Acts America

Featured Story - Ann Cutler

Ann Cutler was born in Preston, England, in 1759. There is little to know about this striking young woman, so careless of life and so careful for God's Kingdom that she had only a brief thirty-five years of life. We do know, however, that she was used of God in bringing about revivals in the mining and weaving areas of Northern England. William Bramwell had been mightily used of God in those parts, and she was counted among his many converts. This eminent man of God spend long hours of intercession before he would engage in public ministryand these efforts bore fruit in his converts. Like her spiritual father, Ann Cutler spent many hours in intercessory prayer.

Mr. Bramwell published an account of her useful life, but it has not been our privilege to find a copy. We did, however, come across his brief account of her remarkable labors as quoted by Abel Stevens in his History of Methodism, which we share with our readers in the following paragraphs:

She came to see us at Dewsbury where Christianity had been and was then in a low state. In this circuit, numbers had been destroyed through divisions. Ann Cutler joined us in continual prayer to God for revival of His work. Several, who were the most prejudiced, were suddenly struck by the Holy Spirit in agonies and groaning for deliverance.

The work continued almost in every meeting, and sixty persons in and about Dewsbury received salvation, and walked in that liberty. Our love-feasts began to be crowded, and people from all the neighboring circuits visited us. Great numbers found pardon from sin and God's perfect love for their dying souls.

The work in a few weeks broke out in Greetland. Ann Cutler went over to Birstal, and was there equally blessed in her labors. She went into the Leeds circuit, and, though vital Christianity had been very low, the Lord made use of her at the beginning of revival, and the work spread nearly through the entire circuit. Very often ten, or twenty, or more were saved in one meeting. She and a few more were equally blessed in some parts of Bradford and the Otely circuits. Wherever she went there was an amazing power of God attending her prayers. This was a very great trial to many of us; to see the Lord make use of such simple means, and our usefulness comparatively was small. Her testimony was a walking conviction to many of us.

Ann Cutler seemed out of this world, but rather “a pure” being descended from Heaven to bless the Church in these days of strife. She consecrated herself to a single life, that she might have convenience for public usefulness. “I am Thine, blessed Jesus,” she wrote in a formal covenant. “I am wholly Thine! I will have none but Thee. Preserve Thou my soul and body pure in Thy sight. Give me strength to shun every appearance of evil. In my looks keep me pure, in my words pure, a chaste virgin to Christ for ever. I promise Thee, upon my bended knees, that if Thou wilt be mine I will be Thine, and cleave to none other in this world. Amen.”

Ann Cutler seldom addressed the people in public; her power was in her prayers, which melted the most hardened hearts. She was “instant in prayer.” It was her habit to rise, like the Psalmist, at midnight to call upon God; and the time from her regularmorning hour of waking was four o' clock to five o' clock, she spent this time in “pleading for herself, the society around her, the preachers, and the whole Church.”

She died in 1794 as she had lived. On the morning of her departure she began, before the dawn, to ascribe glory to the ever-blessed Trinity, and continued saying, “Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, and glory be to the Holy Ghost,” for a considerable amount of time. At last, looking at her attendants, she exclaimed, “I am going to die. Glory to to God and the Lamb forever!” These were her last words.