Missionary Biography
Full Name: Edith Mary Brown
Date of Birth: March 24, 1864
Date of Death: December 6, 1956
City: Cumberland
Country: England
Place of Vision: India
Early Life:
Edith Mary Brown was a British medical missionary who dedicated her life to serving the people of India. She lost her father at a very young age, and her family later moved to London. There, she studied at Girton College, Cambridge, and showed great talent and determination in her studies.
Inspired by her sister, who was also a missionary, Mary developed a deep desire to serve God through medical mission work. She joined the London School of Medicine in Edinburgh and graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1891.
Call to Missionary Work:
Feeling God’s call for challenging service, Mary joined the Baptist Missionary Society and was sent to India in 1891. When she arrived, she saw the great suffering of Indian women who had no access to medical care, especially because of the Purdah system, which kept many women hidden and away from male doctors.
Mary realized that the best way to help was to educate Indian women to become nurses and doctors themselves. She worked for a short time with other missionaries, providing medical help in the villages of Delhi and Punjab.
Edith Mary Brown’s Ministry in India:
With a clear vision and strong determination, Mary organized a Medical Missionary Conference in Ludhiana to promote the training of Indian women in modern medicine. She soon began a medical school in a rented building in Ludhiana.
In 1894, she officially founded the North Indian School of Medicine for Christian Women, the first medical training institution for women in Asia. This school became a place where Indian women could study medicine and become doctors and midwives, trained in modern Western methods.
The school, which began with only four students and four teachers, later grew into the Women’s Christian Medical College, and eventually developed into the world-renowned Christian Medical College (CMC), Ludhiana — offering medical education to both men and women.
Mary served people of all religions and backgrounds with great love and humility. She often said, “My work is for a King,” meaning she worked for Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Through her tireless service, countless women found healing for their bodies and salvation for their souls.
Legacy:
Dr. Edith Mary Brown’s life is a shining example of faith, compassion, and dedication. Her vision transformed healthcare and education for women in India and continues to bless generations even today.