Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (1707–1791)

Selina Hastings was an English noblewoman whose title brought access to the powerful, yet whose heart was captured by the gospel. Born to privilege, she became a prominent patron of the evangelical revival in the eighteenth century, using her wealth, social standing, and tireless resolve to promote faithful preaching and the worship of Christ.

She supported and defended revival leaders when polite society mocked their message. Among those she aided was George Whitefield, whose open-air preaching drew crowds across Britain. She also encouraged Methodist leaders while remaining committed to sound doctrine and reverent worship. Her home and influence became a bridge between classes, as she insisted that the poor and neglected deserved to hear the saving word without shame or barrier.

Trevecca, Chapels, and the “Huntingdon Connexion”

Hastings established chapels where Christ-centered preaching could continue beyond a single event. She also founded a training school for ministers at Trevecca in Wales, shaping men for pastoral work and evangelism. These efforts helped form what came to be known as the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion—churches and preachers linked by shared conviction, disciplined ministry, and a desire to see lives transformed by Scripture.

Her work was not effortless philanthropy; it was courage. Legal obstacles and ecclesiastical resistance tested her perseverance, yet she pressed forward, believing that obedience to God outweighs the approval of men. “Let us not grow weary in well-doing…” (Galatians 6:9).

Death and Final Witness (June 17, 1791)

On June 17, 1791, she died in London from a ruptured blood vessel. Hours earlier she whispered, “I shall go to my Father tonight.” Her final words reflect a settled hope: not confidence in personal greatness, but confidence in the Father’s welcome through Christ. “In My Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2).

Her life calls believers to finish well—spending influence for what lasts, standing firm under scorn, and keeping faith to the end. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).