Florence Nightingale Binds Faith, God, Prayer, Nursing, and Battle in a Stirring, Powerful Letter to Her Protege

Her call to faith, and for appreciation of nurses: “Let us have at last the ‘faith’ in our great Commander [God] that the soldiers had in the Duke of Wellington – in our Commander who cannot make mistakes. Pray for me that it may be so with me. I am sure that you look upon every Nurse not only for the credit of the work but for her own individual sake.”

 

Nightingale’s prayer: “I pray for His holy Spirit to take possession of us more & more: the Spirit of Wisdom & understanding— that we may have love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith— that we may now ‘Stand at His right hand And hold the fort with Him’.”

 

She calls nursing a difficult undertaking but urges her not to be discouraged: “Pray God that you & Miss Gibson may have the highest success – that you may go quietly achieve in such a difficult undertaking, but never, never be discouraged. God will take care of His own work.”

 

Clearly the most inspirational, religious and evocative letter of Nightingale we have seen

In the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale led a team of nurses to the military hospitals where British soldiers were dying in horrifying conditions – far more from disease and poor sanitation than from battle wounds. She transformed the hospitals, dramatically cutting the death rate from around 43% down to just 2%. She became known as “The Lady with the Lamp” for walking the wards at night checking on patients. After the war she returned home a national hero but threw herself straight back into work rather than enjoying her fame. She spent the rest of her life campaigning for better sanitation in military and civilian hospitals, public health reform, and the professionalization of nursing. In 1860 she founded the first professional nursing school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, using money donated by a grateful public. Nurses trained there went on to reform healthcare across the world. Nightingale wrote over 200 works including Notes on Nursing, which became a worldwide bestseller, and extensive writings on theology, public health and hospital reform.

Faith in God was central to Florence Nightingale’s entire life and work. She believed she received a direct divine calling at age 17 in 1837. She wrote: “God spoke to me and called me to His service.” This sense of vocation shaped every decision she made afterward. And faith drove her work. She saw nursing and reform not as a career but as doing God’s work in the world. She once wrote: “If I could give you information of my life it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service… I have never refused God anything.”

Nightingale was a member of the Church of England but had wide-ranging religious views. She studied theology seriously, read mystical writers, and believed all religions contained truth. Her personal faith never wavered, and it was an active faith, not passive. She believed God wanted people to act — to study the world, improve it, and become “co-workers” with God. She famously said: “How very little can be done under the spirit of fear.” Prayer alone wasn’t enough; you had to roll up your sleeves.”

She wrote extensively on theology and spirituality, including a major work called Suggestions for Thought, in which she explored her beliefs about God, suffering, and human purpose. In short, her faith wasn’t just a background belief — it was the engine of everything she did. In the following letter, the phrasing “our great Commander” used as an analogy to faith in God (with Wellington as the earthly parallel) reflects her deep religious faith and her close connection to soldiers and the legacy of the Wellington era.

Autograph letter signed, four pages, Park Lane, London, June 17, 1889, to fellow nurse Amelia de Laney, whom she addresses as “My dear ‘Sister’ de Laney.” “I am more anxious to know how you are getting on; tho’ aware that you can have no time to write. I pray God that you & Miss Gibson may have the highest success – that you may go quietly achieve in such a difficult undertaking, but never, never be discouraged. God will take care of His own work. As Whitsuntide is the time I pray for His holy Spirit to take possession of us more & more: the Spirit of Wisdom & understanding – that we may have love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith – that we may now ‘Stand at His right hand And hold the fort with Him’.

“Let us have at last the ‘faith’ in our great Commander that the soldiers had in the Duke of Wellington – in our Commander who cannot make mistakes. Pray for me that it may be so with me. I am sure that you look upon every Nurse not only for the credit of the work but for her own individual sake, as you have always done. That is the only way to have real influence with them and with the Patients too – Have you much to do with the Patients?

“I consulted Miss Crossland about the books for you. You have never written to me what you would like. And I don’t know what you have. But I found you had not been able to go & see her. Then I consulted Miss Vincent. She recommends Dr. Bristowe’s Theory & Practice of Medicine or Laislie Clark’s Manual of Surgery, For lighter reading Kingsley’s “Westward Ho.” or Giant Cities of Bashan & Syria’s Holy Places. Would you kindly tell me any two or three books you would like to have — either out of their list or out of your own head?

“God bless you. I hope Miss Gibson is pretty well— and you in good health. Ever yours, sincerely, F. Nightingale.”

When Florence Nightingale mentions a Miss Gibson, she is referring to Anne Campbell Gibson. Gibson attended Nightingale’s nurse training school at St. Thomas’ Hospital in 1881, and was vetted by Nightingale. On completion of her training, she was guided by Nightingale to make her nursing career in improving care for the sick in workhouses. By 1889 Gibson was in charge of her own organization. Nightingale and Gibson remained in touch. There is a letter from Nightingale to Gibson in the Harvard Medical Library.

Clearly the most inspirational, religious and evocative letter of Nightingale we have seen.