1900 - James & Mrs. Simpson

July 9, 1900

Taiyuan, Shanxi

James Simpson and his wife.

James Simpson was first led into missionary work through the influence of the YMCA in Aberdeen, Scotland. On one occasion a message by a missionary from Africa deeply touched his heart. Some time later Hudson Taylor visited and spoke on the need for missionaries to China. The Simpsons joined the China Inland Mission in 1888, serving eight years in China under that organization.

For reasons that are unclear, the Simpsons separated from the CIM and returned home to Scotland in 1896, where they went through a season of soul-searching. At this time the Taiyuan-based missionary Thomas Pigott visited Scotland and it was through a personal interview with the Irishman that Simpson and his wife rededicated themselves to the Lord’s service in China, returning at the end of 1896 as members of the non-denominational Shouyang Mission.

The Simpsons threw themselves into the work, having already acquired the language during his previous term. They spent most of their time engaged in village work, travelling widely throughout the countryside around Taiyuan, preaching the gospel to unbelievers and teaching the Chinese believers. Over the years the Simpsons forged a good reputation

“by their untiring and unselfish service. While at home on furlough they commended themselves, in a very marked and unusual way, to a large and increasing circle of friends, by their singular devotedness to the vast needs of China and the claims of our Lord and Saviour.”[1]

When the Boxers attacked the missionaries at Taiyuan on July 9, 1900, the Simpsons were barbarously murdered. One of Mrs. Simpson’s last acts “was to carry little Jacky Lovitt on the flight from the burning hospital to Mr. Farthing’s house, defending him from the blows of brickbats and cudgels with her own body. The Chinese…mention her as being specially active in seeking the comfort and welfare of all the party.”[2]