Elizabeth Thornton (1727-1769)
Item
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Creator
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Thornton, Elizabeth, 1727-1769
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Publisher
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Moravian Lives Project
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Type
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Text
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Format
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image/jpg
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Description
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This memoir recounts the spiritual life and experiences of Elizabeth Thornton (1727–1769), a Moravian woman raised in a religious household in Yorkshire. After her father left when she was young, her mother became deeply devoted to religion and regularly attended prayer meetings, exposing Elizabeth early to spiritual teachings. As a child and young woman, Elizabeth experienced strong religious conviction, emotional struggles over sin, and periods of inner conflict, loneliness, and discouragement. She became connected with the Moravian community at Fulneck, participated actively in choir and congregational life, and gradually developed a deeper sense of faith and spiritual comfort through prayer, worship, scripture, and fellowship. The account emphasizes her humility, emotional sensitivity, and desire for salvation despite repeated spiritual trials. The final pages describe her declining health and peaceful preparation for death. Surrounded by members of her choir and community, she expressed joy, readiness to leave earthly suffering behind, and confidence in eternal life before dying peacefully in 1769 at the age of 42.
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Identifier
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Ful/3/19
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Language
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eng
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Extent
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4 pages
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Rights Holder
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Fulneck Moravian Archives, Fulneck, England
