This Week in Christian History: Council of Trent, Pioneering Female Preacher, 'End of the Spear' Martyrdom
First Female Quaker Preacher Dies - January 8, 1672
This week marks the anniversary of the death of the first female preacher of the Quaker movement, Elizabeth Hooton.
A contemporary of Quakerism founder George Fox, on multiple occasions Hooton was imprisoned and even physically attacked for being a preacher and a Quaker.
It was during a mission trip to Jamaica that the 71-year-old Hooton became suddenly ill and died soon after. For his part, Fox described Hooton as "a woman of great age, who had travelled much in Truth's service, and suffered much for it."
"She was well the day before she died, and departed in peace, like a lamb, bearing testimony to Truth at her departure," he added.