Josephine Butler: Courageous Faith in Action

“Were any beings in human shape not worth saving in [Christ’s] estimation?”—Josephine Butler

“The King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (Matt. 25:40).

Have you ever felt so passionate about a social cause that you were compelled to do something about it? Maybe it was feeding orphans in impoverished parts of the world or taking the gospel to the places that haven’t heard of God’s love.

For Josephine Butler, her strong faith led her to minister to the women that society deemed “fallen” and to fight for their rights when no one else would.

A Foundation of Justice

Josephine Butler was born on April 13, 1828, the seventh of ten children born to Hannah and John Grey. Her father was actively involved in social and political campaigns, including a commitment to bringing about the abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom. John Grey was unique for his time. He believed his children should all be treated equally, regardless of gender, and he educated them in politics and the social issues of the day, as well as introducing them to politically influential visitors.

While her father introduced her to the political and social side of life, Josephine’s mother saw to her religious education. At age seventeen, Josephine had a crisis of faith, where she differentiated her love for Christianity from her disillusionment with the church. During this time, she devoted herself to prayer and committed to truly knowing God. Her faith bred in her a deep compassion for the needs of others.

The Beginning of the Work

In January 1852, Josephine married George Butler, who was a scholar at Exeter College, Oxford, and a minister. Between November 1852 and May 1859, Josephine and George had four children—three sons and a daughter. It was during these years that Josephine began to feel called to help the “fallen women” of Oxford—women who were reduced to prostitution through financial desperation or who were taken advantage of by men of means and then abandoned. She and George even invited some of these women to live with them.

Josephine advocated for women’s higher education. She knew that if women had access to education and legitimate employment, they wouldn’t be driven to prostitution and could make an honest living for themselves and their children. But this was an uphill battle. She knew that many of the men in her own social circle took part in their current system, even while being some of the loudest critics of these women. Still, Josephine persevered in that fight.

Purpose in Tragedy

In 1864, Josephine’s only daughter, Eva, died following an accident at home. The Butlers were understandably devastated. Josephine suffered from sleeplessness and depression for years after Eva’s death. But in her grief, she decided to focus her time and energy on easing other people’s suffering. She visited the workhouse regularly and sat with the women in the cellars, helping them with their work while discussing the Bible and praying with them. In 1867, she opened a large home where these women could live and find suitable work. That same year, she co-founded the North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women, which sought to elevate governess and female teaching positions to professional levels. Through writing pamphlets and petitions, Josephine convinced Cambridge University to introduce the Cambridge Higher Examination for women.

Josephine fought against the British marriage laws of coverture, which stated that a woman’s legal identity was swallowed up by her husband’s, and she retained no legal rights or property of her own. In 1882, the Married Women’s Property Act was signed into law, extending a married woman’s rights to equal her husband’s.

Perhaps her most influential campaign was to end the trafficking of young girls into prostitution. All throughout the main European continent, young English girls could be found in brothels. According to the law, once a girl turned 13, she was of age to become a prostitute. Josephine was instrumental in bringing the legal age up to 16 and trying to put an end to kidnapping girls to be sold into this kind of slavery.

Courageous Conviction

Josephine Butler spent her life advocating for women who couldn’t advocate for themselves. At a time when those in polite society would rather pretend certain women didn’t exist, Josephine courageously acted on her conviction that these women were loved by God. She believed that if they had freedom to pursue better lives and could walk in the knowledge of God’s love, they could rise above what seemed to be an inescapable fate.

Josephine died on December 30, 1906, at home. Her life may best be summed up in the words of Micah 6:8:

“He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?”

Prayer: Lord, help me to see the least of these, the marginalized, the way You see them—as the image-bearers You created them to be. Please give me a heart of compassion to care for them in practical ways, meeting the physical needs it’s evident they lack. But, Father, they also need You in a profound way. Guide me in what it looks like to provide for them spiritually as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.