Lady Bountiful - Lady Selina Hastings

1707–91

She was a countess. Her husband, the ninth Earl of Huntingdon, passed away in 1746, leaving his thirty-nine-year-old widow with scads of money and complete freedom to spend it any way she liked. As it turned out, Selina Hastings liked to support Christian ministry. She did so not only with her money, but also with her influence, her time, and her high-level networking.

At that time the Methodist Revival was sweeping through England. John Wesley, George Whitefield, and others gathered crowds in open-air meetings and challenged them to be born again. Those who received this message were usually organized into small groups, where they could get good Christian teaching and encouragement. The Methodists were trying to be a reform movement within the Anglican church, not a separate denomination—and this was Lady Selina’s goal too.

The countess built various chapels and meetinghouses throughout England for these reform-minded groups to use. She also made George Whitefield her personal chaplain and invited him to speak at parties where she hosted the movers and shakers of society. Selina Hastings was a social dynamo. Everyone knew her; it was hard to say no. For many years, she successfully kept her standing within the Church of England—insisting, for instance, that the meetings in her chapels follow the Book of Common Prayer. She even established a curtained-off section in one of her chapels where Anglican clergy could see the proceedings without being seen (it was dubbed “Nicodemus Corner”). But in 1779 the countess finally broke with the Anglicans, officially becoming a “dissenter.”

This woman was probably the most important Christian layperson in the eighteenth century. In the next century, Bishop John Henry Newman offered this eulogy: “She devoted herself, her name, her means, her time, her thoughts, to the cause of Christ. She did not spend her money on herself; she did not allow the homage paid to her rank to remain with herself.”

Chances are, you don’t have the wealth or influence Selina Hastings had. But what resources do you have? And how can you use these for the cause of Christ?

As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.

2 Corinthians 9:13