First woman licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church

On 17 March 1869, Margaret Newton Van Cott was officially licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, becoming the first woman ever to receive such a license in that denomination.

In the mid-19th century, Methodism and most other Protestant churches restricted preaching and pastoral authority to men, even as women played vital roles in prayer meetings, missionary societies, and revival work. Van Cott had already gained recognition as a compelling evangelist, and her licensing represented a remarkable departure from prevailing practice, acknowledging a woman’s public preaching gifts within a major American denomination.

The 17 March 1869 licensing was a milestone in religious and gender history. It challenged theological and cultural assumptions about women’s fitness for preaching, opened a small but symbolically powerful space for women’s formal ministerial roles, and demonstrated that denominational structures could adapt under pressure from effective female leaders.

Following her licensing, Van Cott embarked on extensive evangelistic tours, leading revival meetings, preaching to large congregations, and reportedly inspiring many conversions. Her public ministry influenced debates over women’s ordination and helped pave the way for later generations of women clergy in Methodist and other Protestant traditions. The decision taken on 17 March 1869 thus stands as a genuine barrier-breaking first in the history of women in the Christian pulpit.