Grace Stott — a Much-Loved Missionary
The huge banner lovingly presented to Grace Stott on her 50th birthday.
Of all the foreign missionaries who served in Zhejiang in the nineteenth century, perhaps none was more deeply loved than Grace Stott. Grace and her husband George had arrived in the province after their marriage in 1870, and their hard work and loving, truthful manner soon won the hearts of the Chinese. Grace was especially held in high regard by the women and girls of the city, whom she selflessly served for many years.
In 1888 the Stotts returned to Britain on furlough, but George's health took a turn for the worse and he was diagnosed with cancer. For more than a year he struggled to regain his strength, but God wanted him in heaven, and he entered into the glorious presence of Jesus Christ in April 1889. The doctor who was with Stott in his last moments said:
"With every moment's respite from pain he collected his little strength to give forth some word of testimony that the Lord was near, and doubt and fear far away. 'It is only the poor body that is suffering,' he said; 'the soul is happy.' Early in the evening he said,' I bless God that 30 years ago He washed me from my sins in His precious blood, and now the sun is shining without a cloud;' and thus with unfaltering faith, and with unwavering hope, he went down into the valley." 1
After the death of her beloved husband, most people assumed Grace would remain in Britain and lead a quiet life. Instead, she returned to Wenzhou and threw herself into the work with great vigor.
In 1896, the local Christians decided to honor Grace Stott by presenting her with a massive banner on the occasion of her fiftieth birthday. The center piece of the banner was a summary of her service to the people of Wenzhou. The English translation reads:
"Mrs. Stott and her husband were the first to come to Wenzhou to preach the holy doctrine of Jesus. When they had newly come, and the gospel had not yet been preached abroad, they were very badly treated by some, who, without any reason whatever, maligned them in every way possible—all which they bore most patiently.
Afterwards, trusting in God's help, they were able to reach the country districts with the gospel....
Mr. Stott was called home to heaven; but Mrs. Stott, understanding the mind of the Lord, and in accordance with her husband's desire, again returned.... While in Wenzhou she set herself to teach the Church members and to feed them with spiritual food.... Now in Wenzhou, the ten counties, and all the districts round about, there are many white-haired old men, besides young men, and numbers of women who have all heard the gospel and received her instruction....
Today we celebrate her birthday, and have prepared a banner to present to her.... During these couple of decades great grace has come to us from God. We congratulate her on her birthday, and pray that from today she may have long life." 2
The following year, Grace Stott wrote an excellent book, Twenty-Six years of Missionary Work in China. The last page of the book aptly summed up the service she and her late husband had performed for the kingdom of God in Wenzhou:
"The dark places of the earth are still full of the habitations of cruelty; and yet the missionary's life is one of surpassing joy, for who has ever tasted a delight more intense than that of seeing souls born into the kingdom, and perhaps no country has given larger results for the amount of labor bestowed than China.
It is true that as a nation the people are dirty, treacherous and in many instances cruel; but while they have these and other unlovely national characteristics, I can bear testimony to a warmth of devotion, fidelity, and patient endurance, not exceeded by any country.... I still hope to spend my remaining years in their midst." 3
Grace continued to serve in Wenzhou until 1909, when at the age of 63 she retired to Toronto, Canada. She had served in China for 20 years after her husband's death, and 39 years overall.
More than a century has elapsed, but the godly legacy of the Stotts' service in Wenzhou can still be seen. The oldest church in the city, the Chengxi Christian Church, still stands as a testimony to their work long ago. Of greater significance than the building, however, are the millions of consecrated Christians throughout Wenzhou City and the surrounding areas. Today, as many as 30 percent of the population of Wenzhou profess faith in Jesus Christ. 4
Footnotes:
1. Stott, Twenty-Six Years of Missionary Work in China, p. 154.
2. "Presentation Banner Given to Mrs. Stott on her Fiftieth Birthday," China's Millions (July 1896), p. 86.
3. Stott, Twenty-Six Years of Missionary Work in China, pp. 365-6.
4. See the 'Table of Christians in Zhejiang' in the Appendix of this book.
© This article is an extract from Paul Hattaway's book 'Zhejiang: The Jerusalem of China'. You can order this or any of The China Chronicles books and e-books from our online bookstore.