Maria Louisa Charlesworth facts for kids
Maria Louisa Charlesworth (born October 1, 1819 – died October 16, 1880) was an English author. She wrote many religious books for children. She also wrote short religious pamphlets called tracts.
Her Early Life and Family
Maria Louisa Charlesworth was born on October 1, 1819. Her birthplace was The Rectory in Blakenham Parva, Suffolk. Her father was John Charlesworth. He was a clergyman, which means he was a leader in the church. When Maria was born, he was the Rector of Flowton, Suffolk. Later, he became Rector of a church in London. Maria lived with him there.
Writing for Children
From a young age, Maria visited poor families with her father. These experiences helped her write her first book. It was called The Female Visitor to the Poor (1846). Her most famous book was Ministering Children (1854). This story was set in a town like Ipswich. It taught children good lessons through examples.
Ministering Children was very popular. Over 300,000 copies were sold during her lifetime. It was often given as a prize in Sunday Schools. The book was also translated into French, German, and Swedish. She wrote a sequel, or follow-up book, in 1867.
Later Life and Contributions
After her father passed away in 1864, Maria lived with her brother. He was also a clergyman. She helped start a ragged school in St Stephen's. This type of school offered free education to very poor children. She also set up a mission in Bermondsey.
In 1864, Maria moved to Nutfield in Surrey. She lived there with her elderly mother. Maria also helped start Monkton Combe School. This school, near Bath, was created in 1868. It was built to educate the sons of missionaries. Missionaries are people who travel to spread their religious beliefs.
Maria passed away in Nutfield, Surrey, on October 16, 1880. She was 61 years old. She was buried at St Peter & St Paul church in Nutfield. Her brother led the burial service.
Selected Books
Here are some of the books Maria Louisa Charlesworth wrote:
- The Female Visitor to the Poor, 1846
- A Book for the Cottage: the History of Mary and her Family, 1848
- Letters to a Child, 1849
- The Light of Life, 1850
- Sunday Afternoons in the Nursery: familiar narratives from the Book of Genesis, 1853
- Ministering Children, a tale dedicated to childhood, 1854
- Africa's Mountain Valley: the Church in Regent's Town, West Africa, 1856
- The Ministry of Life, 1858
- India and the East, or a Voice from the Zenana, 1860
- England's Yeomen, or Life in a Farm in the Nineteenth Century, 1861
- Ministering Children: A Sequel, 1867
- Where Dwellest Thou? or the Inner Home, 1871
- Oliver of the Mill: a tale, 1876
- The Old Looking-Glass, or Mrs. Dorothy Cope's Recollections of Service, 1878
