Jessie Penn-Lewis

Jessie Penn-Lewis (28 February 1861 – 15 August 1927, née Jones) was a Welsh evangelical speaker, who wrote several Christian evangelical works. Her religious work took her to Russia, Scandinavia, Canada, the United States and India.

Early life Penn-Lewis was born on 28 February 1861 under the name Jessie Jones in Neath, South Wales, as the first child of Heziah and Elias Jones. Her father was a civil engineer; her family was religious. Her mother was a worker for the temperance movement. and her family background rooted in the Calvinistic Methodist tradition.

While at Richmond, Penn-Lewis was influenced by the teaching of Evan H. Hopkins, the vicar of the Holy Trinity Church. Hopkins was an intellectual of the Keswick movement.

While attending the 1902 Keswick Convention, Penn-Lewis was approached by an informal group of Welsh ministers. They wanted to establish a similar convention in Wales, and asked for her help. She agreed with their cause, and used her contacts to organize the Llandrindod Wells Convention. The first such convention took place in 1903. Penn-Lewis became a regular platform speaker in this convention. She also influenced Johan Oscar Smith, the founder of Brunstad Christian Church and the missionary statesman Norman Grubb.

Works

She founded the magazine The Overcomer, which still appears.