Moravian Lives @ Moravian U

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A. E. Marychurch 
    After a careful search through my dear
Sisters papers I regret to say, that we 
have been unable to find any distinct
memory of her past life, there are various 
short diaries written even in a very early 
period of her life containing statements 
of deep religious feeling, and even spirit 
ual experience, but she seems to have 
shrunk from the last of compiling 
any thing like a regular memoir. 
What she declined to do for herself from 
a feeling a rising probably from her ex 
treme humility her brother and her 
friends have endeavoured in some de 
gree to supply. Her life was not crowd 
ed with exciting events, yet it was 
one of unusual usefulness, and her 
energies became more active as her 
bodily strength declined; her light shone 
more & more until she reached the 
perfect day. Ann Elizabeth Marychurch
was bornSeptr 24th 1804 & was baptized 
in the Brethrens Church in Bristol
Thus her earthly course began in that 

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Church which she loved through 
life more than any other portion 
of Gods heritage, she enbibid its spirit 
in early childhood and cherished it 
to the last. Her parents were esteemed
members of the Congregation & her 
Father was for many years, most 
faithfully zealous and active in pro 
moting its interests. On the mater 
nal side, her Grandmother was one
of the first members when the Congre 
gation was settled in 1755. She was 
brought up by a very affectionate and 
tender mother who trained her early 
in the ways of Gods people. In due 
time she was sent to school, but her 
School days were not happy, she 
suffered much from those peculiar 
school troubles which are often very 
keenly felt by young sensitive child 
ren, – speaking of her school days 
she once said I was a poor little timid
thing and the unkind ridicule 
of some of the older girls made me 

very unhappy, and pressed down my 
spirits, so that my childhood was not 
so happy as it might have been. 
Her mother being an invalid, she became 
very early useful in the family and 
the active habits which were thus 
formed continued through life. 
In 1821she was confirmed by the Revd 
Dr. Okely the minister of the Congrega 
tion and in 1822she became a received 
member. A dangerous illness had excit 
edSolemn thought & made her feel it 
right to take these important steps 
but had not at that time received any 
deep religious impressions, she had not 
as yet felt the burden of sin, nor the 
inescpressible love of Jesus. She was in- 
deed faithful in prayer and had ear 
nestdesires that every thought should 
be brought into captivity to Christ. She 
often retired for prayer, and she wrote 
out a solemndedication of herself to 
her Saviour, but her heart was not yet 
decided and she could not yet say 

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Lord I will follow thee whither so ever 
thou goeth. But the Holy Spirit led her 
into clearer views of her own ruined state 
by nature, her sinfulness & depravity in 
the sight of God, and often it later years 
did she bemoan herself almost in the 
language of St. Paul, “O wretched man 
that I am who shall deliver me from 
the body of this death.” This deep convic 
tion of the corruption of her heart com 
bined at times with what she deplored 
as a natural tendency to sceptism
frequently robbed her soul of the peace
to be found in simply looking to the 
blood & righteousness of Christ as the 
sinners only hope. It was once of her 
greatest sources of disquietude amount 
ing at times to distracting torment, 
that Satan was permitted to infuse 
doubts into her mind of those great 
and sacred truths which she cherished
most dearly. 

Possibly her active intellect aided the 
temptation. But he who permitted it 

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made a way to escape. Her harrased 
mind sought comfort in the word 
of God & in prayer; and through the 
Holy Spirits help she became established 
strengthened & settled in the faith. Still 
through life she at times complained
of her hardness of heart & slowness to 
believe was “her thorn in the flesh” often 
producing poignantdistress, but like 
St Paul she heard the voice of comfort
saying, “My Grace is sufficient for thee” 
There were however times especially at 
the Holy Comnmunion when she realized 
the saving love of her Lord, & when her 
heart was filled with rapture & joy
Thus as life progressed she obtained 
deeper spiritual experience — her faith 
was not a dead faith, but brought 
forth good fruit. It led her to work 
to work heartily in the Lords service. 
Her natural energy of character would 
not allow her to rest in inactivity
She felt religion to be a vital matter 
and she became anxious to communicate 

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it. In her early with she was a zealous
Sunday School teacher, & even in later 
years, when her infermities would have 
proved a sufficient excuse for refusing 
she undertook the Bible Class, when a 
difficulty of supply was experienced. She 
became also a faithful and valueddis 
trict visitor, first in the Parish of St James
under the guidance of the Revd T T Beddulph
and afterward in the Parish of St Michael
Failing health alone compelled her to 
relinquish these duties, which she had 
performed during many years with 
conscientious regularlity. She took deep 
interest also in the work of the Bible Society
and faithfully filled the office of Association 
Secretary to the end of her life. In conjunc 
tion with the general work of the Bible 
Society, she watched with especial interest
the origin and growth of the branch 
connected with the Brethrens Congrega 
tion in Bristol of which her revered
Father had been treasurer. These were 
labours of love invigorating her spiritual 

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life, and with drawing her mind from 
dwelling too much upon her peculiar 
tendency to despondency to which her 
nervous constitution made her constantly 
liable. But it was especially to the 
advancement of the Brethrens Mission 
in connection with this Congregation
that she devoted her strength both of body 
& mind. Her persevering self denying 
labours in behalf of this great work 
will not easily be forgotten. For upwards 
of 30 years dating from the early part 
of  Br Ramftler‘s ministry in this 
place, she held the office of Secretary 
of the Ladies Association, an office which 
she filled with increasing delight
& increasing efficiency. In the last 
year of her life she would gladly have 
resigned it into younger & stronger 
hands, but her services were too valuable 
to be lost and she was though with 
difficulty, persuaded to continue them
And never did her energies flag 
never with drooping health did she 
omit any effort to increase the efficiency 

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of the branch under her charge to add
to the comforts of the Missionaries or to 
extend the sphere of their labours. 
Her knowledge of the special circum 
stances of various Mission Stations 
especially those of the West Indies
and the peculiar difficulties which 
Missionaries have to encounter, was 
enlarged by an extensive correspondence 
which she held with those devoted
servants of God; and this intimate 
knowledge of their state she turned 
to good account by enlisting for them 
the sympathise of children of God in 
the various Christian denominations 
around her. She has ceased from her 
blessed labours but her works follow 
her and in many a distant land 
the announcement of her death will 
be received with heartfeltsorrow. 
May the Lord of the Vineyard raise 
up from this Congregation, a suitable 
and devoted successor. These were evi 
dences external to herself that she was 
in possession of true saving Faith 

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which in seasons of temptation she 
sometimes doubted. She loved the Lords
people of every name and she had a 
heart ever ready to sympathise in their joys & sorrows

To her own Church, she was warmlyat 
tached. Few have possessed the true 
Brethrens spirit in a larger degree 
She loved the pious practices & habits of 
her Forefathers, she opposed innovation, 
she sorrowed much over what seemed 
to her a declension from the good old ways 
which so beautifully distinguish her Church 
from other less favoured Christian bodies 
Several papers were found in her desk 
in which she had expressed her feelings 
on these subjects 

Nevertheless she ferventlyloved the people 
of God amongst whom her lot was cast, 
They were the people of her choice & 
her Church was to her as her earthly 
home. It was the strength of her love
& attachment to the Brethrens Church, 
which made her peculiarly sensitive
as to any change in its rites & customs 

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In 1852 her venerable & beloved Father was 
removed from her by sudden death. 
The shock which her nervous system re 
ceived by this event, she never fully re 
covered, the great enemy of Souls took 
advantage of her weak state to strengthen 
old doubts and fears and to infuse new 
ones, so that she was at times led to 
question whether she had ever escperienced 
real saving grace. Her condition for a 
time was most unhappy it was evi 
dently in a great degree the result 
of a morbid state of the nervous system 
& excessive bodily weakness. But as her 
heath gradually improved, she was en 
abbled to overcome these temptations to 
despondency and to prove more than 
conqueror through Him that loved her. 
In 1860 her health received another shock 
by the fracture of a leg, whilst on a visit 
at Calne. Under this severe affection, she 
manifested the true spirit of the child 
of God by her extreme patience & resignation 
Indeed all these troubles seemed to ripen 
her for her heavenly home. She even spoke 

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of the state of her soul with humility
and fear, but her faith and love were 
growing stronger & stronger. 

In reference to her illness at Calne she wrote 
thus, I feel that I must be satisfied to be 
an invalid, but it is all right, I feel more 
about it for my dear sympathising friends 
than for myself. I only want the work & 
grace of Christ to be more manifested 
within me & by me and my coldness
& deadness to be absorbed in the warmth
and life of Christ. Again she wrote in 
prospect of a change for her healths sake: 
“It may do me good if the Lordplease, 
but I wish to leave it without any anxiety
& without a choice, I expect to go halting 
to the end of my days, but I trust a 
cheerful mind & patience will be given 
me.” Though so long a sufferer, her death 
seemed to come suddenly. In the summer 
of 1862 she had spent four happy weeks 
with her Brother & Sister in the North 
of England who accompanied her to 
Fulnec

She was always cheerful, delighted

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of the state of her soul with humility
and fear, but her faith and love were 
growing stronger & stronger. 

In reference to her illness at Calne she wrote 
thus, I feel that I must be satisfied to be 
an invalid, but it is all right, I feel more 
about it for my dear sympathising friends 
than for myself. I only want the work & 
grace of Christ to be more manifested 
within me & by me and my coldness
& deadness to be absorbed in the warmth
and life of Christ. Again she wrote in 
prospect of a change for her healths sake: 
“It may do me good if the Lordplease, 
but I wish to leave it without any anxiety
& without a choice, I expect to go halting 
to the end of my days, but I trust a 
cheerful mind & patience will be given 
me.” Though so long a sufferer, her death 
seemed to come suddenly. In the summer 
of 1862 she had spent four happy weeks 
with her Brother & Sister in the North 
of England who accompanied her to 
Fulnec

She was always cheerful, delighted

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to meet old friends, but withat indica 
ting great bodily weakness, & great difficult 
ly breathing. 

On the way homewards she paid a week 
visit to a dear & valued friend in Stafford 
shire. 

On her arrival at home, she seemed ra 
ther improved in health than otherwise 
by her long journey. But as the winter 
advanced increased symptoms of weak 
less appeared especially in the re 
gion of the heart & the lung. 

Kind friends were around her one 
especially watched over tenderly & an 
xiously until the close of life. She received 
also the incessant attention of an attach 
ed servant who had lived in her family 
more than 20 years 

But God had thoughts of peace con 
cerning her. She had at times ex 
pressed fears of death, but she never 
knew what death was, she departed 
in sleep. 

The above is a sketch of a very unevent 
ful life, but yet one of unususal christi 

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an activity. She possessed a strong 
mind in a very weak body. Her love
for Christ and for Christ’s people was 
great, and her labours in His cause 
were unremitting. She now rests in 
peace, she has realized what she wrote 
in 1860 concerning a happily depart 
ed and beloved Sister in Christ. “The 
beloved Saint is with Christ, no longer 
clad in weakness, and faint with suf 
fering, but clothed in the bright robes 
& our Saviour’s righteousness, and 
rejoicing in the presence of God for 
ever” We may truly say this of 
herself, she is with that Saviour, for 
whom she felt it an honour to labour 
Friends will indeed mourn & her 
place on earth may not easily be 
filled up, but we cannot wish to 
bring her back, we would withdraw 
her an instant from the presence of
Him, with whom there is fulness 
of joy & life for ever more. 
H. W. M. 

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A few loving words of remembrance are 
added to the above by one whose intimate 
association with the beloved Subject of 
this little sketch, renders it a most 
touching but filial duty to add her testimony 
of deep appreciation of and respect for the 
character of one, so justly endeared to all 
who had the privilege of her intimate 
friendship, and perhaps none of those 
who now tenderlymourn her loss can 
speak of the departed, with so much real 
knowledge of her both as an individual 
& a Christian having shared the same 
home for 13 or 14 years. Her mental 
powers were of no common order. She 
possessed naturally an unusual 
amount of sound judgment fortitude 
& self sacrificing generosity as well as 
consistancy of action, together with a 
true ardour & depth of affection, which 
when once bestowed, was rarely if ever 
withdrawn. As a Christian her light 
shone with unwavering steadfastness, 
though a feeble body and of late shattered 

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nerves, often beclouding her otherwise 
strong mind, giving a morbid tone 
to her own expressions concerning her 
spiritual experience, but to those who 
had before them such an undeviating 
pattern of consistancy there remained 
nothing, but the precept / speaking 
by example / “Go ye and do likewise” 
Her humility before God was a marked 
feature of her high attainments in 
the Christian life. In her last letter 
to the writer of those few lines she says 
I feel a mass of sin & weakness: but 
follows on to say, that the all wise, bur 
den bearer will enable her to cast it 
all on Him. Nearness to her Saviour
was the one thing her soul most 
ardentlycraved. About two months 
ago she wrote. “Do pray dear that the 
Lord may be more near than ever 
He is very gracious, but I want to see 
Him face to face, to touch Him as 
it were.” To these remarks little need 
be added to prove that though her 
spiritual life was a warfire, Yet 

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that in the apostle’s words her weapons 
were not carnal but mighty through 
God to the pulling down of strongholds. 
Of a truth she was clad in the armour 
of God and her spirit was found 
ready waiting When she for the 
last time unconsciously closed her 
eyes in sleep to wake in that glorious 
world, where conflict & strife & suffering
are known no more. 

The Church of which our beloved
one was so devoted a member, has 
paid its tribute to the worthiness of one 
of its brightest ornaments. Yea her 
works do follow her. And we must 
add from our own knowledge that 
its glorious Missionary Society has lost 
in this place its most energetic and 
painstaking supporter. Neither were
her efforts confined alone to the Moravian 
Church, but her well grounded and 
large hearted Christianity taught 
her that wherever good was to be 
done & she felt called upon to give her 

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aid. Hither she went and with all 
her power & even beyond her power work 
ed with lovingzeal in her Masters 
cause. Mongst the rest the Ladies 
Association of the British & Foreign 
Bible Society would warmly respond 
to the acknowledgment of her most 
valuable and long continued 
help. The Lord ordereth all things 
well for His children, & it is a comfort 
ing thought that this dear Servant 
of God who so often ministered to the 
bids of others, was also herself abundant 
ly comforted both by her intimate 
relatives and friends as well as 
by her Brethren & Sisters in Christ 
and it is especieelly sweet to think 
that for the last fortnight one was 
constantly beside her administering 
with tendersolicitude to her every
want. These services were continu 
ally acknowledged, as were those 
of her faithful servant who has serv 
ed her with an affectionateinterest
for a period of 20 years. May she 

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Lord reward them, & give to them 
& us the answer to those prayers 
which the dear departed so earnest 
ly and believingly offered on their 
and our behalf, until we all meet 
in the mansions prepared in our 
Father’s home in heaven 

Bristol
Janry 18th /63