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Title
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Sarah Craven (1717-1790)
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Creator
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Craven, Sarah, 1717-1790
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Publisher
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Moravian Lives Project
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Date
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1790
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Type
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Text
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Format
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image/jpg
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Description
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Sarah Craven, born near Leeds in 1717, struggled in her early life between worldly desires and concern for her salvation until the preaching of Mr. Ingham and the influence of Moravian believers awakened a deep spiritual conviction within her. After years of inner conflict, self-doubt, and searching for assurance, she eventually experienced what she believed was Christ’s forgiveness and devoted herself fully to the Moravian congregation, later joining the Moravian Single Sisters’ community at Gomersal and the Choir House at Fulneck. Known for her gratitude, faithfulness, and willingness to serve others, she endured many years of illness with increasing longing to be united with her Savior. Shortly before her death in 1788, she spoke peacefully of Christ coming to “fetch” her, and she died calmly in the seventy-second year of her age.
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Subject
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Craven, Sarah, 1717-1790
Moravians--Biography
Women--Biography
Autobiographies
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Identifier
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Shelfmark: Ful/SS/41
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Place
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Fulneck, England
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Language
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English
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Extent
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8 pages
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Rights Holder
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Fulneck Moravian Archives, Fulneck, UK
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transcript of
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The Life of the Single Sister Sarh Craven who departed 10th Nov 1790
I was born at Bothwell near Leeds in the ???? Nov 11th 1717. I lived with my Parents till my Father died who belonged to the Church of England. When I was a Child I often wished to die, for I thought at that age I should be saved; but if I lived to grow up to be a Woman I should come into things which would hinder me from attaining eternal happiness. When I came into riper years, I followed the World with eagerness, tho’ not with satttisfaction; for I often felt ureasy in my mind but put if off, resolving to grow better, but still went on in my old way. After my Father’s death I went to live with my Uncle & was with him when Mr Ingham came into those parts but soon after went to live with my Mother; she asked me to go with her to hear Mr Ingham preach, but I declined it for this reason, I believect if I was one of his followers I must denounce the World, which was my chief Object at that time, soon after he came again to preach nearer to our habitation) will Mother urged me to go with her which I could not now help complying with, tho spiritually clear- & the discourses had no effect & I wondered
what induced people to run after him: my Mother invited him to preach at our House but he did chuse to do it except we would have a Society setted to which she consented. In the mean time my Mother spoke very closely to me about the state. of my Soul; thus prepared I went to hear him again. During his Sermon, I was made sensible of my lost condition, I wished I could alter & thought I had better be deprived of this Worlds pleasure then lose my immortal Soul. I thought I could part with every thing I had in the World to be assured of may salvation, but feared it was impossible In this miserable state I continued a long time, & came into selfworking by degrees my misery wore off & concluded this was the right way to do all the good that was in my power so my confidence was to be appeased, but being of a hasty temper & sometimes overcome with passion my good opinion of myself vanished & I became miserable again. In the year 1740. Mr Ingham & Br Tellsheg came to our house. the latter could not speak English, but his look made a particular impression on me & I believed him to be indeed a Child of God. In a short time after his visit our Society,
was dispersed, which troubled me very much One of them & myself desired desired to be admitted into another Society, which was the case soon after with a small company at Hollbeck near Leeds. But not having the pleasure to see Brn & Srs often, I grew dry in my heart Upon being asked to be a Servant in a Family, I at first refused but being earnestly intreated, I at last accepted & went to the place. I was soon uneasy in it for I found I had no freedom to mix with worldly company, but was obliged to stay my time out. The night before I left my place I opened drew that Verse & When I was lost & far had strayed Into a Desart wild etc. The day after when I was with my Mother, some Sisters came to see me, I told them what had passed, they act advised me to make a new begining, & then our Saviour & the Brn would forgive me. These words comforted me for I did not expect to hear such of them. The first meeting after their visit that I went to, Br Tellsheg kept on the following words, ye cannot serve two Masters. it seemed as if he directed his discourse to me alone and no determined have our Saviour for
my Master & him alone. The short time after I was advised to live with two Sisters in Hollbeck I did so, but my sittuation was not at first agreable to me, I did not remain long with them, being desired by Br Teltsheg to go to Leeds to wait on a Sick Sister, but soon became sick myself as I had then no money left to help me the future I was persuaded to live my Mother with whom I remained till she died.
The day before her departure, a Sister visited her & asked her where she would like to have me sittuated; she replyed amongst Sisters, But after her Death I felt such a strong attachment to my Relations that I thought I could not part with them which brought me again into trou ble, & quite at a loss what to do. When I was by myself, my faithful Moniter convinced me once more that I was not in my right place to stay there would be dangerous for my Soul. I immediately set off to acquaint my former Labouress, & disclosed my whole case. She recommended me to another Family in Hollbeck, this was in the year 1750. I attended the Preaching in Fulneck every Sunday, Br LaTrobe
Sermons were a real blessing to me, & I frequent imagined, that he know my inmost thoughts. I had no rest day, nor night, on account of the burden of my sins. One day as I was by myself earnestly entreating our Saviour to manifest himself unto me, he granted my request & gave me a full assurance of the forgiveness of my sins which came with such power, that it melted me into tears from this time & particularly during my stay in that Family, I received many blessings form our Saviour. This was also a particular period with the Brethren’s Congregation, their enemies in these parts were not affraid to prognosticate their ruin, notwithstanding this I wished for a still closer union with them, & importuned to be admitted a Member of the Congregation. The two Srs with whom I lived having departed this life it was thought proper for me to leave Hollbeck, & I was placed at last to my great joy in the Single Sisters Oeconomy at gummersall, May 20th 1755 & was soon at hone with them, tho’ it proved a new school
for my heart. The 3d of March 1756 I was in formed would be a general Congregation Day I got an impression that on that day I should have the favour to be added thereto. I there fore kept a band with our Saviour, sensitive of my poverty & helplessness, yet comforted with his nearess. In this sittuation of mind according to my impression, I was received into the Congregation on the above mentioned day which proved a great blessing to me Thus for her own account
April 20th 1756 our late Sister removed from Gumersal to live in the Choir House here. March 21st 1757 she partook with the Congn of the holy Comunion for the first time. It was evident, notwithstand ing all human imperfections that she had found her peace in our Saviour.
She knew in whom she believed and was persuaided that he was able to keep that which she had commited to Him. which helped her through evry trying circumstance she met with. her call to belong to a Congn of those she valued highly and often spoke of it with the greatest
greatest gratitude. It was a particuliar pleasure to her to serve her Sisters in any little matters she was able to do, which she did with great faithfullness so long as her Strength wou’d admitt of it. The begining of this year an Asthmatick complaint which she had labourd under many Years, grew very troublesom to her, so that she was obliged in Jany to moove into the sickroom, when her longing to be at home with our Saviour increased daily. It gave her much pain when two of her companions in the sickroom was called home before her. She suffer’d much in her Sickness which made her sometimes rather impatient and think the time long, but she wou’d soon recolect herself again, and intreated our Saviour to give her a childlike resig nation to his will that she might not grieve him by her impatience.
the night before her departure, she said
said, I am waiting for our Saviour to come and fetch me, he will not be long now before he comes, I shall then see him for myself sickness & Sorrow will have an end, he will wipe all tears from my Eyes, that night She spent in great Weakness, but in converce with her best Friend, Novr 10th the happy moment came when she departed in a soft and easy maner to her dear Redeemer with the blessing of her Choir, half past 10 oClock in the forenoon, during a Sincible feeling of our dear Lords presents, in the 72d Year of her Age.
