WGBH Documentary about the life of Aimee Semple McPherson (October 9, 1890 – September 27, 1944)

Produced by WGBH American Experience, Director Linda Garmon filmed on Winter/Spring 2006, will air in April 2007.

Also known as "Sister Aimee", Aimee Semple was an evangelist and media sensation in the 1920s and 1930s; she was also the founder of the Foursquare Church. She met Pentecostal Missionary Robert James Semple from Ireland in December 1907 --while attending a revival meeting at the urging of her father. After her conversion and a short courtship, they were married on  August, 1908. Shortly thereafter, the two embarked on an evangelistic tour, first to Europe and then to China, where they arrived in June 1910. Upon arrival they both contracted malaria. Robert Semple died of the disease on 1910. After various set backs, she committed to devote herself to to what she felt was God's call and in 1913, she embarked upon a preaching career in Canada and the U.S. For the documentary I reproducced the costumes for the 1907 revival.

To see images from this documentary please choose WGBH Slide Show on left menu

To connect to WGBH: The American Experience click on image below