Smith Wigglesworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smith Wigglesworth
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| Born | 10 June 1859 Menston, Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 12 March 1947 (aged 87) |
| Occupation | Plumber (initially) Evangelist |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Jane Featherstone (m. 1882-1913; her death) |
| Children | Alice, Seth, Harold, Ernest & George |
Smith Wigglesworth (June 10, 1859 – March 12, 1947) was an important British preacher. He played a big role in the early history of Pentecostalism, a type of Christian faith.
Early Life and Faith
Smith Wigglesworth was born on June 10, 1859, in Menston, England. His family was very poor. As a child, he worked hard in fields and factories. This helped his family, but it meant he could not go to school. He did not learn to read or write when he was young.
Smith grew up in a Christian family. His grandmother was very religious. His parents took him to church often. When he was eight years old, he decided to follow Jesus. He learned about the Bible from different Christian groups. He also learned to be a plumber.
Wigglesworth married Mary Jane "Polly" Featherstone on December 4, 1882. Polly was a preacher for The Salvation Army. She taught Smith how to read the Bible. He often said the Bible was the only book he ever read. Smith and Polly had five children: Alice, Seth, Harold, Ernest, and George. Polly passed away in 1913.
Smith Wigglesworth worked as a plumber for some time. But he stopped this job when he became very busy with preaching. In 1907, he visited a revival meeting in Sunderland, England. There, he had an experience called the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. He also began to speak in tongues. He preached at many Christian events in Great Britain and the United States.
Wigglesworth's Ministry
Wigglesworth believed that people could be healed through faith in God. He used different ways to pray for people. For example, when he could not touch people in Sweden, he asked everyone to pray for themselves. He also used oil to anoint people. Sometimes, he sent out special "prayer handkerchiefs." One of these was even sent to King George V. Wigglesworth believed that some illnesses were caused by evil spirits.
Wigglesworth felt that his success in ministry came from his experience with the Holy Spirit. He said that the Holy Spirit helped him understand the Bible. He preached in many churches, especially in Yorkshire, England. He also traveled around the world. He visited the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, India, and other countries.
Some of his sermons were written down and put into two books. These books are called Ever Increasing Faith and Faith that Prevails. He continued to preach until he passed away on March 12, 1947.
Stories of Healing
Many people claimed to have been healed during Wigglesworth's ministry. These stories included people getting better from serious illnesses. There were even reports that some people were brought back to life, including his wife Polly.
Many people said they were cured of cancer through Jesus Christ because of Wigglesworth's prayers. He believed that cancer was like "a living evil spirit." He also thought that many diseases came from Satan.
Wigglesworth had a very direct way of praying for the sick. He sometimes hit or slapped the part of the body that was hurting. When people asked him about this, he would say, "I don't hit them, I hit the devil." He explained that he was fighting against evil forces, not hurting the person.
He once told sick people, "I'll only pray for you once. To pray twice is unbelief." One night, a man came up for prayer again. Wigglesworth recognized him and said, "Didn't I pray for you last night? You are full of unbelief, get off this platform!"
Smith Wigglesworth passed away at the age of 87. He died at the funeral of his friend, Wilf Richardson, on March 12, 1947.
Images for kids
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Smith Wigglesworth preaching
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Smith Wigglesworth praying for a sick woman
