John Alexander Dowie, a Scottish-Australian minister, was a charismatic faith healer and evangelist best known for founding the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church and the theocratic community of Zion, Illinois. Born in Edinburgh in 1847, he emigrated with his family to Adelaide, South Australia, at the age of 13. After working in various jobs, he returned to Edinburgh at 21 to study theology. Following his ordination in 1872, he served as pastor in several Australian Congregational churches.
In 1876, Dowie married his cousin, Jane Dowie, with whom he had three children. During this period, he developed a strong interest in faith healing, which soon became central to his ministry. Leaving the Congregational pastorate, he launched himself as an independent evangelist and, in 1883, founded the Free Christian Church of Melbourne.
Five years later, in 1888, Dowie and his family emigrated to the United States, first settling in San Francisco. There, he built a following through faith-healing services that operated as a commercial enterprise, requiring tithes from participants. He also sold dubious securities to members, sparking lawsuits and damaging his reputation. Seeking a fresh start, Dowie moved to Chicago in 1890. During the 1893 World’s Fair, he attracted large crowds by performing “Divine Healings,” often using carefully selected individuals to stage dramatic cures.
The success of his Chicago ministry led to the establishment of the Zion Tabernacle in 1894 and a publishing house that issued his weekly newsletter, “Leaves of Healing.” His influence expanded rapidly, and in 1896 he founded the Christian Catholic Church in Zion, later renamed the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church. Its headquarters soon included Zion Home, Zion Junior School, and Zion College. Although Dowie faced legal challenges, including charges of practicing medicine without a license, the cases were eventually dropped.
In 1900, Dowie secretly purchased a large tract of land 40 miles north of Chicago and announced the founding of Zion, Illinois. He owned the land personally and imposed a theocratic structure that banned smoking, drinking, pork consumption, and modern medicine. Zion also hosted businesses, including America’s first lace factory, imported from Great Britain. Followers worldwide were encouraged to move to Zion, deposit their savings in Zion Bank — an unregistered account controlled solely by Dowie — and buy stock in Zion’s enterprises. However, the ventures quickly fell into heavy debt.
By 1901, Dowie declared himself the spiritual return of the prophet Elijah, styling himself as “Elijah the Restorer,” the “Third Elijah,” the prophet foretold by Moses, and the “Messenger of the Covenant.” Even loyal followers began to view these pronouncements as signs of pride or delusion. Despite his lavish lifestyle, he imposed strict rules on his community, extending even to non-members, banning profanity, certain foods, and specific clothing styles.
In 1902, Dowie became linked to the Ahmadiyya movement in Islam through a famous “prayer duel” with its founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Both claimed prophetic authority, each calling for divine punishment of the false claimant. That event marked the height of Dowie’s influence. By that year, he boasted of 150,000 followers worldwide, but his 1903 New York City crusade, supported by a 3,000-member “Restoration Army,” was a disaster. Ridiculed by the press and heckled at Madison Square Garden, Dowie responded with insults, calling critics “pigs,” “rats,” and “lice.” The failed campaign cost the church an estimated $300,000 and pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy.
Dowie’s decline accelerated after he suffered a stroke in 1905. While he recuperated in Mexico, his chief lieutenant, Wilbur Glenn Voliva, staged a coup, accusing Dowie of extravagance, hypocrisy, and financial mismanagement. Voliva seized control, forcing Dowie into retirement with only an allowance. Dowie died in 1907 and was buried in Lake Mound Cemetery in Zion.
Key Sources:
Algeo, M. (2017, April 18). The Sketchy Faith Healer Who Tried to Save New York From Vice. Atlas Obscura.
Bharath, D. (2022, October 1). Two prophets, century-old prayer duel inspire Zion mosque. The Associated Press.
Bourgeault, G. (2020, September 28). John Alexander Dowie: The Flawed Dreamer and Servant of God. Owlcation.
Lindsay, G. (1951). The Life of John Alexander Dowie. Voice of Healing Publishing Co.
Naveed, S. (2025, June 14). The prayer duel. The Review of Religions.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 