# Biographical Sketch ![[M. L. S. Ballord.jpg]] ## From Compiled Census Data Margaret Lilian Skelton (1880 - 1968. Chinese 黎爱莲 Li Ai Lian) was born in 1880 to Rosa Watson and Francis Skelton. The Skelton's were of a 'High Anglican' back ground and both the Watson's and Skelton's had comparative wealth. Rosa was the youngest of seven children and grew up with five servants while her father ran Inn Keeper. After Rosa father's death, her mother would maintain four household servants. Rosa's maternal grandfather owned the Star Inn in the Norwich Market Place and ran a coach business from Norwich to London. Upon his death the Inn was inherited by Rosa's parents. This family wealth likely supported the family for generations to come, with Rosa's sister living on her own money late in her life, and Margaret Ballord serving in China off her own family money. Rosa and Francis had several children together including Margaret in 1880. tragically, Rosa died in January 1884 a few days after the birth of her third son. Francis remarried having four more children. It is possible that Margaret went to live with her childless older Aunt Lorinea Ballord in the years after her mother's death. While childless from their marriage in 1860 and the census of 1881, a 10 year old daughter 'Daisy' is found with the couple in 1891. There is no birth record for this Daisy and this would be the same age as Margaret. Thomas was a merchant and a clerk and the family lived in a wealthy area of Norwich, Barcondale. After four years at London University beginning in 1897, Margaret is listed as Margaret Ballord, living with a widowed Lorinea Ballord, living on her own money, in the 1901 Census. # Life Co-Laboring with M. E. Barber ![[MEB and MLSB 1909 in SC Book of Rememberance.png]] Despite her "High Anglican" background, Margaret evidently was attracted to the views of the Dissenting and Evangelical congregation at Surrey Chapel. There is no record that she was a member at Surrey Chapel. But she appears in a picture with Miss Barber being sent out as missionaries in the [[Surrey Chapel]] Foreign Mission Band to China, March 1901! In the Missionary Band records she is described unattached missionary who went out to China in March 1909 to form a union with M. E. Barber. 14 years Barber's junior a friendship and sense of having a kindred spirit must have bonded the two women, that they would leave England on the same terms, in faith of the Lord's call. While many missionaries sent to China from Surrey Chapel signed up with the China Inland Mission, Miss Barber's conviction to return to Fukien must have resonated with Miss Ballord who would step out in radical faith with this new friend and join with her in bringing the gospel to Fukien as an "unnatached" missionary. ![[Miss Barber and Miss Ballord.jpg]] For the next twenty years Miss Ballord would remain by Miss Barber's side with all the struggles and victories the coming decades would bring. An [[The Dawn - Miss Ballord's account of the Duck-herd|evangelistic story]] from their work appeared in a 1927 edition of [[The Dawn]]. In 1930, Miss Barber passed away, but the commitment of the mission at [[White Teeth Rock]] remained. After Miss Barber's death, Miss Ballord published [[The Verses of a Pilgrim]] on Miss Barber's behalf. # Continued Labor at White Teeth Rock Margaret remained faithfully in White Teeth Rock after Miss Barber's death, writing back to Surrey Chapel^[On April 6, 1931, she sent a letter to D. M. Panton thanking him for some money that was sent to her. She mentions Miss Barber's passing and that "it does not get easier as time passes."}] that "it does not get easier as time passes," and eventually took a furlough back to England from 1937-1939. Upon her return she continued faithfully preaching the gospel and raising up young native workers. ![[Miss Ballord with Co-Workers 1946.jpg]] Miss Ballord with her co-workers, including Wilson Wang, in 1946. # Final Years After the Communist Revolution in China, Miss Ballord returned to England and lived in Eastbourne. There she lodged among some Christian institutions with addresses including The House of Rest and Living Waters Ministries. Starting as early as 1946's The Surrey Chapel Foreign Mission Band began to send her some regular financial support from around £10-15 around twice a year,^[Norfolk Records Office Folder 76 Foreign Missions Band Committee Minutes]. This provision continued into the 1960 and may be more of a gesture of love rather than necessary financial support as Miss Ballord's family money remained steady.^[see below] The Surrey Chapel record books mention frequent updates from Miss Ballord. in 1962 she wrote in requesting prayer for Christians in China and in1964 mention is made of personal visit by one of the women at Surrey. on 1966 she is noted as showing signs of her age and on May 13th, 1968, Miss Ballord passed away leaving behind left behind £2211 at 16 Arundel Rd in Eastbourne.