Letter

From Mary Girard to Mary Bosanquet at Dunster Lane at Leytonstone, Essex. Since Girard was with them, she feels her spirit more united to her and [Sarah] Ryan than ever before. She would like to tell them how God is dealing with her soul, 'as I look upon you as those that care for my eternal welfare and whom the Lord has pointed out to direct me to walk in the most excelent way…'. Spiritual matters are discussed in detail.

Reference is made to the orphanage run by Bosanquet and Ryan

Note

• Sarah Ryan (1724-68) was born into a poor family, and was converted by George Whitefield at the age of seventeen. She joined the Society at the Foundery and became one of John Wesley's most intimate female friends, much to the annoyance of his wife. From 1757 to 1761 she was Wesley's housekeeper in Bristol. Ryan later joined with her close friend the preacher Mary Bosanquet in founding an orphanage at Leytonstone. She died soon afer the community was moved to Cross Hall near Leeds, Yorkshire. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974) and Dictionary of Evangelical Biography, edited by Donald Lewis (1995)

Note

• Sarah Ryan (1724-68) was born into a poor family, and was converted by George Whitefield at the age of seventeen. She joined the Society at the Foundery and became one of John Wesley's most intimate female friends, much to the annoyance of his wife. From 1757 to 1761 she was Wesley's housekeeper in Bristol. Ryan later joined with her close friend the preacher Mary Bosanquet in founding an orphanage at Leytonstone. She died soon afer the community was moved to Cross Hall near Leeds, Yorkshire. Source: Encyclopedia of World Methodism (1974) and Dictionary of Evangelical Biography, edited by Donald Lewis (1995)