Life and ministry
1842. Sophie Rosine Dorothea (‘Dora’) Gobat was born in Malta. Her parents were Samuel Gobat (1799–1879) and Marie (‘Maria’) Gobat, née Zeller (1813–1879).
1852‒56. Dora attended the Moravian girls’ boarding school in Montmirail (Switzerland).
1862‒67. She taught at a girls’ school in Jerusalem.
1867. Dora Gobat got married to St. Chrischona missionary Carl Heinrich Rappard, who served in Egypt. (Their marriage was blessed with ten children.)
1868. Her husband was called to serve as Director [“Inspektor”] of the Pilgrim Mission. The couple moved to St. Chrischona.
1872 ff. In addition to her family life (the couple raised eight children), Dora was actively involved with the Pilgrim Mission in various ways.
1874 ff. Dora and her husband became part of the Higher Life (aka Keswick) Movement. She held women’s classes, which was quite unusual at the time.
1883‒90. Relocation to Basel (Mr. Haarbeck served as Bible school director in St. Chrischona, whereas Mr. Rappard focused on visiting the Pilgrim Mission’s ministry in Switzerland and abroad).
1890 ff. Back in St. Chrischona, Dora was again involved with the Pilgrim Mission in many ways and became known as Chrischona’s “mother.” (For details, view H. Nüesch’s article.)
1909. Death of her husband, C.H. Rappard.
1923. Dora passed away in St. Chrischona.
Songs in hymn books
» View entries in “Liederindex.de,” and “Hymnary.org.”
Audio
Songs with lyrics
Documentary with hymns written by Dora Rappard
Further reading
» View bibliography
Cross-reference
» Musical history of St. Chrischona