20 sept 1835 – 31 mar 1918
Amelia Hudson Taylor Broomhall
the church is now called Westbourne Grove Church but was called Westbourne Grove Chapel throughout the 1800s and will be referenced by its contemporary title throughout this story
Amelia’s life might seem somewhat stay-at-home, staid and hidden in the background compared to that of her brother Hudson Taylor and her husband Benjamin Broomhall but it is clear from biographies about her that she was a woman of great influence and significance in God’s kingdom.
Amelia Hudson Taylor before her marriage to Benjamin Broomhall
Hudson Taylor writes in his book, “A Retrospect”
Hudson Taylor’s sister Amelia was her brother’s closest confidante for years, and from the beginning to the end of his life she was woven into its warp and woof. As a girl of 13, dismayed to find her older brother was sceptical about God, Christianity and the church, she resolved to pray for her brother.
“Now let me tell you how God answered the prayers of my mother and of my beloved sister, now Mrs Broomhall, for my conversion …. Some time after I took up a notebook exactly like my own, and thinking it was mine opened it. The lines that caught my eye were an entry in the little diary belonging to my sister to the effect that she would give herself daily in prayer until God had answered in conversion of her brother. One month later the Lord was pleased to turn me from darkness to light.”
In the period following his conversion, the brother and sister spent many long hours distributing tracts door to door, and frequently spoke or wrote to each other about their desires and efforts to grow in godliness. During this time, encouraged by his sister, Hudson became persuaded God was calling him to go to China as a missionary.
Hudson Taylor’s ministry in China is described by Wikipedia as, “being on a par with Apostle Paul in the scope of his missionary work across China. He encouraged at least 800 missionaries into service during his lifetime, started 125 schools and 300 missionary stations and founded The China Inland Mission one of the world’s largest missionary societies (now OMF International)”
I don’t suppose that aged 13 Amelia had any idea how far reaching the consequences of her prayers would be. We will see that her prayers and faithfulness continued throughout her long life and bore much fruit.
Decisions
Hudson Taylor wrote frequently to his sister from China, and often he mentioned his earnest desire for Amelia to come join him in China. But she hesitated; much as she loved her brother, she did not feel that compelling sense of calling which her brother had. She went back and forth on it. This uncertainty about a call to China was shared by Benjamin Broomhall her future husband. Both were devoutly seeking God and willing to serve in China, but concluded, after much struggle, that they were not called there.
Hudson made no secret how deeply grieved he was by the news, he wrote to her saying,
“For the last ten years I have hoped to have you with me in China; now you have disappointed me, you know not how much. This week this thought has sometimes come over me with such force that I have felt almost heartbroken.”
Their close relationship continued across the continents, and they continued throughout their lives to encourage one another in faith and to spur one another on.
Read another of Hudson Taylor’s letters to his sister here, (link to the history page on Hudson Taylor’s letter to his sister Amelia) in which the depths of the spiritual correspondence and discussion that he shared with his sister are made clear as he tells her of her the pains and joys of his struggles on the mission field in China
Mother
We mustn’t think that Amelia was selling out when she decided not to go to China but stayed in England and married Benjamin. Yes, they lived a more common life; Benjamin worked successfully as a Draper and Amelia raised ten healthy children.
They made their first home together in Bayswater and were members of Westbourne Grove Chapel (now known as Westbourne Grove Church) for over 10 years whilst they lived in London. Here 7 of their 10 children were born. (Membership period 1859-1870)
In her book, Each to Her Post: The Inspiring Lives of Six Great Women in China Phyllis Thompson describes how Amelia carefully trained her children to pray, and to sit still when necessary; she seemed to excel at running a happy home and bringing up their children.
In his book Heirs Together of the Grace of Life: Benjamin and Amelia Hudson Broomhall their son Marshall Broomhall describes his parent’s attitude to life and family.
China Inland Mission
At age 40, when her youngest was just three months old, she began to put her skills and talents to work in some new ways. The China Inland Mission (later to become OMF International) had survived its shaky beginnings and reputation problems and begun to grow. Fresh, capable leaders were needed for the home office and training program. The ever-steady Benjamin and Amelia seemed just the couple to step into that role.
Amelia worked with Benjamin to keep the mission home running smoothly – with meals on the table, a welcoming, hospitable and peaceful environment, and a listening ear for mission candidates and anyone else who needed encouragement. She was always there. She knew everyone's name. She prayed for them. When Hudson’s second wife, Jennie, went back to China by herself for an important mission, Amelia took in their seven children in addition to the ten of her own; they were a boistrous brood of 17.
Amelia Hudson Taylor Find out more about the China Inland Mission and OMF
A shrewd judge of character
Amelia's life was quite different from that of some of the outspoken, adventurous, independent missionary women who were working in China at the time with CIM.
The Broomhalls remained in England and ran the CIM mission home for 20 years, and five of five of their children went to work in China with the China Inland Mission: Gertrude, Hudson, Edith, Marshall, and Benjamin (one married Hudson Taylor's successor D.E. Hoste).
Thompson writes that, “Even after Benjamin died and she was old and frail, having to be pushed about in her "bath chair," Amelia continued to take an active role through prayer and relationships. The Candidate Secretary liked her to meet the prospective new missionaries so she could "size them up." Amelia was considered a kind but shrewd judge of character. Her encouragement helped candidates through the rough patches; her discernment kept the mission from making mistakes.”
“She never went to China, performed no acts of outstanding courage, had no spectacular achievements to her credit, swayed no audiences with her eloquence. Hers was an unusually sheltered life, from beginning to end surrounded by deep family love…
On the face of it she has no claim to a place in the annals of a mission that has worked and suffered in the Far East for over one hundred years, and she certainly would not have claimed it for herself. But the sum total of a mission’s quality is not contained in its outward activity, any more than the value of a tree lies only in its fruit.
Without the root under the ground, there would be no tree. Without the Amelias, there would be no Mission.”
THOMPSON
