Sarah Jane Lancaster: The Radical Mother of Australian Pentecostalism

Sarah Jane Lancaster: A visionary at the helm of a spiritual revolution.

In the bustling North Melbourne of 1908, a woman named Sarah Jane Lancaster stood at the helm of a burgeoning spiritual movement. Imagine the rhythmic clatter of a printing press, a symbol of her innovative spirit, echoing within the walls of a repurposed temperance hall. She was not merely a preacher; she was a media pioneer, a spiritual revolutionary who dared to challenge the norms of her era.

This article delves into the extraordinary life of Sarah Jane Lancaster, exploring how her profound personal journey, often described as a “Gethsemane” moment, ignited a spiritual awakening. Her unwavering conviction laid the groundwork for a movement that, over a century later, continues to resonate globally, touching millions of lives.

We will uncover the depths of her influence, from her early days as a Methodist lay preacher to her pivotal role in establishing Australia’s first Pentecostal congregation. Prepare to discover the untold stories of a woman whose radical vision shaped the landscape of Australian religious history.

From Methodist Lay Preacher to Spiritual Revolutionary

Sarah Jane Murrell, born in Williamstown, Victoria, in 1858, began her spiritual journey within the familiar confines of Methodism. She was known to her family as Jeannie, a name that belied the powerful evangelist she would become. Her early life was marked by a deep commitment to her faith, which she shared with her husband, Alfred Lancaster.

However, by 1902, Lancaster grew disillusioned with the Methodist church’s stance on divine healing. This pivotal moment prompted her to seek a deeper, more personal understanding of scripture. It was a quest that would fundamentally reshape her spiritual path and, eventually, the religious landscape of Australia.

At 44, Lancaster embarked on an intensive study of the Bible, searching for evidence of divine healing as a continuing practice. Her personal experience of a supernatural healing of a disfigured arm solidified her convictions. This profound event propelled her to preach about divine healing, even as her family distanced themselves from her evolving ministry.

Her journey culminated in a two-year period of intense prayer and consecration, which she later described as a “Gethsemane” experience. This spiritual crucible led to her receiving the “baptism in the Holy Spirit” and, crucially, speaking in tongues. This phenomenon, known as glossolalia, became a defining characteristic of the burgeoning Pentecostal movement.

Lancaster’s ministry was not without its challenges. She often faced opposition, with some public reactions including the pelting of her street preachers with rotten fruit. Yet, her unwavering belief in the equality of men and women in church leadership, a radical idea for her time, fueled her determination to continue preaching and teaching.

The Good News Hall: Australia’s First Pentecostal Hub

The Good News Hall in North Melbourne: The epicenter of a new spiritual era.

In 1908, Sarah Jane Lancaster made a decisive move, purchasing a shop-front at 104 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne. This building, a former temperance hall, was transformed into the Good News Hall, a vibrant center for her burgeoning ministry. It was here that Australia’s first Pentecostal congregation truly took root, drawing in seekers from all walks of life.

Lancaster’s ministry at the Good News Hall began with fervent all-night prayer meetings, a testament to the deep spiritual hunger of her early followers. The attendance quickly swelled, often filling the hall to its capacity of 300 people. This rapid growth underscored the powerful appeal of her message and the experiential nature of her worship.

Central to her teaching was the “Fourfold Gospel”: Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is coming again. Lancaster presented these theological concepts in a straightforward, accessible manner, making them understandable to the working-class individuals who formed the core of her congregation. This pragmatic approach fostered a strong sense of community and spiritual empowerment.

The Good News Hall became more than just a place of worship; it was a dynamic hub of activity. It served as a publishing house for her influential magazine, and a training ground for evangelists. This physical space anchored the early Pentecostal movement in Australia, providing a tangible location for spiritual revival and community building.

The Media Maven: Printing the “Good News”

Innovation in action: The printing press that carried the ‘Good News’ across the nation.

Beyond her powerful preaching, Sarah Jane Lancaster was a visionary media pioneer. She understood the profound impact of the written word in spreading her message. Within the very walls of the Good News Hall, she established a printing press, a bold move for any minister, let alone a woman in the early 20th century.

This press was not merely for local announcements. It churned out evangelistic tracts and pamphlets, disseminating her unique theological insights far beyond North Melbourne. Her commitment to print media was a strategic decision, ensuring her message reached a wider audience and left a lasting impression.

Lancaster also launched Australia’s first Pentecostal magazine, aptly named Good News. As its founding editor, she curated content that resonated with her growing movement. The magazine featured accounts of Pentecostal revivals from around the world, prophetic interpretations of current events, and compelling testimonies of divine healing.

Through Good News, Lancaster amplified the voices of her community and connected them to a global spiritual awakening. She effectively leveraged the nascent power of mass communication. This made her a true media maven, shaping public discourse and spiritual understanding through the innovative use of print.

Controversy, Splinters, and the Van Eyk Affair

Lancaster’s growing influence inevitably attracted both collaboration and contention. In 1926, South African evangelist Frederick Bernadas Van Eyk arrived in Australia, proposing a partnership with Lancaster and the Good News Hall. By this time, her ministry had expanded, with satellite churches and evangelists operating across the continent.

Van Eyk sought to align Lancaster’s extensive work with his South African organization, the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM). Initially, this collaboration seemed promising, offering a framework for broader organization. However, the alliance soon revealed deep-seated doctrinal differences that would ultimately lead to significant challenges.

Lancaster held several heterodox views, particularly concerning Christology and Trinitarian theology. She taught that Jesus, as the Son of God, was not equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit. This interpretation diverged significantly from mainstream Christian doctrine and became a point of increasing friction within the nascent Pentecostal movement.

These doctrinal disputes, coupled with disagreements over the role of women in church leadership, caused the Apostolic Faith Mission of Australasia to splinter. Despite Lancaster becoming president of the AFM in 1930, the organization struggled with internal divisions. It ultimately dissolved shortly after her death in 1934, a testament to the turbulent early years of Australian Pentecostalism.

Legacy: Was She Australia’s First Female Minister?

Sarah Jane Lancaster’s legacy is complex and often debated, particularly regarding her status as Australia’s first female minister. While she undoubtedly led Australia’s first Pentecostal congregation and functioned as a minister from 1908, the formal recognition of women in ministry varied significantly across denominations and time periods.

Many historical accounts credit Winifred Kiek (1884–1975) as Australia’s first ordained female minister within a mainstream denomination, specifically the Congregational Union in 1927. However, this distinction often overlooks the pioneering, albeit less formally structured, ministry of women like Lancaster. Her leadership predates Kiek’s ordination by nearly two decades, highlighting a crucial difference between de facto and de jure recognition.

Her influence extended beyond her immediate ministry, laying foundational groundwork for the broader Pentecostal movement in Australia. Although her specific doctrinal interpretations were later abandoned by some, her courage and entrepreneurial spirit undoubtedly paved the way for future generations of female leaders within Pentecostalism. The vibrant and diverse landscape of Australian Pentecostalism today, including movements like Hillsong, owes a debt to these early pioneers.

Feature	Sarah Jane Lancaster	Winifred Kiek
Period of Ministry	1908 – 1934 (Leader of first Pentecostal congregation)	1927 – 1975 (First ordained in mainstream denomination)
Denomination	Pentecostal (Apostolic Faith Mission)	Congregational Union
Key Contribution	Founder of Australian Pentecostalism, media pioneer	First formally ordained female minister
Formal Recognition	De facto minister, leader of a movement	De jure ordained minister

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who was the first female minister in Australia?

While Winifred Kiek is often cited as the first ordained minister in a traditional denomination (1927), Sarah Jane Lancaster was leading Australia’s first Pentecostal congregation and functioning as a minister as early as 1908. Her leadership was de facto, preceding formal ordination structures.

2. What was the “Good News Hall”?

The Good News Hall was a former temperance hall located at 104 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne. Sarah Jane Lancaster purchased it in 1908, transforming it into the central hub for Australia’s first Pentecostal congregation and a publishing house for her influential “Good News” magazine.

3. Why was Sarah Jane Lancaster controversial?

Lancaster faced controversy primarily due to her heterodox theological views, particularly her interpretations of Christology and Trinitarian theology, which diverged from mainstream Christian doctrine. Additionally, her leadership as a woman in ministry was radical for her era, attracting opposition.

4. What is the “Fourfold Gospel”?

The “Fourfold Gospel” was a central tenet of Sarah Jane Lancaster’s teaching. It comprised four key affirmations: Jesus saves, Jesus heals, Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is coming again. This simplified message was designed to be accessible to her working-class congregation.