Selina Hastings Countess of Huntingdon

Selina Hastings Countess of Huntingdon was an English religious leader and patron of the evangelical revival whose influence extended to hymnody and worship. Born into English aristocracy, she experienced a spiritual conversion that led her to support the preaching of evangelical leaders such as George Whitefield and John Wesley. Hastings founded the Countess of Huntingdon Connexion, a network of evangelical chapels that promoted revival preaching and congregational singing. She supported the publication of hymn collections used in these congregations and encouraged the use of hymns that emphasized salvation through Christ. Through her patronage many hymn writers and preachers were able to spread evangelical teaching throughout Britain and America. Though not primarily a hymn writer herself, her leadership played an important role in promoting hymn singing within revival worship.