Monica Storrs
Encyclopedia
Monica Storrs was a British-born Canadian pioneer and missionary
.
She was born at St. Peters Vicarage, Grosvenor Gardens, in the City of Westminster
, London
to parents Lucy Cust and John Storrs. She was educated at Frances Holland School for Girls and St. Christopher's College, Blackheath, London
.
Monica, at two years of age, developed a medical condition which left her unable to walk for ten years. Not physically capable of attending school during this time, her parents took the liberty to educate her.
Storrs, although educated for a patrician English life, arrived in Fort St. John, British Columbia
in October 1929 after her parents had died, as the Great Depression began. She was the first missionary to teach Sunday school take regular Christian services. The group of women, the Companions of the Peace, were funded by the Fellowship of the Maple Leaf (which based in Edinburgh
, in 2007 still promotes links between the Churches in Canada and the United Kingdom.)
Although intending to work for one year, she stayed as missionary for more than 21 years in Peace Country, British Columbia
. She was nicknamed 'God's Galloping Girl' for her marathon rides in all weathers and over rough terrain, to visit remote farm families and promote their welfare. “...we had another mile across stubble fields and between hundreds of ghostly stooks. Once I charged straight upon a barbed wire fence, and was nearly impaled...”
Storrs and the other workers were all women, and sometimes regarded as feminist pioneers. Their pioneer chapel is preserved at Fort St. John - North Peace Museum, where it has been restored.
She left Peace Country in 1950 to return to England
, where she lived at Peacewood, Farther Common
, Liss
, Hampshire
. She continued her work until 1967, when she suffered a stroke and died.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
.
She was born at St. Peters Vicarage, Grosvenor Gardens, in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, 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...
to parents Lucy Cust and John Storrs. She was educated at Frances Holland School for Girls and St. Christopher's College, Blackheath, London
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
.
Monica, at two years of age, developed a medical condition which left her unable to walk for ten years. Not physically capable of attending school during this time, her parents took the liberty to educate her.
Storrs, although educated for a patrician English life, arrived in Fort St. John, British Columbia
Fort St. John, British Columbia
The City of Fort St. John is a city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km² with 22,000 residents . Located at Mile 47, it is one of the largest cities along the Alaska Highway. Originally...
in October 1929 after her parents had died, as the Great Depression began. She was the first missionary to teach Sunday school take regular Christian services. The group of women, the Companions of the Peace, were funded by the Fellowship of the Maple Leaf (which based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, in 2007 still promotes links between the Churches in Canada and the United Kingdom.)
Although intending to work for one year, she stayed as missionary for more than 21 years in Peace Country, British Columbia
Peace River Country
The Peace River Country is an aspen parkland region around the Peace River in Canada. It spans from northwestern Alberta to the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, where the region is also referred to as the Peace River Block.- Geography :The Peace River Country includes the...
. She was nicknamed 'God's Galloping Girl' for her marathon rides in all weathers and over rough terrain, to visit remote farm families and promote their welfare. “...we had another mile across stubble fields and between hundreds of ghostly stooks. Once I charged straight upon a barbed wire fence, and was nearly impaled...”
Storrs and the other workers were all women, and sometimes regarded as feminist pioneers. Their pioneer chapel is preserved at Fort St. John - North Peace Museum, where it has been restored.
She left Peace Country in 1950 to return to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where she lived at Peacewood, Farther Common
Farther Common
Farther Common is a geographical region of East Hampshire in the Parish of Liss, Hampshire, England. It is characterised by greensand topography, woodland and heath, which was a common on the Money-Coutts estate centred at Stodham House, Liss....
, Liss
Liss
Liss is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 3.3 miles northeast of Petersfield, on the A3 road, on the Hampshire/West Sussex border....
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. She continued her work until 1967, when she suffered a stroke and died.