Dr Ethel Rowley

An exercise book with the title 'Reminiscence' which was written by Dr Ethel Rowley (nee Gough) towards the end of her missionary career. Details her arrival in China, her work at Hankow [Wuhan], her joint work with her husband at Anlu (especially her medical work) and subsequent postings to Hankow [Wuhan], Wusueh and Wuchang. Also comments on her health, her colleagues and events (e.g. 'Boxer Riots', 1911 Revolution and floods).

Ethel Gough, the daughter of the Rev C H Gough, was the first trained medical practitioner to work for the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society overseas. She left England on 20 December 1895 aboard the 'Arcadia' arriving in Hankow [Wuhan] on 5 February 1896. She took charge of the Hankow Hospital for Women and Children and a few months later opened dispensaries in Kong Tien and Hanyang. However by April 1897 ill health forced her to leave China and return to England (via the USA). She returned to Hankow [Wuhan] in October 1898. Her proficiency in Chinese was now such that she was able to involve herself more actively with evangelical work by holding society classes for women. After a furlough in England during 1904 she returned to China in the summer of 1905 and married the Rev William Rowley (born Newport, Shropshire, 1867), a Wesleyan missionary in the Hupeh section of the Wuchang District. As a result of her marriage Dr Rowley had to formally resign from the Women's Auxiliary but was accorded the status of 'honorary worker' although her contribution to medical work did not seem to diminish in anyway - in fact, in 1907, she created basic midwifery and nursing texts in Chinese. (Missionary reports and magazines, however, often refer to Dr Rowley as Mrs Rowley).

After a furlough in England the couple returned to China in 1909 but to Anlu (sometimes referred to as Chungsiang) in the Hupeh District, with Dr Rowley assuming responsibility for the medical care of women and girls. The couple began to expand the facilities available (including contributing with some of their own funds and asking wealthy patients to assist). Within four years the membership of the society had increased from 60 to 159 with a chapel, mission house, schools and medical centres being opened (including a Women's Hospital under Dr Rowley's direct supervision in 1913). Dr Rowley also supervised the training of many Chinese nurses. By 1917 the need for a children's hospital was evident and they succeeded in opening it in 1919.

Throughout the 1920s they advocated the necessity of a devolved Chinese Methodist Church which should be run by the Chinese themselves. By 1928 they had transferred to Hankow [Wuhan] and in 1929 took up posts in Wusueh. Here they began again with basic facilities but by their departure in 1934 had significantly expanded facilities and Dr Rowley had again organised the training of many Chinese nurses. In 1934 they relocated to Wuchang and remained there until 1937 when they retired to Kuling [?Lushan]. Even in retirement they were active members of the Church until ill-health forced Dr Rowley to undergo surgery in Shanghai in 1941. Unfortunately, due to the Japanese occupation, she was forced to return to Kuling [?Lushan] earlier than desirable and, combined with her insistence in continuing to conduct her hospital rounds (at times having to be physically carried), her health deteriorated and she died before the end of 1941.

She was survived by her husband and their adopted daughter Joy Hwa. Rev Rowley remained at Kuling until interned by the Japanese in Lunghua camp, Shanghai, in 1943. Upon being released at the end of the war he remained in China until forced to leave by the Communist revolution. He resettled in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, attending missionary meetings at Old Bramley Methodist Church. He died on 18 April 1854.

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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance

Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.

No correspondence for the Wesleyan Methodist Ladies Women's Auxiliary from China survives for before 1920. Any extant letters written by Dr Rowley in the 1920s and the 1930s should be amongst the correspondence for the Hupeh District (MMS/WW/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 4-5). A few of her earlier letters (or extracts from them) are reproduced in the publications of the Women's Auxiliary. Three photographs of Dr Rowley (MMS/Home/Photographs/Box 2) and a small number of photographs taken by her husband (MMS/China/Photographs/Box 1197b file 27) are also available.

Correspondence for the Rev William Rowley - which may mention the work of his wife from 1905 onwards - is available (MMS/China/Correspondence/Wuchang/FBN 18-20 & MMS/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 6-9). The synod minutes for the districts they both worked in should give an account of their work as well as the work of their colleagues (MMS/China/Synod/FBN 2-6).