Regardless of how great the outstanding "Men" of the great awakening of the eighteenth century were, we should never under-estimate the zeal and labours of many of the average believers of those days, especially the women-folk, as these incidents from the life of one, Alice Cross show.
“At Booth Bank, in the parish of Rostherne, Cheshire, Grimshaw's services used to be held in the house of John and Alice Cross. Alice was a woman of great spirit and intrepidity, and a heroine in Christ's service. Her husband was a quiet sober man, but for some time after her conversion he remained in his old ways. When going out to worship, with her straw hat in one hand and the door-latch in the other, she would say to him, ‘John Cross, wilt thou go to heaven with me? If thou wilt not, I am determined not to go to hell with thee!’ John yielded at last; a pulpit was fixed in the largest room of their house at Rostherne, and the messengers of God were made welcome to their fare and farm.
When beggars came to the door she told them of the riches that are in Christ Jesus, and, kneeling by their side, commended them to the grace of God, and then sent them away, grateful for her charity, and impressed by her earnestness in seeking their souls' good.
Nor were the more honourable of the land beyond the reach of her reproofs. On one occasion she stopped the Cheshire hunt, when passing her house, and addressed the horsemen, especially Lord Stamford and Sir Harry Mainwaring, who listened to her warning and rode on.
When the expected preacher did not come, thought the pulpit was not occupied, the congregation did not go away empty. Alice Cross herself, in her simple and earnest way, dealt out the bread of life.”
(Quoted in “Five Christian Leaders”.)
 This Page Title – A Woman of the Awakening – Mrs Alice Cross The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 80 – placed on line September 2009 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |