Gladys Aylward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladys Aylward
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Gladys May Aylward
24 February 1902 Edmonton, London, England
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| Died | 3 January 1970 (aged 67) |
| Resting place | New Taipei, Taiwan |
| Other names | 艾偉德 |
| Citizenship | British subject (1902–1936) Republic of China (1936–1970) |
| Education | Silver Street School, Edmonton, London |
| Occupation | Christian missionary |
Gladys May Aylward (born February 24, 1902 – died January 3, 1970) was a brave British woman who became a Christian missionary in China. Her amazing life story was told in a book called The Small Woman by Alan Burgess. This book later inspired a movie, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, which starred Ingrid Bergman and came out in 1958. The film was made in England and North Wales.
Gladys Aylward: A Life of Adventure and Service
Early Life and a Big Dream
Gladys Aylward was born in 1902 in Edmonton, London, England. She was one of three children in a working-class family. Her father, Thomas John Aylward, was a postman, and her mother, Rosina Florence, also worked hard.
From a young age, Gladys worked as a housemaid, helping with chores in other people's homes. She felt a strong calling to travel far away and help people as a Christian missionary. She applied to a group called the China Inland Mission. They offered her a short course to prepare for missionary work. However, she found it very difficult to learn the Chinese language. Because of this, she wasn't chosen for further training.
A Perilous Journey to China
Even though she wasn't chosen, Gladys didn't give up on her dream. In 1930, she used all her savings to buy a train ticket to Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province, China. This was a very dangerous trip. She traveled across Siberia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. At that time, there were tensions between the Soviet Union and China.
Gladys faced many challenges during her journey. She was stopped by Russian officials but managed to escape with help from local people. She even got a ride on a Japanese ship. With the help of the British Consul, she traveled through Japan and took another ship to China. Her determination helped her overcome these obstacles.
Helping Others in China
When Gladys finally arrived in Yangcheng County, she began working with an older missionary named Jeannie Lawson. Together, they ran an inn called "The Inn of the Eight Happinesses." This name came from eight important virtues: Love, Virtue, Gentleness, Tolerance, Loyalty, Truth, Beauty, and Devotion.
At the inn, they offered a warm welcome to travelers. They also shared stories about Jesus and the Christian faith. Gladys and Mrs. Lawson hoped to spread kindness and their beliefs.
Fighting an Old Tradition
Gladys also took on a special role for the Government of the Republic of China. She became a "foot inspector." Her job was to travel around the countryside and make sure people followed a new law. This law was against footbinding, an old tradition where young girls' feet were tightly bound to keep them small. This practice was very painful and harmful.
Gladys was very successful in her work as a foot inspector. Many people had resisted this new law, sometimes even with violence. But Gladys, with her kind yet firm approach, helped many families understand and follow the new rules.
Caring for Orphans and Prisoners
In 1936, Gladys became a citizen of the Republic of China. She was highly respected by the local people. She took in many orphans, even adopting several children herself. She also bravely stepped in during a difficult situation at a prison. She helped calm things down and worked to improve conditions for the prisoners. Gladys often risked her own safety to help those in need.
Leading Children to Safety
In 1938, Japanese forces invaded the region where Gladys lived. This was a very dangerous time. Gladys showed incredible courage by leading more than 100 orphans to safety. They traveled over mountains, facing many hardships. Even though Gladys was injured and unwell, she personally cared for all the children. During this challenging journey, she also shared her Christian faith with many of them.
The Movie About Her Life
Gladys Aylward did not return to Britain until 1949. At that time, political changes in China made it unsafe for missionaries. She settled in Basingstoke, England, and gave many talks about her experiences. After her mother passed away, Gladys wanted to go back to China. However, the new government would not allow her to return.
After a short stay in Hong Kong, she finally settled in Taiwan in 1958. There, she founded the Gladys Aylward Orphanage. She continued to work with children until her death in 1970.
A movie based on her life, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, was released in 1958. It was inspired by the book The Small Woman. While the film made her famous, Gladys was not happy with how she was shown. She felt the movie changed many parts of her true story. For example, the actress Ingrid Bergman was tall and blonde, which was very different from Gladys, who was small with dark hair.
The movie also changed details about her difficult journey to China and added a romantic storyline that was not true to her life. Gladys felt these changes did not accurately represent her dedication to her work and the children. She never stopped working with orphans until she was 60 years old.
Her Last Years and Lasting Impact
Gladys Aylward passed away on January 3, 1970, just before her 68th birthday. She was buried in a small cemetery at Christ's College in Guandu, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The Chinese people knew her as Aiweide (艾偉德), which means 'The Virtuous One'.
Her work in Taipei continues today through the Bethany Children's Home. This organization helps children, carrying on Gladys Aylward's legacy of care and service.
A secondary school in London, now called the Aylward Academy, was renamed in her honor shortly after her death. There is also a blue plaque on the house where she lived in London, at 67 Cheddington Road. Many books and films have been made about her inspiring life.
Learn More About Gladys
- The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) – a feature film about her life.
- Gladys Aylward, the Small Woman with a Great God (2008) – a documentary film.
- Torchlighters: The Gladys Aylward Story (2008) – an animated DVD for children aged 8–12.
See also
In Spanish: Gladys Aylward para niños
