Only her brothers received a formal education, and they informally taught her before she attended the West London College in 1865 at the age of 15.

After one year of school, Butler returned home to help with housework and regularly went to Saint Simon Zelotes Church in Chelsea.

[6] Butler arrived in India in 1880, first staying in Jabalpur then traveling to Bhagalpur, where she remained for four and a half years.

After going back to England for an eleven-month furlough, Butler returned to India in August 1888 and was appointed to work in Kashmir.

[1][2] Butler continued to see patients in Srinagar, using a translator to communicate, and also delivered religious speeches to those she treated and with whom she worked.

[1] She eventually was able to obtain enough land from the government to build a dispensary, missionary house, and hospital for women.

[3] Butler was remembered for her method of a "double cure," treating Indian women both medically and spiritually.