Selina: The Countess Who Built Churches

Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, used her means to help advance the kingdom of God. A noblewoman with much influence and finances, she was able to build churches throughout all of Great Britain, extending even into America. She built schools that trained men in the gospel so that they might share the word. She encouraged God’s laborers on the field through letters. She herself did not preach, but because of her, many did. Through all of this, she enabled the sending of many who would spread the gospel throughout the world.

Though she was wealthy, life was not easy for Selina. She suffered through the separation of her parents, the deaths of children,  her spouse, and good friends. All along, she wrestled through her own sinful nature. As an adult, she tried to find happiness through her good deeds, but still was unsatisfied. But she knew God, and soon turned to Him, knowing He would forgive sins and give her true happiness. Still, she struggled with assurance at times, but clung to God and served Him with a joyful and dedicated heart.

In her life, and even now among that great cloud of witnesses, Selina Hastings remains a godly example for those Christians who, though they may not go, labor equally to send.

Early Years

Selina Hastings was born August 24, 1707 to Sir Washington Shirley, an earl in England, and his wife, Mary Levigne. Though one might assume that as a noble, Selina grew up rich and affluent, that was not the case. Familial relations were strained. Sir Washington was estranged from his father, and when his father died was left little but his title. But worse was yet to come. When Selina was six, her mother took the youngest child, a newborn daughter, and lived separately from Selina’s father. They would never live together again. Broken homes have an impact on the children of those involved, and so too was Selina affected. She often sought God, pouring her troubles out to Him, but she remained unhappy and unfulfilled. 

In 1728, Selina married Theophilus Hastings, earl of Huntingdon. Soon after the birth of her oldest child, Selina’s father died. Selina’s mother, who had never reunited with Sir Washington, sued so that she might have control over the properties. When Lady Mary lost, she disowned Selina and her sisters. 

Within four years of marriage, Selina had borne their first four children. Her doctor recommended, as was common practice among nobility at the time, that she visit Bath to recover. But Selina grew increasingly homesick, missing her husband and children, and went back home, still unwell. A new doctor recommended a change of diet and medications, and this helped for a while. But Selina was soon pregnant again, and this child died shortly after birth, sending her further into despair.

Selina tried to pursue happiness, through both religion and philanthropy. Neither satisfied her. She was a good woman, a much admired woman, but she was deeply unhappy. 

Conversion and Change 

After hearing the preaching of Methodist Benjamin Ingham, Selina’s sister-in-law, Lady Margaret, was converted and wrote to Selina of her newfound joy. Reflection on her life caused Selina to realize her need for the Savior, urgently searching the word, even to the point that many of her friends thought she had gone mad. Her frantic search caused her health to plummet. While ill, she prayerfully cast herself on Christ, resting in Him for salvation. As Selina’s biographer Faith Cook said, “she had been saved not so much from a life of degradation as from her own self-righteousness.” 

From that day, July 26, 1739, Selina was a changed woman, and those around her could see the stark difference. Though some, such as Lady Margaret, were overjoyed to hear this news, it was not the case with everyone. Another sister-in-law, Lady Betty, was perturbed by Selina and Theophilus’ newfound fervour, as was Selina’s younger sister, Mary. 

George Whitefield was incredibly influential in Selina’s newfound joy. Additionally, Lady Selina soon became friends with Methodist pastors John Wesley and Charles Wesley. Methodists were generally looked down on, and Selina’s closeness with influential Methodists was viewed with dismay. Her faith only grew deeper though, even through the death of children and other loved ones. She struggled with some of the Wesley brothers’ doctrines, especially perfection and the continual triumphant love of God that they claimed was attainable in this life, and in 1744 she shifted to a more Calvinistic version of Methodism after reading more sermons and writings from Whitefield, Isaac Watts, Howell Harris, and others. 

A New Chapter

After suffering through the death of many of her children, Selina had to endure another tragedy. In 1746, her beloved husband, Theophilus, died of a stroke. He was traveling, so Selina was not able to be with him at his death. Theophilus’ death caused her to evaluate her purpose in life, trying to figure out what she was called to do. In her grief, it may have seemed for a while like her usefulness in society was finished, but it was just the beginning of her work.

She began hosting Sunday services at her home, Chelsea Farm. George Whitefield often led those services and despite all his other work became chaplain there. Selina also advocated for Methodists, helped those in debtors’ prison, financed a hospital, and attempted to start schools. In 1753, Selina opened a preaching house, the first of many. She often would host preachers at her house to encourage them and share the gospel. But Selina would do so much more before her death. 

Trevecca College

After conversations with her friend Howell Harris, she soon started plans for Trevecca College, a “nursery of preachers” as she once described it. Selina laid out detailed ideas for the school, including a list of students’ qualifications and plans for employees. She used her money to buy a house in Wales, one near where Harris lived, that was suitable for this purpose. She hired a housekeeper, a cook, an errand boy, and two women who would do laundry. The students, on top of their studies, would help with the chores. She also planned to hire two tutors, but had to start off with only one. The tutors would teach a variety of subjects, including arithmetic, Latin, Greek, and religious studies. The goal was for the students to become Methodist preachers who could fill both the pulpits of churches Selina had helped build and also to spread the word throughout the world. Selina had very high standards for her students. In addition to the entry qualifications, they had to stick to a strict schedule and standard of cleanliness. 

Despite her strict standards, Trevecca College did not run completely smoothly. Its early days were troubled Selina was accused of bribing the young men into her doctrine, which many still were skeptical of. Students also fell into a humdrum flow, and seemed to be too light-hearted and disingenuous. But, with the arrival of a new teacher, John Fletcher, that soon dissipated and the students were once more solemn and spiritual. Then there was the accusation of one tutor playing with the hearts of both Howell Harris’ daughter and another young woman who worked at the school. It soon was sorted out and Trevecca fell into a steady rhythm. 

Work in America

George Whitefield, Selina’s chaplain and friend, preached often at Trevecca, but frequently traveled to the Americas to pursue the spread of the Gospel. When he died in 1770, he left his work there, an orphanage and academy called Bethesda, to Selina, who eagerly undertook it. It was hard, as she had aged by this point, but she sent graduates of Trevecca there to minister to the orphans, Native Americans, and slaves. 

It was not an easy time for those former students. The journey was a difficult one, as they had to travel many weeks by ship, and some were quite sick. The colony of Georgia, where the orphanage was located, was a dangerous place in the 1770s. It was difficult work, with limited resources, and relational strains, and much to do. Additionally, the man in charge, William Piercy, was increasingly controlling, not allowing students to evangelize to the Native Americans as they had wished too, and treating them as servants. He also misused the funds that Selina sent, and eventually sued her, claiming she withheld his salary. Then there was a scandal when the housekeeper, Betty Cosson, gave birth despite only being married to former Trevecca student John Cosson for four months. However, after the birth, it came out that they had secretly married the previous summer, which Selina had not been aware of. This caused a great fuss, and Cosson was sent back to Great Britain to beg Selina’s forgiveness. 

Greater upheaval was soon to come. In 1773, a few days after a critical article about Piercy, Selina, and Bethesda was printed, Bethesda burned to the ground. The new college wings remained intact, but the orphanage section was ash. Rebuilding was costly, and Selina considered shutting it down completely. She pressed on, however, and continued to do so even through the American Revolutionary War. 

Selina’s Work Completed 

Meanwhile, Trevecca flourished, and Selina kept busy, diligently writing letters to many students and friends from over the years. By 1788, Selina had helped build 116 preaching places. She also helped compile a hymn book that could be used in worship, improving the quality of singing in her chapels. As had happened throughout her whole life, she continued to struggle with unreliable health, frequently combating illness. Even though Selina was aging, she still managed to oversee all her endeavors with a firm and strict hand, and in her final year of life still was planning further projects. She wanted to start a mission in the South Seas and also wished to start a church in Paris (though this was thwarted by the French Revolution). All this she did while mostly confined to a chair, suffering through pain, weakness, and limited eyesight. 

As death grew closer, Selina examined her life, admitting that her only hope is in the Lord, expressing longing to be home with Him. She still dictated letters from her deathbed, but in the final week of her life, slowed down. “My work is done. I have nothing to do but to go to my heavenly Father.” And on June 17, 1791, though not before making sure that an empty pulpit in one of her churches would be filled, she went to rest with her beloved Savior, for whom she had spent her life’s work.