Mary Bosanquet was the second of four children born in her family. She has been called one of the first deaconesses in Methodism was born in Leytonstone, in Essex in 1739. She took seriously Wesley's preaching to "give all you can" using her own financial resources and her time to provide for persons in need. She became a class leader and then a preacher.
In 1763, she and Sarah Ryan took charge of a large house in Leytonstone, her birthplace, which became a sanctuary for the most destitute and friendless people in London. The house became a school, orphanage, hospital, and half-way house all-in-one.
Also, on 10 March 1763 Mary Bosanquet dated a letter which was printed three years later as a pamphlet at both London and Bristol: Jesus, Altogether Lovely; or, A Letter to Some of the Single Women in the Methodist Society, 1766.
In 1781, Mary married John Fletcher, who was John Wesley's designated successor. He died in 1785 and was buried in a cast iron tomb at St. Michael's Church, in Madeley. John Fletcher was vicar here. John Wesley tried to convince Mary to start a work in London, but she refused to leave so she could carry on her husband's work.
On 14 August 1815, she wrote: "Thirty years this day I drank the bitter cup and closed the eyes of my beloved husband, and now I myself am in a dying state. Lord, prepare me! I feel death very near. My soul doth wait, and long to fly to the bosom of my God!"
For almost 30 years after her husband's death, Mary continued her ministry. She died died after thirty years of widowhood, of respiratory disease on December 9, 1815. She was buried in the same grave as her husband.
Sources:
Study Guide of John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life by Ruth A. Daugherty, pp. 117-118
The Illustrated History of Methodism in Great Britain, America, and Australia by W. B. Daniel (New York: Methodist Book Concern, 1884), pp. 292-295.
In 1763, she and Sarah Ryan took charge of a large house in Leytonstone, her birthplace, which became a sanctuary for the most destitute and friendless people in London. The house became a school, orphanage, hospital, and half-way house all-in-one.
Also, on 10 March 1763 Mary Bosanquet dated a letter which was printed three years later as a pamphlet at both London and Bristol: Jesus, Altogether Lovely; or, A Letter to Some of the Single Women in the Methodist Society, 1766.
In 1781, Mary married John Fletcher, who was John Wesley's designated successor. He died in 1785 and was buried in a cast iron tomb at St. Michael's Church, in Madeley. John Fletcher was vicar here. John Wesley tried to convince Mary to start a work in London, but she refused to leave so she could carry on her husband's work.
On 14 August 1815, she wrote: "Thirty years this day I drank the bitter cup and closed the eyes of my beloved husband, and now I myself am in a dying state. Lord, prepare me! I feel death very near. My soul doth wait, and long to fly to the bosom of my God!"
For almost 30 years after her husband's death, Mary continued her ministry. She died died after thirty years of widowhood, of respiratory disease on December 9, 1815. She was buried in the same grave as her husband.
Sources:
Study Guide of John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life by Ruth A. Daugherty, pp. 117-118
The Illustrated History of Methodism in Great Britain, America, and Australia by W. B. Daniel (New York: Methodist Book Concern, 1884), pp. 292-295.
Mary Bosanquet was the second of four children born in her family. She has been called one of the first deaconesses in Methodism was born in Leytonstone, in Essex in 1739. She took seriously Wesley's preaching to "give all you can" using her own financial resources and her time to provide for persons in need. She became a class leader and then a preacher.
In 1763, she and Sarah Ryan took charge of a large house in Leytonstone, her birthplace, which became a sanctuary for the most destitute and friendless people in London. The house became a school, orphanage, hospital, and half-way house all-in-one.
Also, on 10 March 1763 Mary Bosanquet dated a letter which was printed three years later as a pamphlet at both London and Bristol: Jesus, Altogether Lovely; or, A Letter to Some of the Single Women in the Methodist Society, 1766.
In 1781, Mary married John Fletcher, who was John Wesley's designated successor. He died in 1785 and was buried in a cast iron tomb at St. Michael's Church, in Madeley. John Fletcher was vicar here. John Wesley tried to convince Mary to start a work in London, but she refused to leave so she could carry on her husband's work.
On 14 August 1815, she wrote: "Thirty years this day I drank the bitter cup and closed the eyes of my beloved husband, and now I myself am in a dying state. Lord, prepare me! I feel death very near. My soul doth wait, and long to fly to the bosom of my God!"
For almost 30 years after her husband's death, Mary continued her ministry. She died died after thirty years of widowhood, of respiratory disease on December 9, 1815. She was buried in the same grave as her husband.
Sources:
Study Guide of John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life by Ruth A. Daugherty, pp. 117-118
The Illustrated History of Methodism in Great Britain, America, and Australia by W. B. Daniel (New York: Methodist Book Concern, 1884), pp. 292-295.
In 1763, she and Sarah Ryan took charge of a large house in Leytonstone, her birthplace, which became a sanctuary for the most destitute and friendless people in London. The house became a school, orphanage, hospital, and half-way house all-in-one.
Also, on 10 March 1763 Mary Bosanquet dated a letter which was printed three years later as a pamphlet at both London and Bristol: Jesus, Altogether Lovely; or, A Letter to Some of the Single Women in the Methodist Society, 1766.
In 1781, Mary married John Fletcher, who was John Wesley's designated successor. He died in 1785 and was buried in a cast iron tomb at St. Michael's Church, in Madeley. John Fletcher was vicar here. John Wesley tried to convince Mary to start a work in London, but she refused to leave so she could carry on her husband's work.
On 14 August 1815, she wrote: "Thirty years this day I drank the bitter cup and closed the eyes of my beloved husband, and now I myself am in a dying state. Lord, prepare me! I feel death very near. My soul doth wait, and long to fly to the bosom of my God!"
For almost 30 years after her husband's death, Mary continued her ministry. She died died after thirty years of widowhood, of respiratory disease on December 9, 1815. She was buried in the same grave as her husband.
Sources:
Study Guide of John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life by Ruth A. Daugherty, pp. 117-118
The Illustrated History of Methodism in Great Britain, America, and Australia by W. B. Daniel (New York: Methodist Book Concern, 1884), pp. 292-295.
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