This week in Christian history: Episcopal diocese breaks away, St. Peter’s Basilica completed

By Michael Gryboski, Editor Sunday, November 14, 2021

George Whitefield gets married – Nov. 14, 1741

Popular 18th-century evangelist George Whitefield, (1714-1770). | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when 18th-century traveling evangelist George Whitefield married a widow named Elizabeth James at a ceremony in Wales.

Whitefield married Elizabeth not long after meeting her in person, having only briefly corresponded with her before meeting. Previously, James had been close to preacher Howell Harris, an acquaintance of Whitefield.

“Harris had the same doubts that Whitefield had. How could he marry a woman and not be deflected from his devotion to and work for Christ? So he resolved to ‘hand her over to brother Whit,’” noted Banner of Truth.

“Elizabeth raised objections, but over a few days was persuaded that she should marry Whitefield, and having travelled around looking for a sympathetic clergyman to marry them, they wed at Capel Martin, Caerphilly.”

James had had a daughter from her previous marriage and gave birth to Whitefield’s son John about two years later in London. Tragically, the child died in infancy months later.

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