Monica FARRELL

FARRELL, MONICA (b. Dublin, Ireland, 3 May 1898; d. 3 March 1982). Evangelist and anti-Catholic crusader.

Monica Farrell was born into a devout Catholic family, but was orphaned at age seven. After some years of youthful doubting she left the Catholic church, and came into contact with the Irish Church Missions. This organisation trained and appointed her to teach underprivileged children. Later her special talent for public teaching and preaching became obvious.

The demand for her as a public speaker grew rapidly. Eventually she took up residence in England and travelled up and down England, Scotland and Wales. In 9 years she addressed over 5000 gatherings, including a mission in Halifax, and in St Helen's, Lancashire. At times she was in danger from Irish Catholics who sometimes endeavoured to break up the meetings and even to assault her.

In 1937 she accepted the invitation of the Anglican 'Builders', an informal group of active evangelicals, to work in Sydney. They urged her, together with Emily Norbury (q.v.), to take up a task of teaching and evangelising to counteract Roman Catholic doctrines and practices. She soon found that other denominations besides the Church of England were requesting her services. The Builders Committee readily set her free to minister more widely.

After some time she felt that she was meant to serve a wider area than originally envisaged. Accordingly she stepped out in faith as a freelance worker. She set up an interdenominational movement called 'The Light and Truth Crusade', largely on the lines of the Irish Church Missions.

She continued her preaching campaigns in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Holland, and Canada, using Sydney as her home base. She published at least seven religious booklets, including From Rome to Christ, Why am I a Protestant, Daddy? and The Evil of Mixed Marriages. Late in 1981, she was afflicted with cancer, and died the next year.

C K HAMMOND