Sarah "Sally" Christine Wolfe (25 December 1885 – 15 July 1975) was a medical missionary who served in China from 1915 to 1951, despite working amidst much political turmoil. She came from a strong Methodist family and upon leaving Ireland, became part of the Methodist Missionary Society. When she arrived in China, Wolfe joined the Jubilee Women's hospital at the Wesleyan Mission in Hankow, where she worked among other European missionaries and ran Bible classes for women and children. Wolfe's time in China was marked by much political strife, as she arrived four years after the Chinese Revolution of 1911 and witnessed the Chinese Civil War, which began in 1927. In 1951, after serving the Chinese people for nearly forty years, Sally Wolfe left China due to strong xenophobia towards foreign missionaries and conflict between Communists and the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party).
Early life and education
Sally Wolfe was born on Christmas Day, 1885 to John Joseph and Marion Wolfe in Ireland. She was the second child and eldest daughter among her five siblings. During her early childhood, Wolfe's family moved from their home to The Grove, a house on the outskirts of Skibbereen (County Cork, Ireland) that once belonged to her maternal grandmother. There, the Wolfes lived a relatively comfortable life and had close ties with the Methodist Church, as John Joseph and Marion were both raised in heavily Methodist families.
As a child, Wolfe attended the Ladies’ School in Skibbereen and later attended Mr. Storey's Intermediate School. After entering and graduating from Alexandra College in Dublin, Ireland, Wolfe attended University College Cork in 1908 to study medicine with the intention of becoming a medical missionary. While she was there, she was honored for her academic achievements, as she earned the titles of First Exhibitioner in Science (1907-1908) and Second Year Exhibitioner (1909) and was honored with fourth and fifth year scholarships of £28 and £30, respectively. Wolfe graduated from Cork University in 1913 and subsequently began working at the Royal Samaritan Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland. There, she was appointed resident house surgeon in 1913 and ultimately, in June 1913, was promoted to a paid position under a surgeon named Dr. A.W. Russell.
Due to differences and dissatisfaction with the Royal Samaritan Hospital and Dr. Russell in particular, Wolfe resigned from her position at the hospital on 30 November 1913.
Work in China
Around April 1915, Wolfe moved to China in response to what she believed was God's calling for her to become a medical missionary. In concordance with a promise she made her father, she waited until she was thirty before leaving for China. Upon arriving in the country, Wolfe worked in Jubilee Women's Hospital (affiliated with the English Wesleyan Mission) in Hankow. There, she worked with other European women as well as Chinese nurses and treated conditions such as lockjaw, cholera, malnutrition, while also serving as an obstetrician and surgeon. In addition to working in the hospital, Wolfe made house calls throughout the Chinese countryside in order to unbind young girls’ feet, as foot binding was considered a sign of beauty and necessary for marriage.
In addition to working at Jubilee Women's Hospital, Wolfe also spent time in Chungsiang, where she worked in an outpatient department around 1931; she also worked in Hway Chin Tiang, where she helped provide medical care for destitute women and children and in 1937, worked at Methodist General Hospital in Chungsiang.
While as a medical missionary in China, Wolfe intermittently took four furloughs, which took place in 1921–1922, 1927, 1934–1935, and 1941.
During her time in China, Wolfe was highly regarded by her Chinese colleagues, who presented her with scrolls reading "’She healed the entire globe and jewels are made more precious by her virtue,’" and "’Her name is known throughout China and foreign countries and her virtue enriches gold."’ (Wright 120)
In his book entitled, China, My China, Harold B. Rattenbury also lauds Wolfe, as he recalls seeing her in the Women’s Hospital across the street from his Hankow home. Rattenbury praises her work ethic, saying, "When or how that doctor slept I never could discover. She seemed to be on call at all hours of the day and night…" (120) Rattenbury also speaks highly of Wolfe's character, calling her "brilliant, sincere, straight, and childlike," while depicting her as a heroic presence in China and emphasizing her love and understanding of the Chinese people.