This is one of the most absorbing books I have read in recent years.

Treasure trove

It’s more than a biography; it’s a hugely intriguing spiritual, political and social history covering the best part of a century, from the mid-Victorian era to the beginning of the swinging sixties.

I have already quoted extracts for various articles, illustrating the book’s sharp and insightful comment on the trials and tribulations of earlier eras, whose populations also had to deal with pandemics and political crises. ‘Grace’ is a treasure trove of marvellous observations which should help inform our thinking through present challenges.

Early life

It is essentially the remarkable life story of Grace Grattan Guinness, beautifully told by Michele Guinness, wife of Grace’s grandson Peter, a former Vicar at St Thomas’s, Lancaster. And it might never have been written if, on a visit to her parents-in-law’s villa on the island of Ibiza, the author had not investigated a trunk-load of letters and diaries kept by Grace over much of her eventual life.

At the age of 27, the beautiful young Grace (if you don’t believe me, see her alluring photo on the cover) fell head-over-heels in love with Henry Grattan Guinness who, at 68, was old enough to be her grandfather. They had seven blissfully passionate years together before he died, and she never looked at another man.

Prophetic precision

From the famous brewing family and of Irish stock, Henry was one of the great evangelists to come out of the 1859 revival, which affected many parts of the globe. He was also a prolific writer, especially on the subject of the end-times, and his popular Light for the Last Days (1886) in many ways changed the world.

Henry Guiness's popular 'Light for the Last Days' (1886) in many ways changed the world.

Some of our leading generals, and even Lord Arthur Balfour when he was Prime Minister, read Guinness’s books, in which he concluded, from his study of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation, that the Turkish Ottoman Empire would collapse in 1917.

He turned out to be spot on, and in this respect his research has helped to demonstrate the absolute authority and reliability of God’s Word.

Oddly, the 1904 Welsh Revival never gets a mention, nor the Pentecostal movement that followed in its wake. But is that due to the Plymouth Brethren background of Guinness, and indeed of Grace’s own family, the Hurditch’s, who were also involved in evangelism?

A work of Grace

Although broadly behind her husband’s theology and worldwide ministry when he was alive, Grace had a wry sense of humour and actually wrote (under a pseudonym) a somewhat satirical book, Peculiar People, on the straightlaced, restricted and insular upbringing she experienced within the Brethren movement.

Some of her diary entries betray surprising naivety about the uniqueness of the Christian faith.

Sadly, she seems to have waned somewhat in her ardour for the gospel in later years, a little unsure of her evangelical pedigree. Some of her diary entries betray surprising naivety about the uniqueness of the Christian faith.

Indeed, she was pretty unconventional and well ahead of her time as an ardent feminist and supporter of the suffragettes along with the role of women in society generally, and in the Church in particular. That said, she clearly trusted the Lord and sought daily guidance from the Scriptures throughout her long life.

So, thanks Michele. This book is not just about Grace. It is in truth a veritable work of grace!

Grace (400pp) is published by Hodder & Stoughton and is available from Amazon for £9.10 (£1.99 on kindle)