Who Was Smith Wigglesworth?

Smith Wigglesworth (1859–1947) was a British Pentecostal evangelist, healing minister, and one of the most influential figures of the twentieth-century Pentecostal movement. Known around the world as the Apostle of Faith, he preached across several continents and became widely known for his bold emphasis on prayer, divine healing, the Holy Spirit, and complete confidence in the promises of God.

Yet the most surprising part of his story is not what he accomplished. It is where he began.

He was not raised among scholars. He did not attend Bible college. He was not known for natural eloquence. For much of his early life, he could not even read. He was a plumber from Yorkshire. And somehow, through a life surrendered to God, he became one of the most recognized Christian ministers of his generation.

Childhood in Yorkshire

Smith Wigglesworth entered the world in a small Yorkshire village at a time when life was difficult for working-class families. Poverty was common. Children often worked from a young age. Education was limited.

By the age of six, Smith was already helping with farm labour. Soon afterward he found work in the wool mills, where long hours and hard conditions were part of everyday life.

Nothing about his circumstances suggested a future of international ministry. There were no influential connections. No formal theological training. No obvious signs of greatness. Yet beneath the ordinary routine of labour and survival, a spiritual hunger was already growing.

The Woman Who Changed Everything

Polly Featherstone possessed something Smith lacked. She possessed spiritual fire. Deeply committed to Christ, she was involved in ministry long before Smith fully surrendered himself to God.

When they married in 1882, Polly’s faith often exceeded her husband’s. She loved scripture. She loved prayer. She loved serving others. Over time, her consistency accomplished what arguments never could.

It was also Polly who taught him to read — using the Bible itself as his primary textbook. The irony was remarkable. The man who would later become famous for his devotion to scripture first learned to read from the scriptures themselves.

A Life of Continuous Prayer

Perhaps no aspect of Wigglesworth’s life has been more misunderstood than his approach to prayer. Some portray him as a man who spent long scheduled hours in an isolated prayer room every morning. The truth was both simpler and more demanding.

Prayer for Wigglesworth was not an event. It was a lifestyle. He maintained an ongoing conversation with God throughout the entire day. Whether travelling, working, preaching, or resting — his heart remained turned toward God.

Legacy

When Smith Wigglesworth died on March 12, 1947, at the age of 87, he left behind no denomination bearing his name and no global organisation carrying his personal brand.

What he left was something more enduring. He left an example: a life immersed in prayer, shaped by scripture, marked by faith, and surrendered to God completely.

Famous Smith Wigglesworth Quotes

• "I don't pray for more than twenty minutes — but I never go more than twenty minutes without praying."
• "I don't often read books, but I read the Book."
• "You can't keep a man down who prays."
• "Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests."
• "The Word of God is not to be played with. It is to be lived."
• "God is not looking for great men. He is looking for men He can make great."

Why Smith Wigglesworth Still Matters Today

In an age of instant content, social media performance, and ministry built on visibility, Wigglesworth offers a radically different model.

He built nothing on personality alone. He had no natural advantages. He did not manage his public image or position himself for influence. He simply refused to stop communing with God.

And that refusal produced something no strategy could manufacture.

For the modern believer, his life raises questions that are deeply uncomfortable and deeply necessary.

• Is my prayer life an event, or is it a lifestyle?
• Am I reading the Bible for information, or for transformation?
• Am I building my faith on emotional experience, or on obedience under pressure?

Wigglesworth does not call believers to imitate his exact methods. He points them back to the same foundation that shaped his life: continuous, unhurried, unbroken communion with God.

Lessons From Smith Wigglesworth's Life

Prayer is meant to be continuous, not occasional. Wigglesworth lived in communion with God throughout the day.

Ordinary people can be used powerfully. Poverty and limited education did not prevent God from using him.

The people closest to you shape your spiritual formation. Polly Wigglesworth played a foundational role in his spiritual journey.

Scripture must be lived, not merely studied. He read the Bible until it shaped every area of his life.

Faith grows through obedience under pressure. His confidence in God was built through years of faithful action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Smith Wigglesworth?

Smith Wigglesworth was a British Pentecostal evangelist known as the Apostle of Faith and one of the most influential healing ministers of the twentieth century.

Why was Smith Wigglesworth called the Apostle of Faith?

He became known for his extraordinary confidence in God's promises and his emphasis on prayer, healing, and obedience.

Could Smith Wigglesworth read?

Not initially. His wife Polly taught him to read using the Bible.

What was Smith Wigglesworth's prayer life like?

He practiced continuous communion with God and famously said, "I don't pray for more than twenty minutes — but I never go more than twenty minutes without praying."

What did Smith Wigglesworth believe about healing?

He believed divine healing was available through faith in God's promises and prayed boldly for the sick throughout his ministry.

Recommended Books on Smith Wigglesworth

Want to explore Smith Wigglesworth's life and ministry in greater depth?

• Smith Wigglesworth: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings (Hardcover) — Compiled by Roberts Liardon

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Fire Trail may earn from qualifying purchases.