Penn-Lewis, Jessie (1861-1927)
Place of Birth: Neath, South Wales
Family Background and Childhood: Given to the Lord by her parents; raised in a Calvinistic Methodist home; read Bible at age four
Marriage: Married at age 19 to William Penn-Lewis, age 21, a descendent of William Penn, Pilgrim father and founder of Pennsylvania
Salvation: Conversion after seeking the Lord, impressed with Isaiah 53:6 (1882)
Christian Work: Taught Bible class at Y.W.C.A., Richmond (1886); spoke at meetings in Brighton and Eastbourne; spoke to China Inland Mission (1895); spoke in many countries: Sweden (1896), Russia (1897), Switzerland, Finland, Denmark (1898), Canada, United States (1900), India (1903); speaker at Keswick Conventions (1899, 1903); edited The Overcomer magazine, 1909-1914 (first series), 1920-1925 (second series); held monthly conferences for Christian workers at Eccleston Hall, London; spoke at annual conferences sponsored by The Overcomer at Swanwick, North Derbyshire (1920-27) where T. Austin-Sparks was invited to speak
Influences: Influenced by Madame Guyon's writings on the cross
Beliefs and Teachings: Did not practice immersion and laying on of hands; emphasis of her ministry was the cross
Loss of Husband: Death of husband (1925), her “fellow-heir of the grace of life” (1 Pet. 3:7)
Writings: First booklet, The Pathway of Life in God; The Centrality of the Cross;, The Cross of Calvary;, The Cross–The Touchstone of Faith; War on the Saints (Watchman Nee used material from her War on the Saints in writing The Spiritual Man, Vol. 3, Part 9); many other books and booklets
Biography: Mary N. Gerrard, Jessie Penn-Lewis: A Memoir, 2nd ed., Bristol: The Overcomer Literature Trust Ltd., 1947
