Elizabeth Anstice Baker (24 September 1849 – 16 October 1914) was an Australian writer, philanthropist, and social reformer.

Born into an Anglican family, she converted to Roman Catholicism and wrote a book about her religious journey, entitled A Modern Pilgrim's Progress.

John Baker was born in England, and emigrated at age 25 to the British colony of Van Diemen's Land, now known as Tasmania.

Isabella Baker was born in Scotland; her father George Allen was a wealthy landowner in Van Dieman's land.

After spending years in Van Diemen's Land, he moved to South Australia where he was a leading figure in society.

Among other business and civil endeavors, he helped to establish the South Australia Chamber of Commerce, and served as its first chair.

When she was grown, she played organ at services at the Anglican church in Adelaide, and taught Sunday School classes.

She found it troubling that there were divergent views within Anglicanism; in Australia, these differences were highlighted by internal disputes in the Anglican Church in Australia between those favoring a "high church" tradition, adopting a formal liturgy, and those with a more evangelical approach to the faith, with an emphasis on personal conversion.

While residing in France, she was influenced by Etienne Le Vigoureux, a French Dominican priest who served as a teacher and mentor.

[4]As part of her charitable outreach, Baker started a "motor church" in England and Wales, providing funding and organizational support.

[2] While living in England, Baker penned a memoir about her conversion to Catholicism, entitled A Modern Pilgrim's Progress.

In her book, Baker shared her own intellectual wrestling with matters of faith, including how scientific knowledge, such as the theory of evolution, could be reconciled with religious belief.

Revealing the breadth and depth of her self-directed study in these matters, she discussed the writings of well-known philosophers and scientists, including Immanuel Kant, Charles Darwin, and Herbert Spencer.

[2] In 1902, in a ceremony led by Cardinal Moran in Rome, Baker received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal from Pope Pius X.