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Dorothy Ripley was a British evangelist who came to America in 1801. She lived from 1767-1831, dying in Virginia. She was a Quaker by confession, though she had been raised a Methodist. She traveled thousands of miles in both the United States and in Britain on the camp meeting circuit. She was an effective evangelist. She also ministered to many of the disenfranchised, including the Oneida tribe, men and women in prison, and especially African slaves in the American south. She was self published six times, with three of her books receiving a second printing. She crossed the Atlantic at least 9 times, most of those times traveling alone. At her death, one newspaper wrote in her obituary that she was “perhaps the most extraordinary woman in the world.”

Early Life
Ripley was born in the city of Whitby, in England. Her father, William was a close associate of John Wesley, who referred to him as a burning and shining light. William, working with Wesley at a time when he was encouraging woman to become preachers desired that his child, before he knew her gender, was going to be preacher. He encouraged her toward that vocation for as long as he was alive. Ripley’s father died in her teen years, leaving the family in difficult financial straits. They suffered a number of other setbacks, including the loss of family members to early death, and a landslide which destroyed their family home. These incidents, including a serious childhood sickness that left her apparently dead, had a profound impact on her.

Believing that she was called to Christian ministry, and not wanting to be tied down by the responsibilities of marriage, Ripley chose a life of singleness.

Relationship with the Quakers
Attracted to the Quakers, she began to attend their meetings. She identified closely with their doctrine of inner guidance by the light. Her doctrine remained fundamentally Methodist, and she would later move comfortably in Methodist circles, she still loved the Society of Friends. That love however, was not always mutual. They eventually refused her membership. Several Friends privately supported her financially, believing she was legitimately called by God to preach. David Sands and Priscilla Hanna Gurney were notable Quakers who gave her a great deal of personal and practical support.

Relationship with the Methodists
Dorothy was exposed to many famous Methods in her early life. Her father hosted John Wesley at his house on several occasions. With him came his traveling group of women preachers, such as Sarah Crosby and Mary Bosanquet. Ripley certainly would have met these women and they would have influenced her with their own powerful examples.

Ripley also met Bishop Asbury, and was hosted by her before preaching in the Methodist Church. She met many and did ministry with many other famous Methodists, including Bishop Whatcoat, woman preachers Ruth Watkins and Hugh Bourne. She also traveled extensively with Lorenzo Dow, doing a preaching tour in Britain with Bourne. That tour included a stay in the prison for a night when she and the eccentric Dow were arrested.

Important Events
Ripley faced many challenges from her culture including the hostility of both men and women toward female preachers. She was accused of being a lewd woman for allowing herself to be viewed publicly as a spectacle. A few of her opponents also accused her of prostituting herself, as she did not have an income as a means of regularly support: her first years as a missionary were funded entirely by faith. This practice explains the title of her second book, The Bank of Faith and Works United. She persevered, and often ended up winning over her opponents through the effect of her preaching upon large crowds.

Ripley also preached in many African churches. She preached for Rev. Absalom Jones' church on one occasion, and for Rev. Richard Allen on another. Allen had been very hesitant to permit Ripley to preach at his church in 1802, but encouraged by some of his members, allowed her to do so. Later, Ripley would be one of the speakers, with Rev. Allen and several other male preachers in 1818. It is quite possible that with her example before him, Rev. Allen felt comfortable ordaining Jarena Lee in 1819.

In 1830 she led a revival that feature three other woman preachers, including Watkins, Nancy Towle and Ann Rexford.

In January of 1806, Ripley also preached at a church service held inside the United States Capitol building. She was the first woman to do so. Only one other woman ever did so: Harriet Livermore. The event was attended by President Thomas Jefferson.

Publishing Career
Ripley published five books:The Extraordinary Conversion and Religious Experience of Dorothy Ripley (1810) The Bank of Faith and Works United (1819), An Account of Rose Butler (1819), Letters Addressed to Dorothy RIpley (1807) which included a book of poems called An Address to All Difficulties and the memoir and collected notes of her father. She published all of these at her own expense. The first three listed received a second printing. She would use the proceeds to self fund her continued itinerant preaching ministry.