Lilias Trotter
Encyclopedia
Isabella Lilias Trotter (14 July 1853 – 28 August 1928) was an artist
and a Christian missionary
for over 38 years to the Muslims of Algeria
.
in London
. Her father died when she was twelve years old.
. Quoting a letter from famous art critic John Ruskin
:
Ruskin did not believe that ladies could paint before he met Trotter. He changed his mind after he met her, and believed that if she would give her life to painting she could become the greatest painter of the nineteenth century. Ruskin believed that if she would devote herself to art "she would be the greatest living painter and do things that would be immortal." He was unhappy that she was spending so much time on the streets of London, helping with the YWCA
when he thought she ought to be painting.
Trotter, however, decided to give up her career in art in order to serve God. She always remained a good friend of Ruskin's though, and they wrote many letters when she was in Algeria.
About this decision Trotter wrote many years later:
, she went with her own funding to Algeria
to serve God there. In 1888 she founded the Algiers Mission Band. In 1964 the Algiers Mission Band became incorporated into Arab World Ministries.
She also wrote several books illustrated by herself, including Parables of the Cross, Parables of the Christ Life, and a book for Sufi
Muslim
s The Way of the Sevenfold Secret. First published in a periodical, and later as a booklet, "Focussed" inspired Helen Lemmel to write of the now famous hymn "The Heavenly Vision
" (often referred to by the first line of its refrain, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus").
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and a Christian missionary
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
for over 38 years to the Muslims of Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
.
Early life
Lilias was born to Alexander and Isabella Trotter in the heart of the Victorian eraVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Her father died when she was twelve years old.
Art
In 1876, when Trotter was 23, she travelled with her mother to VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. Quoting a letter from famous art critic John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
:
Ruskin did not believe that ladies could paint before he met Trotter. He changed his mind after he met her, and believed that if she would give her life to painting she could become the greatest painter of the nineteenth century. Ruskin believed that if she would devote herself to art "she would be the greatest living painter and do things that would be immortal." He was unhappy that she was spending so much time on the streets of London, helping with the YWCA
YWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
when he thought she ought to be painting.
Trotter, however, decided to give up her career in art in order to serve God. She always remained a good friend of Ruskin's though, and they wrote many letters when she was in Algeria.
About this decision Trotter wrote many years later:
Algeria
After serving God in England for a time with the YWCAYWCA
The YWCA USA is the United States branch of a women's membership movement that strives to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership and power in order to attain a common vision—to eliminate racism and empower women. The YWCA is a non-profit organization, the first of which was founded in...
, she went with her own funding to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
to serve God there. In 1888 she founded the Algiers Mission Band. In 1964 the Algiers Mission Band became incorporated into Arab World Ministries.
She also wrote several books illustrated by herself, including Parables of the Cross, Parables of the Christ Life, and a book for Sufi
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s The Way of the Sevenfold Secret. First published in a periodical, and later as a booklet, "Focussed" inspired Helen Lemmel to write of the now famous hymn "The Heavenly Vision
The Heavenly Vision
O soul, are you weary and troubled?No light in the darkness you see?There's light for a look at the Saviour,And life more abundant and free!Refrain:Turn your eyes upon Jesus,Look full in His wonderful face;And the things of earth will grow strangely dim...
" (often referred to by the first line of its refrain, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus").
Books and tracts authored
- The Glory Of The Impossible.
- "Buying Up Opportunities".
- Literature for Moslem women.
- The House Of Dawn.
- Literature for Moslem boys.
- Cherry blossom.
- Sand Lilies.
- 1878. A Startling Wish. A New Year’s address to junior scholars.
- 1887. For the New Year. A Life on Fire. London: Marshall Brothers.
- 1890. Parables of the Cross. London: Marshall Brothers.
- 1899. Parables of the Christ-life. London: Marshall Bros.
- 1916. When Moslems listen to the Gospel. [New York?]: American Christian Literature Society for Moslems.
- 1929. Between the desert and the sea. London: Marshall, Morgan and Scott.
- 1933. The Way Of The Sevenfold Secret. Turnbridge Wells, England: Nile Mission Press. Arabic E-text, English E-text
- Focussed: A Story and A Song (E-text)
- Vibrations (E-text)
- Trained to Rule
- A Thirsty Land and God's Channels
- A South Land
- Smouldering
- A Ripened Life
- A Life On Fire
- Story Parables
- Heavenly Light on the Daily Path
- A Challenge To Faith
- Back-ground and Fore-Ground
- Winter Buds
Sources
- Miriam Huffman Rockness, A Passion for the Impossible: The life of Lilias Trotter, Discovery House Publishers (2003)
- Patricia St. John, Until the Day Breaks: The Life and Work of Lilias Trotter: Pioneer Missionary to Muslim North Africa, OM Publishing, (1990)
- Constance Evelyn Padwick, Lilias Trotter of Algiers, Algiers Missions Band, (1975?)
- I R Govan Stewart, The love that was stronger: Lilias Trotter of Algiers, Algiers Mission Band, (1958)
- Blanche Anne Frances Pigott, I. Lilias Trotter: "Lalla Lili" (The Arabs' name for her), founder of the Algiers Mission Band, Marshall: Morgan & Scott, (1930)
- E Barth-van Marle, Uit leven en arbeid van Isabella Lilias Trotter, stichtster van de "Algiers mission band", Drukkerij van de Stichting Hoenderloo, (1932)
- Lily Gsell, Aus dem Leben der Missionarin Lilias Trotter: Botin Gottes in Algerien 1888-1928, Zürich: Schweizer. evang. Mohammedaner-Mission, (1945) (German)
External links
- Writings and Artwork by Lilias Trotter
- Lilias Trotter Excerpts @ Unveiling.org
- Lillias Trotter: The Frail Pioneer (Bio from They Knew Their God, V.1 By Edwin and Lillian Harvey and Elizabeth Hey)
- Bio from Paw Creek Ministries
- Scans of Lillias Trotter Tracts