Willielma Campbell
Encyclopedia
Willielma Campbell, Lady Glenorchy (1741-1786) was a patron
ess of evangelical
missionary work in Scotland
and beyond.
Willielma Maxwell was born, in Galloway
, as the daughter of the wealthy William Maxwell of Preston and Elizabeth Hairstanes. On 26 September 1761, she married John Campbell, Viscount Glenorchy, eldest son of John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland
, one of Scotland's greatest landowners.
In 1765, while recovering from illness, she came under the influence of the sister of Rowland Hill
(the evangelical Anglican
preacher), and experienced a religious conversion
. Particularly after her husband's death in 1771, she devoted herself and her wealth to furthering evangelical causes, becoming an influential figure in Scottish Church affairs
. She held evangelistic
services in her Edinburgh
home open to both rich and poor, and also established several chapels in both Scotland and England
. She influenced many to enter the ministry.
, she set up a chapel in Edinburgh. What was unusual for the time was the ecumenical nature of the enterprise, in that the intention was that Presbyterian, Episcopalian
and Methodist ministers would be invited to preach.
In 1773, Lady Glenorchy renovated the chapel in Strathfillan
, Perthshire
and, under the auspices of the Scottish SPCK provided an endowment for a minister and two regional missionaries in that region.
Another chapel, bearing her name, was opened in Edinburgh in 1774. This time, however, it was intended solely for the Church of Scotland
. The chapel was intended to serve as an independent place of worship for those who could not be accommodated within the existing parish church buildings, and included a school. It became a bastion of Evangelical Protestantism
for the next seventy years. The hymn writer Horatius Bonar
grew up in it (indeed his brother was the Session Clerk).
Further chapels were constructed in England during her travels the last ten years of her life. These were in Exmouth
(1777), Carlisle (1781), Matlock (1785), Bristol
(1786), and Workington
(1786).
, who attempted to persuade to join his Methodist movement - but without success. Indeed shortly after this, her chapel was closed to Methodists, in response the refusal of some Church of Scotland ministers to preach in it.
Patrón
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ess of evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
missionary work in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and beyond.
Willielma Maxwell was born, in Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
, as the daughter of the wealthy William Maxwell of Preston and Elizabeth Hairstanes. On 26 September 1761, she married John Campbell, Viscount Glenorchy, eldest son of John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland
John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland
John Campbell, 3rd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland KB , styled Lord Glenorchy from 1716 until 1752, was a Scottish nobleman, diplomat and politician.-Background and education:...
, one of Scotland's greatest landowners.
In 1765, while recovering from illness, she came under the influence of the sister of Rowland Hill
Rowland Hill (preacher)
Rowland Hill A.M. , was a popular English preacher, enthusiastic evangelical and an influential advocate of small-pox vaccination. He was founder and resident pastor of a wholly independent chapel, the Surrey Chapel, London; chairman of the Religious Tract Society; and a keen supporter of the...
(the evangelical Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
preacher), and experienced a religious conversion
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
. Particularly after her husband's death in 1771, she devoted herself and her wealth to furthering evangelical causes, becoming an influential figure in Scottish Church affairs
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. She held evangelistic
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
services in her Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
home open to both rich and poor, and also established several chapels in both Scotland and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. She influenced many to enter the ministry.
Chapels
As early as 1770, encouraged by Alexander WebsterAlexander Webster
Alexander Webster , Scottish writer and minister, son of James Webster, a covenanting minister originally from Fife, was born in Edinburgh.Alexander became a minister in the Church of Scotland, beginning his career in Culross in Fife...
, she set up a chapel in Edinburgh. What was unusual for the time was the ecumenical nature of the enterprise, in that the intention was that Presbyterian, Episcopalian
Scottish Episcopal Church
The Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian church in Scotland, consisting of seven dioceses. Since the 17th century, it has had an identity distinct from the presbyterian Church of Scotland....
and Methodist ministers would be invited to preach.
In 1773, Lady Glenorchy renovated the chapel in Strathfillan
Strathfillan
Strath Fillan is a strath in west Perthshire named after an 8th C Irish hermit monk later canonised Saint Fillan. It stretches from Bridge of Orchy to Crianlarich and has long been a major route through the highlands; the A82 road, the West Highland Line, and the West Highland Way long-distance...
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
and, under the auspices of the Scottish SPCK provided an endowment for a minister and two regional missionaries in that region.
Another chapel, bearing her name, was opened in Edinburgh in 1774. This time, however, it was intended solely for the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
. The chapel was intended to serve as an independent place of worship for those who could not be accommodated within the existing parish church buildings, and included a school. It became a bastion of Evangelical Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
for the next seventy years. The hymn writer Horatius Bonar
Horatius Bonar
Horatius Bonar was a Scottish churchman and poet.-Life:The son of James Bonar, Solicitor of Excise for Scotland, he was born and educated in Edinburgh. He comes from a long line of ministers who have served a total of 364 years in the Church of Scotland...
grew up in it (indeed his brother was the Session Clerk).
Further chapels were constructed in England during her travels the last ten years of her life. These were in Exmouth
Exmouth, Devon
Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort in East Devon, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.-History:...
(1777), Carlisle (1781), Matlock (1785), Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
(1786), and Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
(1786).
Ecumenism
Despite the ecumenical nature of her first chapel, Lady Glenorchy retained her Calvinist leanings. In the year the chapel opened, Lady Glenorchy met with John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
, who attempted to persuade to join his Methodist movement - but without success. Indeed shortly after this, her chapel was closed to Methodists, in response the refusal of some Church of Scotland ministers to preach in it.