Mabel Atwater Weaver

Mabel Bleeker Awater was born to George Merwin Atwater and Harriet (Broadhead) Atwater on November 28, 1857. Mabel Atwater and Albert Weaver (1865-1941) met in Springfield, Massachusetts and were married shortly thereafter in New York City at the home of her father George Atwater (Lexington Avenue and 29 th Street). The wedding was presided over by Rev. A.B. Simpson

The couple remained in New York after their wedding and entered into ministry. Albert worked at the Rivington Street Memorial Church in the department for the care of Jewish people under Dr. A.F. Schauffler. Mabel and Albert are listed as, “missionaries to the Jews” in the Christian and Missionary Alliance newspaper and annual reports. Mabel was the president of the Prayer Union for World Evangelism and was a speaker at the opening of the CMA Seminary (now Nyack College). During his lifetime Albert wrote many articles in the Pentecostal Evangel, Confidence, the Christian Evangel, Latter Rain Evangel, Word and Work and the Alliance Weekly of the Christian and Missionary Alliance including 10, 000 tracts translated into seven different languages.

The Weavers returned to Springfield, Massachusetts in 1902 after the death of George Atwater. They resided at the Atwater estate called Rockrimmon in Springfield. In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s there was a Holy Spirit led movement in New England and Springfield. In 1904-1905 Mabel Weaver builds Peace Chapel on land owned by her father’s estate. Charles Leonard appears to be first pastor circa 1905. Rev. Leonard was the father-in-law of Eric Booth Clibborn, grandson of William Booth and missionary to Africa.

Oral history of the church was that Mabel Weaver went to Azusa Street during the revival and was accompanied by her sister Harriet Greene. There is no written account of the trip. This story was repeated over time and was most recently recounted by Rev. Edward B. Berkey, pastor emeritus of Bethany Assembly of God. There are still members in the church who remember Albert and Mabel Weaver. It is known that Mabel Weaver received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in New York at Glad Tidings Tabernacle under the ministry of Robert and Marie Brown. Marie Brown spoke several times in Springfield and Robert Brown performed the funeral service for Albert Weaver in 1941.

The facts that support the Azusa Street trip are as follows: Mabel was extremely wealthy and travelled extensively so a trip to California was financially feasible and was consistent with her lifestyle. There is some evidence that the Weavers attended the revival at Nyack College when Pentecost broke out among students and faculty. Albert and Mabel Weaver attended the Alliance, Ohio revival in July 1907 and at this meeting Albert Weaver received the baptism. (There is a published letter by Albert Weaver describing the services). Frank Bartleman, the chronicler of Azusa Street was at the Alliance revival as well. In 1908 Bartleman undertook his second cross country trip from Azusa Street and stopped in Springfield, Massachusetts. He met with Mabel Weaver and stayed at her home. He met with her again on his return from Old Orchard, Maine but he stays with her in New York this time. These meetings are documented in the book Azusa Street by Frank Bartleman. In 1910 the Weavers meet with Bartleman in Antwerp and in 1911 Albert Weaver meets with Bartleman in Palestine.

The Weavers were committed Pentecostals, with all of the pastors at Peace Chapel (later Bethany Pentecostal Church and finally Bethany Assembly of God) having documented Pentecostal experiences, even the CMA pastor that pre-date the Assemblies of God.

Whether Bartleman knew Mabel Weaver from a visit by her to Azusa Street is not known. It is clear that they were well acquainted and the only place a meeting could have occurred was at Azusa Street or Alliance, Ohio. There is no record of a meeting in Ohio, but Bartleman apparently felt close enough to stop and see Mabel Weaver two times on his 1908 trip. Based on the foregoing there is nothing to contradict the now 100 year oral tradition that Mabel Atwater Weaver attended the Azusa Street revival.

Mabel died May 2, 1936.

This biography was submitted by Bradford R. Martin, Jr., Springfield MA and is part of his extensive research on the founding and history of Bethany Assembly of God. Brad is a partner in the law firm Morrison Mahoney LLP.

If you have any further information on Mabel Weaver's trip to Azusa Street, if you have a photograph, or if you are a descendent, please contact us at info@azusastreet.org.

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