Lionel B. Fletcher

Lionel Bale Fletcher (22 May 1877 – 19 February 1954) was an Australian Congregational minister and evangelist who held pastorates in Australia, Wales, and New Zealand. Fletcher led successful evangelistic campaigns across Australia, the British Isles, and South Africa. He also wrote multiple books including an autobiography, Mighty Moments.

Biography Fletcher was born in Maitland, New South Wales, eighth and final child to John and Eliza (née Bale) Fletcher. His father was a Methodist lay preacher. All seven of his sons, including Michael Scott Fletcher, became preachers and at least three were ordained as Methodist ministers. Fletcher attended Newington College (1890–1892) before doing an apprenticeship on the vessel 'Maquarie'. "I went to bed in a violent rage," said Fletcher, "but I had gone far enough, and the mighty hand of God gripped my life that night." On 24 January 1900, Fletcher married Maude Harris Basham and together they had several children.

Within days of Fletcher's conversion his father's journal tells of his son wanting to start "a Christian Endeavour or a young people's class."

Honours Fletcher turned down an honorary doctorate on several occasions, but on 9 November 1951 finally accepted an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Biola University, whose president Dr. Louis T. Talbot (after whom Talbot Theological Seminary was named) was converted partly as a result of Fletcher's ministry in Sydney years earlier. Talbot had hoped to confer the degree personally in Australia, but being unable to, asked the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Primate of Australia, Howard Mowll to confer the degree in his stead.