Saint Thomas, the twin, was one of Jesus’ 12 original disciples/apostles. Saint Thomas is mentioned three times by name in St. John’s Gospel. He speaks after the resurrection of Lazarus when Jesus talks about going to Jerusalem. Let us also go, that we may die with him John 11 v16 After Jesus has spoken about preparing a place in heaven he says Lord, we know not whither thou goest;and how can we know the way? The third time, the most best known time is after Jesus’ resurrection. This is where he is referred to as ‘doubting’ Thomas. He makes a comment that he will not believe Jesus is alive unless he puts his hands physically into the injured holes in the hands,feet and side of his Lord. Jesus appears and invites Thomas to touch him. My Lord and my God . (He is the first to acknowledge his divinity.) Jesus goes on to say, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed. Saint Thomas was presumably at both the Ascension and Pentecost. Thomas’ subsequent history is uncertain. Tradition holds that he took Christianity to Parthia. The existence of an ancient Christian community on the Malabar Coast of India suggests that he converted their ancestors but was martyred and buried at Mylapore (now part of Madras) Another story suggests he converted ruler in the Punjab and was by killed in accident by an archer shooting at peacocks. Sources used The Church’s Year Charles Alexander wikipedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

The only recognized authority for the facts of Saint Benedict life is book 2 of the Dialogues of Saint Gregory 1. He was born of a noble family of Nursia and sent to Rome to be educated. Shocked by the behaviour of Rome he ‘retired’ as a young man to Enfide ((modern Affile) to live as a hermit. He isolated himself in a mountain cave and he daily hauled food up . The food was provided by the monk Romanus. When the fame of his sanctity spread he was encouraged to become an abbot at one of the monasteries. Here, because of his asceticism (self denial) and tales of being a miracle worker, he attracted disciples. He set up 12 monasteries around the place. He then abandoned the area - stories of jealousy and an attempt on his life. He moved to southern Italy, towards Naples and established the famous abbey of Monte Cassino. It was here that he wrote his famous * Rule of Saint Benedict* which contained precepts for his monks. Although known by his name it was influenced by the writings of John Cassian, and showed close affinity with the Rule of the Master. Even if this is the case Michael David Knowles in ‘Britannica Online Encyclopedia’ says *It was the Rule of St, Benedict, derived from various and disparate sources , that provided for the monastic way of life a directory at once practical and spiritual that continued to force after 1500 years. It was further developed to offer hospitality, medical, educational and agricultural skills to the world. Apparently Saint Benedict was never a priest. * He is a patron saint of Europe. Sources used Britannica Online Encyclopedia wikipedia Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton

Saint Ignatius was bishop of Antioch when he was sentenced to death in the arena of Trajan. For some reason instead of being executed in his home town of Antioch he was escorted to Rome, in chains, by a company of 10 Roman soldiers. The ship taking him to Rome hugged the coast and Saint Ignatius, in chains, was received with honour by Christians at each port of call. He wrote 7 letters on his route to Rome to various committees containing instructions on marriage and theology. It is from these letters, which still exist, that we know what happened to him. Saint Polycarp befriended Saint Ignatius and collected the letters together and sent them to the church of Philippi. At some point a single Latin version , based on the original text, was made in England in the 13th century. Saint Ignatius fate was that he was eaten, by lions, in the Colosseum in Rome. He was probably alive during Jesus’ life time. There was a tradition in the early church that when he was a boy sat at the feet of Jesus. Whoso shall receive one such a little child in my name receiveth me Saint Ignatius is considered to be one of the three most important Apostolic Fathers. Sources used The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander wikipedia Britannica Online Encyclopedia The Encyclopedia of Saints Howard Loxton*

According to apocryphal texts Saint Lucy was a virgin who came from a wealthy Sicilian Family. A suitor who she refused to marry told the Roman authorities she was a Christian. The authorities first of all sentenced her to be placed in a brothel and forced into prostitution. This order, according to legend, was thwarted by divine intervention She was next condemned to death by fire - but she proved impervious to flames. Finally her neck was pierced by a sword and she died. Lots of images show her with a sword in her neck. Other images focus on her eyes. There are two legends. The first she was tortured by having her eyes torn out. Secondly she removed her own eyes and sent them to her suitor. There are many images showing her eyes on a dish.When she was buried her sight is restored. Saint Lucy is the patron saint of Syracuse (Sicily), for virgins and sight. She was one of the earliest Christian saints to achieve popularity. In Sweden St. Lucy’s day marks the beginning of the Christmas celebrations. The eldest daughter wears a white gown and a crown wreath studded with candles. Source Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Saint Vibia Perpetua was a married noblewoman, 22 years of age with an infant. Felicity was a slave and pregnant . Together with three men they were imprisoned. Perpetua, in prison, is said to have had a dream. She saw a ladder which led from her cell up to heaven. A dragon guarded the foot of it. She spoke to the dragon and he moved his head so she could climb. On reaching the top she found a shepherd with his flock and 1000s of people dressed in white. When she woke up she realized the day of her martyrdom was close, but unafraid, because she would soon be with the shepherd, Jesus in heaven. They were taken to the amphitheatre in Carthage. Perpetua was tossed and gored by a wild cow and afterwards beheaded. The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity tells of their deaths. Perpetua was a catechumen - a Christian instructed in the faith but not yet baptised. The group were executed at the military games in celebration of Emperor Septimius Severus’s birthday. Sources wikipedia The Church’s Year Charles Alexander

Saint Vincent was Spaniard who became a deacon under Valerius, Bishop of Saragossa. The bishop had a bad stammer so Vincent was commissioned to preach throughout the diocese and acted as his spokesman. During the Diocletian persecution he was arrested and imprisoned in Valencia. He was offered his freedom if he would consign Scripture to the fire. He refused and speaking on behalf of himself and the bishop he informed the judge that they were ready to suffer anything for their faith. His outspoken manner so angered the judge that they inflicted all manner of torture on him. He was stretched on the rack and his flesh torn with iron hooks. His wounds were rubbed with salt and was then burned alive upon a red-hot grid iron. He was then cast into prison where he died. He suffered his torture with such peace and tranquility that his jailer was converted. The elderly Valerius was exiled. His body was placed in a sack and thrown in the sea. A woman or a group of Christians recovered the body. Legend has it that a flock ravens stopped vultures eating the body. Saint Vincent became one of the most famous of the early saints. King Afonso 1 of Portugal had the body of the saint exhumed in 1173 and brought it by ship to Lisbon Cathedral. The transfer of the relics is depicted on the coat of arms of Lisbon. Sources wikipedia The Church’s Year by Charles Alexander

Clarence Edward Noble Macartney was born in Pennsylvania, USA in 1879. His father, John, was a pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Clarence went to the university of Denver (1897-1901) and majored in English Literature. He spent a year in Europe visiting England, Scotland and France. He enrolled at Yale Divinity School but after a term moved on to Princeton Theological Seminary. he graduated in 1905 and opted to seek ordination in the Presbyterian Church USA. He became the pastor at Paterson, New Jersey (1905-1914). In this struggling downtown congregation he breathed new life. He next became the pastor at Arch Street Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (1914-1927). He soon began to broadcast his sermons on the radio and eventually became Philadelphia’s foremost preacher. He also began to give a weekly lecture on homiletics ( creating and delivering sermons) at his former college. In 1919 Clarence crossed swords with Harry Emerson Fosdick over how the soldiers, when they returned from war, would not be able to accept traditional doctrine Clarence argued that Christian truth was unchanging. A more famous exchange happened in 1922 between Clarence and Fosdick. Fosdick preached and published * Shall the Fundamentalists Win?* Clarence responded with Shall Unbelief Win? ( Read relevant paragraph (1914-17)) He next became pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh (1927-1953). Here here the congregation was regularly 1200-1600 in the morning, 900 in the evening on the Sunday, plus a Wednesday evening service. Clarence regularly preached five times weekly. His sermons were turned into books - Things Most Surley Believed -1930 and *What Jesus Really Taught - 1958. He wrote a vast number of books -see bibliography. Clarence was a frequent preacher on college campuses and delivered a number of important lectures. His sermons were painstakingly prepared and delivered with directness and evangelical fervor. He was noted for his imaginative illustrations and his keen insights into the human heart. He was committed to preaching without notes. Clarence died on 19th February, 1957 at Geneva College. Michael Duduit refers to Clarence as being a * true homiletical giant . It is little wonder he puts Clarence in his top 10 of the greatest preachers of the 20th century. Sources used wikipedia The 10 Greatest Preachers of the 20th century. Michael Duduit - The Preacher

Teresa at the age of 21, against her father’s wishes, professed her vows as a Carmelite at the Spanish Convent of the Incarnation at Avilla. The relaxed rule of the Carmelites began to offend her. But 3 years suffering from a prolonged illness forced her to read books on the spiritual life. The ‘Letters’ of Jerome helped - his strong advocacy of the monastic life for women inspired her to begin again. By 1540 she was ready to ready to resume convent life but she was partly paraiyzed. For 12 more years she struggled to achieve that perfect love of In her autobiography* Life* she wrote ’ I voyaged on this tempestuous sea for almost 20 years with these fallings and risings’ Things began to changed when her glance fell on a statute of the wounded Christ.Jesus broke down her defences to reveal the reason for her spiritual exhaustion- her dalliance with the delights of sin. She broke from her past and under went a final conversion (1555).She dreamed of establishing convents where young women could pursue deep lives of prayer and devotion. In 1559 she had the ‘transfixion’ - a cherub pierced her heart with an arrow leaving her with a burning love of God and an unquenchable desire for his presence. This led her into reform. In 1563, with the blessing of Pope Paul 1V she opened the reformed Carmelite convent of St. Joseph in Avila. There the Discalced (shoeless) Carmelites would live under her new strict rules. Her reforms required utter withdrawal so the nuns could meditate on divine law and through a prayful life of penance, exercise what she termed ‘our vocation of reparation’ for the sins of humankind. She convinced John of the Cross to join her in the work. Her success as an administrator and reformer resulted in her founding 16 monasteries. Rest,indeed! I need no rest; what I need is crosses. She died, exhausted, on 4th October 1582 Yet it is her gift of spiritual direction, practiced personally with nuns and publicly in her writings for which she is known today. She had to be persuaded to put pen to paper- the results were ’ Life’ her autobiography, ‘Way of Perfection’ - practical advice for her nuns, and ‘Interior Castle’ - a theological treatise. Her legacy can be seen in Music, paintings, sculpture, literature , drama and film. Her life and writings restored many of the religious institutions of Spain. The Spanish parliament named her the Patroness of Spain. In 1622 Pope Gregory XV proclaimed her a saint Teresa of Avila was a major figure in the 16th century movement of Roman Catholic reform. Differences between Discaled Carmelites and Carmelites (See enclosed material for more information) Sources used Church History Britannica Online Encyclopedia wikipedia Great Leaders of the Christian Church Woodbridge contribution by Caroline T. Marshall

Born Lotario dei Conti Segni (Lothar of Seghi) Innocent 111 was one of the most powerful and influential of all the popes. He became pope on the death of Alexander111. He was not the first choice but after just 2 ballots, on the same day the former pope died, he became his successor. He held the post for nearly 18 years. His significance rests upon the quantity of work he accomplished and his power both inside and outside the church. Pope Innocent 111 was a careful and frequent correspondent who wrote more than 5,000 letters to bishops, abbots, kings and others. He was involved in missions, crusades ((Fourth crusade 1202-4), efforts to turn back heresy and the education of the faithful. His work brought him to a position where nearly every crown in Europe- including King John of England and Philip 11 of France - were brought into submission under him. In 1209 Francis of Assisi sought permission from the pope to found a new order. The pope had doubts but following a dream on 16th April, 1210, the Franciscan Order was founded. He was central in supporting the Catholic reforms of ecclesiastical affairs through his decretals ( edits of on doctrine or church law) and the Fourth Lateran Council. 15th November 1215 he opened the council. By its conclusion it issued 77 reformatory decrees. It encouraged the creating of schools and holding clergy to a higher standard than laity. The council also reviewed the nature of the Eucharist. Having been involved with the fourth crusade he was looking forward to the fifth set to start in 1217. He died unexpectedly at Perugia on 16th June 1216. He was buried there until Pope Leo X111 transferred it to Lateran in December 1891 Pope Innocent 111 considered himself God’s representative on earth. More than an ordinary person but less than God. Source wikipedia

Robert Green Lee was born in a South Carolina sharecropper’s cabin. he grew up working on a farm. His school, a primitive one room, was a 3 mile walk away. Brought up in a Christian home and through regular Sunday school and church he came to know the Lord. He briefly worked on the Panama canal. he entered Furman University and graduated with honours in 1913. He married Bula Gentry. He was offered a teaching post but selected the pastorate instead. *That’s good! God never meant you to dig around Latin roots. He meant you to be a preacher * - Bula His first ministry was in Lima S.C… As he became widely known larger opportunities arose. After 3 more ministries he end up in 1927 at Believue Baptist Church of Memphis, Tennessee and stayed for the next 33 years. In 1960 he became pastor emeritus. In his ‘retirement’ he travelled the world - 100,000 miles a year, Robert’s sermons/messages were written in longhand on legal pads. He special attention to his opening statement to make it as effective as possible. His secretary would type out these pages. He would then read the manuscript frequently to master the content. He preached extemporaneously for up to 90 minutes in a white suit. His most famous sermon PayDay, some Day he preached 1,275 times (See included extract) He was offered a number of ’ jobs’- presidency of a seminary and a university-he stayed at Believue. He did do 4 terms as President of the Tennessee Baptist convention and 3 as head of the South Baptist convention. On his last day, 20 th July 1978 his friends sang hymns as he died. ( read R,G, Lee’s ascent to Glory). During his memorial service outstanding leaders paid tribute to the* peerless pulpiteer / Mr Southern Baptist*.

Peter was the preeminent philosopher of the 12th century and perhaps the greatest logician of the middle ages. In his life time he was equally famous as a poet and a composer, and might have ranked as the preeminent theologian had his ideas earned more converts and less condemnation. In all areas He was brilliant, innovative and controversial. He was a genius and he knew it and made no apologies. His vast knowledge , wit, charm, and even arrogance, drew a generation of Europe’s finest minds to Paris to learn from him. Peter was originally called ‘Pierre le Pallet’ . He belonged to a minor noble family. He decided to give up a career in the military and his inheritance to become an academic. He wandered throughout France to learn and seek knowledge.He studied under Roscellinus Compiegne, a famous French theologian and philosopher. Peter was determined to bring a fresh approach to theology. His teaching career began in Melun and Corbeil to the south of Paris. He return to Paris to teach at Notre-Dame and at Mont-Sainte-Genevieve. It was about this time he met Heloise, the niece of Fulbert, a canon of Notre-Dame. Peter was 37, Helloise 17. He became her tutor, friend, lover and finally husband.Much of their early relationship - the love affair, the elopement to Brittany, the birth of their son Astrolable, a secret marriage followed by the punitive castration of Peter ordered by Fulbert -is recorded in *The Story of My Misfortunes . He lost his prestige as a teacher and left Paris. Heloise entered the convent of Argentuil (1119). The baby, Astrolable, went to his sister’s.He went to the Saint- Denis monastery for 4 years. There he wrote ‘Sic et non’ -Yes or No - 158 questions - arranging conflicting patristic opinions around key doctrinal issues- students were eager to resolve. His second theological work ’ Theologia’Summi Boni’ condemned and burnt following a public trial (1121). Peter briefly confined to Abbey of Saint-Medard. Returned to Saint-Denis and in 1212 released from residency. Humiliated he sought solitude. Given land he built an oratory at Quincy. Students joined him at his retreat. He modified his teaching and wrote ‘Christian Theology’. He accepted election as abbot of Saint-Guildas but unsuccessful at monastic reform. He gave his oratory to the convent where Heloise lived .Together they setup a foundation, confirmed by Innocent 11, with Heloise as its first prioress. Peter as co-founder became involved. He wrote down a number of recommendations - *On the Origin of Nuns and the Rule of Life, Problemata Heloissae, and Expostio in hexaemeron. He prepared a collection of sermons, prayers, a breviary-a book of psalms and 143 hymns. Peter’s approach to theology was part of a new mode of thought that brought questions, debate and order to the fore as the science of scared doctrine. Peter and Heloise are buried together in Paris Sources Facts for Kids Encyclopedia.com Britannica Online Encyclopedia .

Peter was a Scots-American preacher who was elected to be the 57th Chaplain of the United States Senate in 1947. He died young (46) in 1949. He is remember because his widow Catherine wrote a moving, biography of his life A Man Called Peter (1951), it rose to the top of the best selling list and turned into a film Peter’s father died when he was 4. His step-father was an alcoholic so he tried to run away to sea at the age of 14. He was inspired by David Livingstone. When his step-father kicked him out he offered himself for mission work in China. He had already made a definite commitment to work full time in the Lord’s service. He started night classes but he sometimes failed courses. A cousin suggested going to the USA and he would pay the fare. He prayed for 3 weeks- God meant him to go. Peter Marshall left Scotland, with a ticket but no money, to emigrate to the USA in 1927. In the beginning he had to dig ditches, no friends and no church. God sent him an offer to work in Alabama. In a matter of weeks he had a church - the First Presbyterian, recommended as ministry candidate, spoken at a prayer meeting, elected president of the young peoples league, involved with Boy Scouts and the teacher of the men’s Bible class.etc. He graduated from Columbia Theological seminary in 1931 and became pastor at a church in Covington, Georgia. In 1933 accepted a call to Atlanta’s Westminster Presbyterian Church. Married Catherine Wood ,aged 23 when he was 35, on 4th November 1936. 1937 became pastor at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church ( also known as Abraham Lincoln’s church) in Washington DC. He launched a new ministry at the historic congregation, a ministry that would reach around the world. He demonstrated to young and old alike that Christianity can be fun. His sermons, many written with anonymous research by his wife, revealed a rock-ribbed faith, clarity of conviction and a poet’s pen. During WW11 he drew 1000s each week to the church to listen to his prophetic voice with the soft Scottish burr. Despite 3 services the sanctuary overflowed leaving 100s waiting in long lines hoping for a seat He painted word pictures to convey the gospel message stories. He spoke of his personnel experiences His goal in preaching was always to make Jesus real to people. Peter never thought his sermons were good enough to publish. Catherine was persuaded by parishioners and publishers to publish them. In 1949 * Mr. Jones, Meets the Master came out with 12 sermons and became a best seller. To Live again tells of her life after Peter’s and more details about the church. Catherine married Leodard LeSound, then editor of the 'Guideposts Magazine ’ in 1959. In total she wrote 21 inspirational books. She died in 1983 but her books, carrying Peter and Catherine’s outreach, have sold over 20 million copies. Sunday, May 29th, 2016 their church celebrated that 80 years earlier Dr. Peter Marshall and Catherine Marshall had joined them.

Dr. Eli Stanley Jones was an American 20th century Methodist missionary and theologian. For more than 50 years he proclaimed the Gospel of Christ. He was probably the world’s best known and longest tested Christian missionary and evangelist. In 1959 he was named Missionary Extraordinary by World Outlook. Eli was educated in Baltimore schools and studied law at City College before graduating from Asbury College, Wilmore, Kentucky. in 1907. He was on the Asbury faculty when he was called to the missionary service in India in 1907. He was ordained in 1908 as both a deacon and elder. He worked as district missionary superintendent and revival preacher In India he worked with the lowest castes , including Dalits. He also made friends with many of the leaders and became known for his inter faith work. He spent time with Mohandas K. Gandhi and the Nehru family.He is remembered for his 1000s of inter-religious lectures to the educated classes. In 1925, while home on furlough, he wrote a report of his years of service - what he had taught and learned in India. The published result was The Christ of the Indian Road - sales reached over one million copies world wide.He wrote other books which became ‘required’ reading at theological colleges.( See long list) He helped to reconstruct the Indian 'Ashram ’ - forest retreat using the Christian principle of indigenization. He founded a Christian Ashram at Sat Tal in the Himalayas (1930). He went on to preach and hold them in almost every country in the world. 1n 1941 he was a confidant of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Japanese leaders trying to avert war. After WW11 he launched in the USA the Crusade for a Federal Union of Churches. He held mass meetings from coast to coast and spoke in nearly 500 cities, towns and churches In 1950 he provided funds for India’s first Christian psychiatric centre and clinic. He pre-dated the United Nations by 30 years, by his Round Table of Nations. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Peace Prize. for his reconciliation work in Asia, Africa and between Japan and the USA. In 1963 he received the Gandhi Peace award. He travelled among the people’s of the earth, speaking 3 times a day. The years did not weary him, for he was blessed with physical stamina, mental vigor, and God’s grace to sustain him for the rugged schedule he imposed on himself. December 1971, aged 88, and leading the Oklahoma Christian Ashram he suffered a stroke which seriously impaired him physically but not mentally. He dictated onto tape his last book The Divine Yes. June,1972 he gave from his wheel chair, in Jerusalem, a moving message to the First Christian Ashram World Congress. He died in India on 25th January 1973. He was truly a* Missionary Extraordinary* I hope reading about Eli Stanley Jones -,’ Brother Stanley’ to his friends, will inspire and encourage you to go the extra mile for our Lord. Sources used History of Missiology United Christian Ashrams wikipedia

Norman graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and became one of the most influential ministers of the 20th century. In 1922 Norman was ordained into the Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC). He was pastor in 3 churches over the next 10 years… He then left MEC in 1932 and joined the Dutch Reform Church (DFC). He became the minister at Marble Collegiate Church, a Reformed Church of America, in New York City (1932-1984). In those 52 years the congregation increased from 600 to 5,000. He became known for his dynamic and energetic sermons. he preached an optimist message that many Americans accepted during such trying events as the Great Depression, WW11, the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movment. At the height of his popularity 750, 000 received his sermons through the post once a month. In 1935 he started a radio programme The Art of Living which lasted for 54 years and was one of the most popular broadcasts in the USA for nearly 50 years. Under sponsorship of the National Council of Churches he moved into television. Both were broadcast across the USA. In 1945 he began to publish a weekly magazine Guideposts. It was founded by Norman. his wife Ruth and Raymond Thornburg. The magazine printed positive stories of people achieving their dreams. In 2005, 4 million subscribed to the magazine. It was ranked 13th most popular journal in the USA He published 46 books. His most popular book was The Power of Positive Thinking (1952) was bought by 2+million, stayed on the best seller list for 186 consecutive weeks, but It also brought controversy. ( Read American Foundation of Religion and Psychiatry and Theological critique) Norman founded a number of organizations.- The Horatio Alger Association --with Kenneth Beebe, the Peale Center, The Positive Thinking foundation and the Guidepost Publications. In 1968 he married Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower. In 1984 President Reagan awarded Norman the Presidential Medal for Freedom for his contribution to Theology. Growing up Donald Trump attended his church. Donald married his first wife Ivana there. Norman died of a stroke on 24th December 1993, aged 95, in Pawling , New York. Through the media of radio and television broadcasts Norman preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the USA for 50 years. He also put pen to paper - 46 books - to explain his ideas. Through Guideposts he encouraged others to think positively about themselves. Sources used Ohio History Central wikipedia

John was born in Sturton- le Steeple, Nottinghamshire. He was educated at Gainsborough grammar schol and at Christ’s College, Cambridge where he became a fellow in 1594. In 1594 he was also ordained as an Anglican priest. Between 1600-1602 he preached in Lincoln. In 1606 he broke with the Church of England and became minister at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, to a group of who also had abandoned the C. of E… He then spent 2 years with John Robinson where they helped organize the Separatists in Nottinghamshire. In 1608 the two Johns, with their followers,fled to Amsterdam in Holland. which was known for its religious tolerance. There they all began to study the Bible ardently. John Smyth then took it upon himself to baptize himself. He recited a confession of faith then baptized himself and then baptized all his followers.This brazen act scandalized even those who despised England’s state church. Amsterdam Separatist, Richard Bernard, nicknamed him ‘So-Baptist’ - self baptizer. His followers preferred ’ Christians Baptized on Profession of their Faith’. The derogatory ‘so-baptist’ later shortened to ‘Baptist’, stuck. John insisted that true worship was from the heart and so the liturgy was abandoned - no readings from the Bible John wanted prayer, singing and preaching to be completely spontaneous. This idea stemmed from the belief that worship should be ordered by the Holy Spirit. Church leadership would be just 2 fold- pastor and deacon. In 1609 they came to believe in believer’s baptism- rejecting infant baptism- and they came together to form one of the earliest Baptist churches. He was convinced that believer’s baptism and a free church, gathered by covenant, was foundational for the church. Before his death, in 1612, he wrote a letter of apology, regretting that he had baptized himself. By then Thomas Helwys had returned to England to form the first permanent Baptist church in 1611, I have included, from Amazon, details about *The True story of John Smyth. the Se-baptist, as Told by himself and his Contemporaries (1881) * Sources used Britannica Online Encyclopedia Christian History

Francis was born in Hamstead Bridge, Staffordshire, England. He became the the first bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the USA. After limited schooling - aged 12 he worked as a blacksmith’s apprentice. By the age of 14 he had been ‘awakened’ in he Christian faith. He attended Methodist meetings where he soon began to preach and soon became a licensed as a preacher. Aged just 21 he was admitted to the Wesleyan Conference.He served 4 years in England as an itinerant preacher. In 1771 John Wesley asked,* Our brethren in America call aloud for help. Who is willing to go over and help them?* Francis stepped forward. October 1771 John landed in Philadelphia. On landing he hit the road so hard he became ill. For the NEXT 45 years he suffered illnesses - colds, coughs ,fevers ,headaches , ulcers and eventually chronic rheumatism.Yet he continued to preach. He covered something like 8,000 km, each year, for 45 years on horseback - in later years he used a carriage. He crossed the Alleghenies mountain range - part of the Appalachian system 60 times. Ezra Tipple, his biographer summed up Francis’ style of sermons with these words Under the rush of his utterances, people sprang to their feet as if summoned to the judgment bar of God. During the Revolutionary war -the War of American Independence (1775-83) he stayed silent. After the war Wesley ordained Thomas Coke as his American Superintendent. The famous Baltimore 'Christmas Conference of 1784 gave birth to the American Methodist Episcopal Church. Coke ordained Francis as deacon, then elder. On December 27th, elected by his peers, he was consecrated as superintendent. Francis in 1785 used the term ‘bishop’. Coke 6 months later returned to England. Francis now held the reins of American Methodism. Francis was very good at organizing. He created districts which would be served by circuit riders- preachers who travelled from church to church to preach and minister. In the late 1700s 95% of Americans lived in places with less than 2,500 inhabitants. Besides preaching and administration he was also against slavery. He petitioned George Washington to enact antislavery legislation. He launched 5 schools and promoted Sunday schools. On his arrival there were 3 meeting places and 300 communicants The growth of the church was largely the result of his strenuous efforts. By the time of his death there were 412 Methodist churches with a membership of 214,235. His efforts did much to assure the continuance of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the USA. For his lasting Legacy and Honours read enclosed sheet. In 1958 his Journal and Letters were published in 3 volumes Sources Christianity Today Britannica Online Encyclopedia SMU Bridwell Library Perkins School of Theology

Thomas and Alexander Campbell were a father and son team. Thomas (1763-1854) Alexander (1788-1866) As a family they were going to immigrate to the USA. Thomas was going first Alexander, the son, and the rest of the family were delayed further because their ship was shipwrecked. They had to spend an extra year in Scotland. The 19 year old started to preach and study at the University of Glasgow. He was disgusted by the theological pettiness in Presbyterianism. He refused communion. His father was coming to the same conclusion. When the family finally met up in Pennsylvania they agreed there was a lack of scriptural support for infant baptism. Thomas Campbell published in 1809 the Declaration and Address off the Christian Association of Washington. He was stripped of his ministerial credentials by the Presbyterian Synod. In the declaration he set forth some of the convictions about the church as he organized the Christian Association of Washington not as a church but an association. Thomas’ son Alexander, having immigrated to the USA, joined his father in 1809 and before long assumed the leading role in the movement. 4th May 1811 saw the Christian association constituted as a congregational governed church. They be the practice baptism of adults by immersion. They constructed building at Brush Run- it became the Brush Run Church. They worked with the Redstone Baptist Association (RBA) from 1815-1824. Alexander began publishing a journal -The Christian Baptist which promoted reform which caused conflict with RBA. Those following the Campbells were called* Reforming Baptists* Alexander preferred ‘disciples’ Opponents were nicknamed ‘Campbellites.’ Merger with the Christians (Stone Movement) - read paragraph. The Stone and Campbell movements merged on 1st January, 1832. Christians or Disciples of Christ . The confusion over names still exist. Sources Christianity Today wikipedia

Richard Allen was a minister, educator, writer and one of the USAs most active and influential black leaders. He was born into slavery on February 14th 1760 in Delaware. As a child he was sold to Stokley Sturgis. He began to attend the local Methodist Society which welcomed slaves and free blacks. He taught himself to read and write. He joined the Methodist at 17 and began evangelizing which attracted criticism from local slave owners. He and his brother worked hard for Sturgis so no one could say his slaves did not do well because of their religion. The Revd. Freeborn Garrettson, who had freed his own slaves, came to preach in Delaware in 1775. Stugis became convinced slavery was wrong and gave his slaves the opportunity to buy their freedom. Richard did extra work and bought his freedom in 1780. He changed his name from ‘Negro Richard’ to’ Richard Allen’. Richard qualified as a preacher in 1784 at the Christmas Conference -the founding of the Methodist Church in North America. He was one of two black attendees - neither were allowed to vote- but Richard lead the 5 a.m. services. 1786 Richard became a preacher at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia bur restricted to early morning services. He attracted more black members and was ordered to met them in a separate area for worship. He preached on the commons and had meeting of nearly 50 worshippers. Richard and Absalom Jones resented the segregation so they left the church and formed the Free African Society (FAS) a non-denominational mutual aid society. Richard. In 1787 they purchased a plot of land but it was years before they had a building- now the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Richard wanted to continue in the Methodist practice. on 29th July 1794 the leaders opened the doors of Bethel AME Church. White ministers still had to administer communion. Richard was ordained the first black Methodist minister by Bishop Francis Asbury in 1799. By 1809 it had 457 members, by 1813 it had 1,272. In 1816 Richard united 5 African-American congregations and founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). 10th April 1816 Richard was elected their first bishop. September 1830 saw black representatives from 7 states convene in Philadelphia at the Bethel AME church for the first Negro Convention. Richard presided over the meeting. The 1830 meeting was the beginning of an organizational effort known as the Negro Convention Movement. From 1787 until his death in 1831 Richard, and his second wife Sarah, operated a station on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves. His preaching style was rarely expository or written down. Richard died at home on 26th March 1831. He was buried in the church he founded. In 2002 Molefi Kete Asante named Richard as one of the top 100 Greatest African-Americans. The AME church today (2020) has 2.5 and 3 million members. Sources used Britannica Online Encyclopedia New Georgia Encyclopedia wikipedia

George was an Americcan clergyman who was pastor of the First CHurch of Dallas , Texas from 1897- 1944 - nearly half a century. He was the president of both the Southern Baptist Convention ( 1927-9) and the Baptist World Alliance (1934-9) . He had a sudden conversion at a revival camp meeting in 1886. His dream was to be a lawyer In 1887, aged just 20, he founded the Hiawassee Academy - a rural mountain school where he served as principal. In 1889 he moved with his parents to Whitewright in Texas. He joined the Baptist church there and attended Grayson College. George began to get involved - he taught Sunday School and ‘filled in’ when the pastor was away. The church recognized his talent and made the decision for him. (Read * I was thrown into the stream and just had to swim. ) What over welling support from the congregation! By 1890 he had already gained a reputation for being able to speak like the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon according to the Reverend Fernando C. McConnell. His remarkable voice made him audible to large crowds without the aid of an amplifying system. 1890 he was ordained into the Baptist ministry at Whitewright. In nearby Sherman he preached his first sermon. In 1891 Baylor University were looking for a financial agent to help correct a debt. George’s pastor, R.F. Jenkins, wrote a letter recommending him to B.H.Carroll - a Baylor trustee- and George was called for an interview. The trustees thought he was too young. Before they could dismiss him George stood up and demanded that they at least let him make his case. They listened; the job was his. (Read A preacher on the Rise) In 1893 he enrolled as a freshman at Baylor. He served as a student-pastor of the East Waco Baptist church to pay for his tuition. He graduated in June 1897 with an A.B. degree and became pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas. He stayed for 47 years - until he death . His preaching made him famous. The church rebuilt 3 times - membership rose from 715 to 7,804. George was 1 of 20 preachers chosen by President Woodrow-Wilson to go to Europe for 6 months during WW1. He delivered as many as 6 sermons a day. During his 47 year pastorate he published 10 volumes of sermons, 2 volumes of addresses and 2 Volumes of Christmas messages. George’s famous sermons* Baptists and Religious Liberty* were delivered on the steps of Washington May 16, 1920. For 37 years he made trips to preach to cattle drives in the Davis Mountains- concerned cowboys were too isolated. He was involved with the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He chaired the committee seeking to find a location. Fort Worth, Texas was chosen. 1910 - 1944 he remained on the board of trustees and president from 1931-1944. There is a biography to buy-see Amazon advert. The George W. Truett Theological Seminary was founded in his memory in 1993. He was one of the most famous Southern baptist preacher and writer of his era. Sources wikipedia SBTS

Margaret’ s maiden name was Askew. She married Thomas Fell , a barrister, Justice of the peace and member of Parliament in 1632. He died in 1658. 11 years later she then married George Fox, the founder of the Quakers, in 1669. Margaret was a founder of the Religious Society of Friends. She is popularly remembered as the mother of Quakerism. She was one of the ‘Valiant Sixty’ of the early quaker preachers and missionaries. The Fell’s lived at Swarthmoor Hall. June, 1652, George Fox visited the hall. Over the next few weeks he convinced the household to become Quakers. For the next 6 years the hall became a centre of Quaker activity. Margaret became the unofficial secretary, wrote many epistles, and collected and distributed funds for those on missions. On her husband’s death she retained control of the Hall. It remained a meeting place and haven from persecution, though sometimes raided by government forces in th 1660s. After the Stuart Restoration, as a member of the gentry, she sought to get freedom of conscience in religious matters (1660 and 1662). In 1664 she was arrested for failing to take an oath. She was sentenced to life imprisonment(?) and loss of Swarthmoor Hall. While in prison in Lancaster Castle she wrote religious pamphlets and epistles.* Women’s Speaking Justified’ was her most famous work. In total she wrote, or co-authored - at least 23 works Released in 1668 she married George Fox in 1669. She is then imprisoned for breaking Conventicle Act. George went to USA and on returning in 1673 imprisoned for 2 years. 1975 spent a year together at Swarthmoor Hall. George then spent most of the next 16 years abroad or in London. He died in 1691. Margaret spent her time at the Hall. She died aged 87 on the 23rd April 1702. She lived to see partial tolerance of Quakers in the 1690s. The first part of the novel * The Peaceable Kingdom* by Jan de Hartog looks at Margaret’s meeting with George Fox and her conversion Sources used wikipedia Quaker Tapestry