Ellen Wharton was born on January 15, 1865, in Gayton, Northamptonshire, England. She underwent an emotive conversion and sanctification experience at the age of fifteen, which contributed to her decision to move to London, England, to work under the tutelage of the renowned faith healer, Elizabeth Baxter, as well as her desire to establish a healing mission of her own.

After apprenticing with Baxter, Ellen met James Hebden—four years her senior, and, like Ellen, an aspiring missionary—who was raising his two children alone after the death of his first wife. E…