Reverend Mother Consuella York-The Jail Preacher

Affectionately known as “Mother York,” she ministered in the Cook County correctional system for over 43 years, bringing the Christian message of love and redemption to inmates and correctional officers alike.
Born and raised in Chicago, Consuella York demonstrated an early aptitude for preaching, inherited from her Baptist preacher father. In her 1988 oral history interviews held in the Archives, York recalls winning a prize for oratory in 1948 and shortly afterward entered the Chicago Baptist Institute, where she studied advanced homiletics and pastoral theology, despite the fact that her church denomination did not ordain women as clergy members or allow them to preach.
York went on to graduate from the Chicago Baptist Institute in June 1953 and was ordained a year later by Rev. Clay Evans, a former classmate, fellow pastor, and lifelong friend. York remembers, “Reverend Evans has not ordained or licensed another woman. He said, “I did that because the Lord told me to do it.'” Throughout her four decades of service, Mother York embodied the qualities, calling men and women to repentance, delivering messages of hope and forgiveness, while demonstrating compassion and acceptance. Dressed in somber clerical garb and armed with a fat Bible and ready prayers, York addressed more than just spiritual needs in Cook County’s jails. Her visits also ministered to inmate’s material needs in the form of candy, home-cooked meals, toiletries and sometimes just a listening ear. The many cards, drawings, and personal messages from inmates held in the Archives reveal the deep affection and respect Mother York earned from the incarcerated men and women she befriended. Her approach to prison service combined high standards for discipline while exuding compassion and recognizing the human dignity of every inmate she encountered. Her philosophy of ministry stemmed from her first visit to Cook County Jail in 1952 when York felt a divine call to reach inmates with God’s message of unconditional love and forgiveness.
Consuella York’s Christian service was not limited to prison ministry. For forty-one years she pastored Christ Way Missionary Baptist Church in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago and served as an announcer for the weekly radio and television program, What A Fellowship Hour, produced by her former classmate, ordaining minister, and lifelong friend, Reverend Clay Evans. For the last 20 years of her life, Rev. York served as the first female chaplain of an all-male prison. In 1983, she received the Salvation Army’s Chaplain of the Year Award.

[@phillipmoore5533]

GOD BLESS THIS SISTER AND REV CLAY EVANS FOR DOING THIS MAY THEY RIP GREAT JOB.

[@britishlad5648]

I will always love Reverend Mother Consuella York; truly a Spiritual Woman of God!!!

[@brendagreen2569]

I remember when mother came to division 3 on Saturdays. She was a blessing to me. Love &respect R.i.p.Mother to all 🙏

[@yoloepmd7274]

I wish they had the whole message

[@monicawilliams7255]

I love to see her at fellowship

[@mychalpryor2473]

This woman was a GIANT amongst ants. I never met her, but her reputation was BIGGER then life. Thank you and may God bless you in a major way for posting this.

[@BrothaRollins]

You are so welcome! Thanks for stopping by our channel, enjoy the rest of the videos on our channel.

[@ngbjamie8711]

My sister Martha always talk about mother York in Chicago jail she loved her 💔❤️ girls in Cook county jail rip lady of God 🙏🙏🙏

[@spartansrace4293]

Truly a Sanctified Woman of God !!

[@Morrie1986]

Two GIANTS!

[@peaceinjesus791]

Amen

[@damikey85]

Yes God

[@robertphillips2642]

My God!!!

[@walterrogers2529]

That's the Ship, I remember

[@musiclover4life407]

@brotharollins can you post the choir selections from this, please?

[@BrothaRollins]

Yes I’ll find it and post! Click the PLAYLIST tab on our channel for more videos

[@shafonda-vt9lc]

Surely she's a woman of God.