Smyth was born in Lisburn with a family name of Higginson in about 1755. When she was fifteen she married the preacher Edward Smyth.[1]
Her aunt, Henrietta Gayer, was a leading Methodist in the area and she attracted many to the movement including Agnes Smythe. The Methodist leader John Wesley visited Lisburne and stayed at the Gayer's home in 1775 where he recovered from a grave illness.[2] That year Smythe became a Methodist and she convinced her husband, who was a curate in Ballyculter, of this approach to Christianity. Agnes was enthusiastic and she abandoned fancy dresses and frivolity and she was determined to preach whenever the opportunity arose.[1]
John Wesley had reassured another Irish preacher, Alice Cambridge, that she should follow her heart if she was inclined to preach, but she should not preach near a male preacher as she may take some of his audience.[3] Her husband's patron Lord Bangor objected to their approach and accused Edward of incorrect teaching. Her husband was found not guilty in court but nevertheless they lost their living in 1776 and the following year Edward's license to preach was taken away.[1]
Edward was invited to preach by John Wesley in 1782 and after returning from recovering from an illness in Ireland, Agnes also returned to work with the English Methodists. Agnes served as a curate in London in 1782. Smyth died the following year in Bath in 1783.[1]
In 1790 "An Extract of the Life, Death and spiritual experience of Mrs A. Smyth (written by herself)" was published.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcd"Smyth, Edward (fl. 1764–1790), Methodist preacher | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/67131. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (23 September 2004), "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. ref:odnb/59931, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/59931, retrieved 7 February 2023
^Graham, Dorothy (1998). "Methodist Women Local Preachers" (PDF). Retrieved 2 May 2018.
^Mrs. Agnes SMYTH (1790). An Extract of the Life, Death and spiritual experience of Mrs A. Smyth (written by herself). pp. 15–.
January 01, 1970
agnes, smyth, agnes, higginson, 1755, 1783, irish, english, 1764, 1790, methodist, preacher, bornlisburndied22, 1783bath, somersetnationalitykingdom, great, britainoccupationpreacherspouseedward, smythlife, editsmyth, born, lisburn, with, family, name, higgins. Agnes Smyth or Agnes Higginson c 1755 22 May 1783 was an Irish and English fl 1764 1790 Methodist preacher Agnes SmythBornLisburnDied22 May 1783Bath SomersetNationalityKingdom of Great BritainOccupationPreacherSpouseEdward SmythLife editSmyth was born in Lisburn with a family name of Higginson in about 1755 When she was fifteen she married the preacher Edward Smyth 1 Her aunt Henrietta Gayer was a leading Methodist in the area and she attracted many to the movement including Agnes Smythe The Methodist leader John Wesley visited Lisburne and stayed at the Gayer s home in 1775 where he recovered from a grave illness 2 That year Smythe became a Methodist and she convinced her husband who was a curate in Ballyculter of this approach to Christianity Agnes was enthusiastic and she abandoned fancy dresses and frivolity and she was determined to preach whenever the opportunity arose 1 John Wesley had reassured another Irish preacher Alice Cambridge that she should follow her heart if she was inclined to preach but she should not preach near a male preacher as she may take some of his audience 3 Her husband s patron Lord Bangor objected to their approach and accused Edward of incorrect teaching Her husband was found not guilty in court but nevertheless they lost their living in 1776 and the following year Edward s license to preach was taken away 1 Edward was invited to preach by John Wesley in 1782 and after returning from recovering from an illness in Ireland Agnes also returned to work with the English Methodists Agnes served as a curate in London in 1782 Smyth died the following year in Bath in 1783 1 In 1790 An Extract of the Life Death and spiritual experience of Mrs A Smyth written by herself was published 4 References edit a b c d Smyth Edward fl 1764 1790 Methodist preacher Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 67131 Subscription or UK public library membership required Matthew H C G Harrison B eds 23 September 2004 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Oxford University Press pp ref odnb 59931 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 59931 retrieved 7 February 2023 Graham Dorothy 1998 Methodist Women Local Preachers PDF Retrieved 2 May 2018 Mrs Agnes SMYTH 1790 An Extract of the Life Death and spiritual experience of Mrs A Smyth written by herself pp 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agnes Smyth amp oldid 1159524202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
