Elizabeth Codner

Elizabeth Codner was a British Christian writer and missionary advocate, born in Dartmouth, Devon, in 1823 or 1824. From a young age, she demonstrated a strong commitment to missionary work. By age 17, she was already editing a magazine for the Patagonia Mission, which later became the South American Missionary Society.

Her early publications, The Missionary Ship (1853) and The Missionary Farewell (1854), focused on missionary activities and the spread of the Gospel in South America. Codner married William Pennefather at the Mildmay Protestant Mission in London, a center known for its evangelical and missionary efforts. She also served as editor of the mission’s monthly periodical, Woman’s Work in the Great Harvest Field, through which she encouraged women to participate in missionary activities and Christian service.

Elizabeth Codner passed away on March 28, 1919, in Croydon, Surrey. Her life and work reflect a lifelong dedication to missionary outreach, Christian literature, and empowering women in ministry.