I am to be cast out of the church now, only for what I have been doing these forty years speaking and living for Jesus Christ!” These small church fellowships still exist today. She felt liberated and believed she was faithful to God and man through it all. It was up to the world to honour her for her acts of charity and she carried on with God’s purposes. She exhibited boldness and fearlessness to stand up for the basic truths of revival.

By Vanessa Robinson. Prophet. W.A.A. UK member