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Clothed with Strength: Women who built the church and changed the world
It’s easy to imagine that Christian women of the past were shrinking violets who were side-lined and excluded from making a difference in the church and in the world.
The truth is that God has always raised up strong and courageous women to do his work. You might never have heard of Rebecca Protten, Hannah More, Ellen Ranyard and Josephine Butler, but you’ll never forget how God used these four very different women to fight against injustice and poverty and to transform lives. These eighteenth and nineteenth century women worked in partnership with men to shape the evangelical church. Let their stories challenge you and fuel your faith today.
The truth is that God has always raised up strong and courageous women to do his work. You might never have heard of Rebecca Protten, Hannah More, Ellen Ranyard and Josephine Butler, but you’ll never forget how God used these four very different women to fight against injustice and poverty and to transform lives. These eighteenth and nineteenth century women worked in partnership with men to shape the evangelical church. Let their stories challenge you and fuel your faith today.
192 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2023
15 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Allen
4 books5 followersSarah Allen is author of children's book,The Woman Who Wouldn't Stop Writing; Clothed in Stength: Four Women who Built the Church and Changed the World, and co-author of Resilient Faith. She has degrees from Cambridge University (BA Hons English Literature) and (MTh Union School of Theology). Sarah lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with her husband, Lewis, where she works as an English Teacher and is involved in the ministry of Hope Church. She is also Regional Director of Flourish, London Seminary's training programme for women.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 26, 2024
This book has the potential to be a great historical account of interesting and dedicated lives. Yet it is told as though the reader doesn’t want facts but conjecture. It did inspire me to find and read a well-written book on each of these women (Rebecca Protten, Hannah More, Ellen Ranyard, Josephine Butler).
The first story many times says Rebecca “may have been” or “must have felt.” What about facts?
The book attempts to impress upon us strength and faithfulness through a particular person, but would do better to be more of a history than a narrative. Vague references should at least have a footnote or sources so I could look up the history the author alludes to without actually stating.
The first story many times says Rebecca “may have been” or “must have felt.” What about facts?
The book attempts to impress upon us strength and faithfulness through a particular person, but would do better to be more of a history than a narrative. Vague references should at least have a footnote or sources so I could look up the history the author alludes to without actually stating.
April 27, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! The author did a great job sharing the stories of these women and their impact on the Church (especially in Europe)! I would highly recommend reading this one!!
November 18, 2023
Thoughtfully written book about the lives and transformative work of four women (Rebecca Protten, Hannah More, Ellen Ranyard, and Josephine Butler) who led effective change within the church and their wider societies across the 18th and 19th centuries. Beautifully demonstrates how their motivation and endurance amidst their activist work was rooted in their faith in Christ. The author takes a very well placed and sensitive critical approach to certain aspects of their stories/actions which I greatly appreciated. All in all I’m so grateful to have learned about these women and been comforted in the knowledge that God has always and will always raise up women to do his work!
August 19, 2023
Really encouraging stories of these amazing women. I love how they're told so realistically and sensitively, not ignoring the women's flaws or the cultural differences between then and now that we find difficult to understand. The women aren't put on a pedestal but it's so good to see how God used their small stories in his big-picture plan. Bring on more books from Sarah Allen!!
September 10, 2025
This book details the lives of four women:
Rebecca Protten, Hannah More, Ellen Ranyard and Josephine Butler. While the two centuries in which they lived saw dramatic cultural and spiritual change, what draws these women together is their God-given drive to fight injustice, help the oppressed and seek the transformation of society through the offer of salvation in Jesus.
Their identity was in him and they did not fight for their own rights but for his glory and the good of others. In that sense, this book is his story, not theirs. We should honour them for their work but remember that they lived and served clothed in his strength.
She interrogates leisure pursuits: are concerts and pleasure gardens really good if they make us forget the gospel?
“There is an inward peace in a humble trust in God and a simple reliance on His Word. There is a repose of spirit, a freedom from worry in the lowly confidence in Him, for which the world has nothing to give in exchange.” Hannah More
“"This cultivation is to enable you the better to live for others, not for yourself.”
She is clear: ministry can't be left to men; women must leave the private sphere and come into the 'sphere of usefulness'
Ellen Raynard “The Lord is calling out teachers for all classes of community, high and low, rich and poor... It is no longer a day of priestly teaching only. Even outcasts are sent to outcasts, women to women, children to children. We are all one human family.
Birth and death, sickness and grief have bound us together always, whether we would or not; and now the same book shall knit our hearts and kindle in us the love to Jesus which must show itself in true love to each other.”
“The highways and byways need their Deborahs' - their mothers in Israel - and there is work unending for the handmaids of the lord 'on whom he shall pour out in these days ... his spirit!" Ellen Raynard
While Ellen was clear that it was unscriptural for women to address mixed audiences, she knew that they had been given the gift of utterance', and whether through writing, public speaking or in one-to-one conversations they were being called by God to reach and build up others beyond the walls of their own homes.
Josephine Bulter | She felt herself so united to [her husband] that his calling seemed as if it were hers, corresponding to her desire for wholehearted devotion to Christ…
Each served the other in a particular way, accepting their differences. George was the head of the household which meant he sacrificed himself so that Josephine might obey Christ and grow to be more like her Lord.
After the loss of her only daughter “i just have to put my hand in Christ's and ask Him to put His hand on my heart & keep it quiet." Josephine Butler
The concern for exploited women which had so stirred her in Oxford returned, and she prayed:
That Christ will come quickly and deliver for ever the poor groaning world: the slaves from all their woes ... and slaves of Lust in our own land, the poor women who are driven as sheep to the slaughter into the slave market of London.
God would build his kingdom through her faithful, prayer-filled response to loss.
she wrote to her sister Hatty, who had by this time had been bereaved of two infant daughters: 'nothing can repair that loss. Still it seems as if God [would] give us souls while he gives us sorrows.
She trusted God enough to take risks, making herself vulnerable, not by speaking about her own difficulties but by listening to others and speaking about Christ.
Josephine's introduction to the volume crystalises her thinking: first, that when women are treated unfairly, men are damaged too, and second, that a woman's natural homeliness, a capacity for bringing order, peace and kindness, can and should be expressed outside the four walls of the home.
“Search throughout the Gospel history, and observe His conduct in regard to women, and it will be found that the word liberation expresses, above all others, the act which changed the whole life and character and position of the women dealt with, and which ought to have changed the character of men's treatment of women from that time forward.”
When God said of Adam it is not good for the man to be alone' (Genesis 2:18), she claims a principle of cooperation is established: the world - both then and now - needs men and women, with their different giftings, to work together.
Josephine threaded Scripture through her speeches and other writings. Unashamedly, she was calling her listeners to a biblical vision of society in which the weak were protected, forgiveness extended to sinners and holiness was demanded of men and women equally. She argued that the laws were based on 'materialist', or atheist, thinking.
She found her comfort in God still, seeing in the twists and turns of the campaign, his providences and care.
we mustn't forget that in all the little things of our lives, like our heroes, we are called to suffer and to serve. As we come to Christ, he clothes us in his strength to do his work now.
Rebecca Protten, Hannah More, Ellen Ranyard and Josephine Butler. While the two centuries in which they lived saw dramatic cultural and spiritual change, what draws these women together is their God-given drive to fight injustice, help the oppressed and seek the transformation of society through the offer of salvation in Jesus.
Their identity was in him and they did not fight for their own rights but for his glory and the good of others. In that sense, this book is his story, not theirs. We should honour them for their work but remember that they lived and served clothed in his strength.
She interrogates leisure pursuits: are concerts and pleasure gardens really good if they make us forget the gospel?
“There is an inward peace in a humble trust in God and a simple reliance on His Word. There is a repose of spirit, a freedom from worry in the lowly confidence in Him, for which the world has nothing to give in exchange.” Hannah More
“"This cultivation is to enable you the better to live for others, not for yourself.”
She is clear: ministry can't be left to men; women must leave the private sphere and come into the 'sphere of usefulness'
Ellen Raynard “The Lord is calling out teachers for all classes of community, high and low, rich and poor... It is no longer a day of priestly teaching only. Even outcasts are sent to outcasts, women to women, children to children. We are all one human family.
Birth and death, sickness and grief have bound us together always, whether we would or not; and now the same book shall knit our hearts and kindle in us the love to Jesus which must show itself in true love to each other.”
“The highways and byways need their Deborahs' - their mothers in Israel - and there is work unending for the handmaids of the lord 'on whom he shall pour out in these days ... his spirit!" Ellen Raynard
While Ellen was clear that it was unscriptural for women to address mixed audiences, she knew that they had been given the gift of utterance', and whether through writing, public speaking or in one-to-one conversations they were being called by God to reach and build up others beyond the walls of their own homes.
Josephine Bulter | She felt herself so united to [her husband] that his calling seemed as if it were hers, corresponding to her desire for wholehearted devotion to Christ…
Each served the other in a particular way, accepting their differences. George was the head of the household which meant he sacrificed himself so that Josephine might obey Christ and grow to be more like her Lord.
After the loss of her only daughter “i just have to put my hand in Christ's and ask Him to put His hand on my heart & keep it quiet." Josephine Butler
The concern for exploited women which had so stirred her in Oxford returned, and she prayed:
That Christ will come quickly and deliver for ever the poor groaning world: the slaves from all their woes ... and slaves of Lust in our own land, the poor women who are driven as sheep to the slaughter into the slave market of London.
God would build his kingdom through her faithful, prayer-filled response to loss.
she wrote to her sister Hatty, who had by this time had been bereaved of two infant daughters: 'nothing can repair that loss. Still it seems as if God [would] give us souls while he gives us sorrows.
She trusted God enough to take risks, making herself vulnerable, not by speaking about her own difficulties but by listening to others and speaking about Christ.
Josephine's introduction to the volume crystalises her thinking: first, that when women are treated unfairly, men are damaged too, and second, that a woman's natural homeliness, a capacity for bringing order, peace and kindness, can and should be expressed outside the four walls of the home.
“Search throughout the Gospel history, and observe His conduct in regard to women, and it will be found that the word liberation expresses, above all others, the act which changed the whole life and character and position of the women dealt with, and which ought to have changed the character of men's treatment of women from that time forward.”
When God said of Adam it is not good for the man to be alone' (Genesis 2:18), she claims a principle of cooperation is established: the world - both then and now - needs men and women, with their different giftings, to work together.
Josephine threaded Scripture through her speeches and other writings. Unashamedly, she was calling her listeners to a biblical vision of society in which the weak were protected, forgiveness extended to sinners and holiness was demanded of men and women equally. She argued that the laws were based on 'materialist', or atheist, thinking.
She found her comfort in God still, seeing in the twists and turns of the campaign, his providences and care.
we mustn't forget that in all the little things of our lives, like our heroes, we are called to suffer and to serve. As we come to Christ, he clothes us in his strength to do his work now.
June 25, 2024
I slugged through this, would not have finished if it wasn’t a church book club book. Each story uses too much conjecture. I would have preferred the author stick to the known facts, even though sometimes the facts are sparse.
Rebecca Protten- taken from her mother at 8, Slave, saved and earned freedom. Married and widowed twice with 2 kids lost
Hannah Moore- Much more content, never married, built schools in truly impoverished areas
Ellen - Bible society to take the gospel first to the severely impoverished, and practical help came later. Story of another girl who saved for 6 years then walked 26 miles to buy a Bible; we take our Bibles for granted. I always appreciate stories of the extreme poverty not to distant in history to remind myself how amazingly wealthy we are by comparison
It wasn’t until most of the way through Ellen’s story that I realized the author must be writing from Britain- all the examples, stories, history are British.
Florence Nightengale made me think of the strange phenomenon of things randomly going from a disgraceful activity to a highly respectable one - like nursing
I enjoyed Josephine’s story the most. Interesting tidbits like she was born wealthy, basically spent it on the less fortunate, and died almost homeless since she lost income and her home when her husband died. How one of her sons resented all the time she spent on charity rather than the family.
In the afterword the Author says our world today is very different from the world of these women. I would say there are more consistencies than differences - human nature has not changed.
2 stars (not one) because I like the principles and it made me think
Rebecca Protten- taken from her mother at 8, Slave, saved and earned freedom. Married and widowed twice with 2 kids lost
Hannah Moore- Much more content, never married, built schools in truly impoverished areas
Ellen - Bible society to take the gospel first to the severely impoverished, and practical help came later. Story of another girl who saved for 6 years then walked 26 miles to buy a Bible; we take our Bibles for granted. I always appreciate stories of the extreme poverty not to distant in history to remind myself how amazingly wealthy we are by comparison
It wasn’t until most of the way through Ellen’s story that I realized the author must be writing from Britain- all the examples, stories, history are British.
Florence Nightengale made me think of the strange phenomenon of things randomly going from a disgraceful activity to a highly respectable one - like nursing
I enjoyed Josephine’s story the most. Interesting tidbits like she was born wealthy, basically spent it on the less fortunate, and died almost homeless since she lost income and her home when her husband died. How one of her sons resented all the time she spent on charity rather than the family.
In the afterword the Author says our world today is very different from the world of these women. I would say there are more consistencies than differences - human nature has not changed.
2 stars (not one) because I like the principles and it made me think
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
The grammatical errors throughout need correcting through a re-edit, often the sentences are hard to read due to poor or improper use of punctuation I found there was quite a bit of guess work in places too. That being said, the ladies spoken of - I was fascinated by their lives (with the exception of Rebecca Protten) and found myself looking up many things about them to know more. I’d recommend knowing more about some of these ladies, as I think the author only scratches the surface on some remarkable lives
February 12, 2024
A beautifully written, well researched book exploring the lives of four very different women whose lives impact on society and the Kingdom during the eighteenth and nineteenth century. I particularly enjoyed the author's insightful reflections on the radical nature of the gospel and the way that she weaved the stories together.
March 10, 2024
So well written, in a way that captivates and makes you want to keep on reading! And so very inspirational stories - WOW! It makes you want to make a difference in our society, and encourage you to think it’s really hard, but actually possible! Those women and stories are truly worth remembering and retelling, and this book does so in the best manner possible! ✨
December 30, 2025
It's a good book with a lot of interesting stories of women who impacted the church and lived lives dedicated to God. There is, unfortunately, a lot we don't know about these women, leaving the book with a lot of speculation in regards to their stories. Still, it was a good read just not one likely to be revisited.
December 15, 2023
An excellent introduction to four Christian women from time past who contributed much to our world. A great reminder that God uses all people from all walks of life to accomplish his purposes and be agents for good in this world!
July 22, 2024
Stories of 4 incredible women of God who gave their lives to do the work of God and loved people. Love their stories and inspired. I gave 4 out of 5 insteqd of 5 out of 5 because the book contained a lot of information and was difficult to stay focused at times 😅.
August 16, 2024
An amazing account of 4 women who lived, worked, served & glorified God in their different spheres of influence. A great read, just spoilt for me a bit by too many typos & inaccurate dates. Deninitely needs a revised edit.
August 20, 2024
Such a great introduction to four inspirational women in Christian history. I appreciated being introduced to women I didn't know much about and being encouraged by their walks with the Lord. This book left me wanting to learn more about each of these women!
September 2, 2024
I enjoyed this review of 4 women living in the 18th-20th centuries and their actions of lives lived out in faith. Easy to read and well researched this was a solid read. It would be great to have some application points from each woman's life in order to develop from here.
October 24, 2023
Some very strong stories here about women who made a difference in the world, all because of their love for God and the scriptures. Their stories should not be forgotten.
December 30, 2023
Absolutely inspirational.
June 29, 2024
Fantastic reading about these inspirational women.
December 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. They are great inspirational stories. The only criticism I have is that there is some speculation involved in some of the stories told.
January 18, 2025
What a sweet book. Each of there stories left me feeling how God changed their lives.
June 2, 2024
LOVED. A stella read. I loved how the timelines of the characters flow together to give you a historical overview simultaneously. Inspiring women who worked hard for Christ. An encouragement for us to go and do likewise.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews