The single sister Ann Cannings was born July 24th 1790 at Mirfield and by attending the Brethren’s Chapel in her childhood, received an impression of the love of Jesus into her heart and became attached to the privileges of the congregation into which she was received, March 9th, 1805. Two years after she was received she moved into the Single Sisters’ House in Gummersal, and on January 25th 1808 partook of the holy Communion for the first time. Her fellowship with a Congregation of Jesus was much valued by her, as her frequent impressions testified. She spent several years in a happy frame of mind at Gummersal, but after some time some of the depravity of her nature aimed to
disturb her simple and childlike confidence in our Saviour. May 4th 1811 she moved into the Choir House here and by her pleasing behaviour soon gained the love of the Sisters. But still she often complained of not
(page 2)
enjoying that happiness which she felt when first impressed with our Saviour’s love. Some time ago, a friend of hers found the following verses written by her; “a whither should I go, burdened and sick and faint? and What is it keeps me back, from which I cannot part?” and this gave rise to a conversation in which she complained with many tears of the state of her heart, and confessed that she was engaged with thoughts and actions contrary to the mind of the Lord. She was then directed with all her ailments to Jesus, the good physician, sought his pardoning grace and obtained a reviving sense of his mercy. The celebration of the Passion Week this year was remarkably blessed to her, and she expressed herself concerning it, to the following effect: “Oh how shall I describe my feelings, the power of Jesus’ blood and death pervaded my soul in a manner, which
(page 3)
I shall never forget, in his pierced hands I read my pardon seated, he is mine, and I am his, oh might nothing ever separate me from him!” She was naturally of a weakly constitution, and therefore often thought that her pilgrimage on earth might not be long. In the latter end of May last she was obliged to move into the sickroom, and growing no better, went to her parents’ house to Mirfield to be nursed by them. Her complaint appeared consumptive, she grew rapidly worse, and tho’ she did not immediately suppose her departure to be so near at hand, felt soon resigned to our Saviour’s will declared that through the merits of Jesus, her mind was at peace, begged her parents not to grieve, and had a lively hope of appearing in our Saviour’s presence, as a pardoned sinner. This favour was granted to her September 3, 1813 in the 24th year of her age.