---

A Brave Medical Missionary to India

Fanny Jane Butler was a courageous woman from England who dedicated her life to serving God and helping people through medical missions in India. She was born on October 5, 1850, in London, England. From a very young age, she had a strong love for God and a deep desire to serve Him.

Early Life and Calling

Fanny gave her heart to Jesus when she was just 13 years old. By the age of 14, she was already teaching Sunday school. As she grew, her passion for missions became stronger. Listening to stories from missionaries who had worked in China inspired her greatly and increased her desire to serve in foreign lands.

She soon understood that there was a great need for women doctors, especially in countries like India where many women could not be treated by male doctors. With this burden in her heart, she made a firm decision to become a medical missionary.

Medical Training and Mission to India

Fanny joined the London School of Medicine to study medicine. After completing her medical training, she graduated in 1880. Soon after, she was sent to India as a missionary by the Indian Female Normal Society.

Ministry Work in India

Her missionary journey in India began in Jabalpur, and later she moved to Bhagalpur. She opened several medical clinics and treated thousands of patients every year. While caring for the sick, she also shared the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel, especially with women.

At that time, Christians were not allowed to live inside the city. So, she rented a small house and turned it into a hospital. Every day, she traveled about four miles by pony or boat to reach her patients in the city. Her dedication never stopped.

Work in Kashmir and Hospital Construction

After a short visit to England in 1887, Fanny returned to India and moved to Kashmir to continue her medical mission. In just seven months, she treated more than 8,000 outpatients and performed around 500 surgeries.

Seeing her hard work and the great need for medical care, Isabella Bird Bishop supported her vision to build a hospital. Together, they raised funds and built the John Bishop Memorial Hospital, which became the first fully equipped hospital in Srinagar.

Her Faith and Final Days

Fanny strongly believed in what she called the “double cure”—the healing of both the body and the soul. Through her medical service and her faith, many people received not only physical healing but also spiritual salvation.

Even when she became seriously ill in 1889, she did not stop serving. She continued to care for women and children until her final day. Fanny Jane Butler went to be with the Lord on October 26, 1889.

Legacy

Fanny Jane Butler’s life is a powerful example of faith, sacrifice, and service. Because of her pioneering work, countless Indian women received medical care that was once beyond their reach. Her story continues to inspire many to serve God with compassion and courage.

---

A Life of Faith and Service in India

Ella Marie Maddock was one of the earliest trained missionary nurses who served in India on behalf of the Disciples of Christ. She was born in 1865 in Ohio, United States of America, into a faithful Christian family. From a young age, she was raised with strong values of faith, service, and devotion to God.

Ella lost her father when she was very young. As the eldest child, she carried the responsibility of caring for her family. Even with these challenges, she continued her education with determination. After finishing high school, she studied nursing and became a registered nurse in Ohio. She worked for several years with dedication, gaining valuable experience in her profession.

Later, she felt a clear call from God to serve as a missionary. To prepare herself spiritually and practically, she joined the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. There, she received biblical training and also took part in hands-on missionary work. During this time, her burden for foreign missions grew stronger.

Ministry in India

After prayer and preparation, Ella applied for overseas missionary service. Her request was accepted, and she was sent to India to work mainly among women. In 1898, she arrived in Bina, Madhya Pradesh. She first spent time learning the local language so that she could serve the people more effectively. After this, she worked as a nurse in Bilaspur, caring for the sick with compassion.

Later, she moved to Deogarh, a well-known Hindu pilgrimage center in Odisha. There, she served faithfully among women and children. She provided medical help, cared for people in the leper colony, and taught children about Christ. She also spoke with pilgrims who visited Deogarh and shared the message of the Gospel with them. Her life reflected Christ’s love in both words and actions.

Ella worked with great passion and often pushed herself beyond her physical limits. The harsh climate, constant travel, and heavy workload weakened her health. In time, she became seriously ill with a deadly disease. In 1909, at the young age of 44, she peacefully went to be with her Lord.

Her life of sacrifice did not end with her death. Her example deeply inspired her sister Mary, who later came to India and served as a missionary for a short period. Ella Marie Maddock’s life remains a powerful testimony of faith, courage, and selfless service to God and humanity.