Phoebe Palmer (December 18, 1807 – November 2, 1874) was a Methodist evangelist and writer who promoted the doctrine of Christian perfection.

[2] In 1835, Palmer's sister, Sarah Lankford, began having weekly prayer meetings with Methodist women.

Some of the bishops who attended were Edmund S. James, Leonidas Lent Hamline, Jesse T. Peck and Matthew Simpson.

[4] Phoebe Palmer and her husband Walter became itinerant preachers as they received more and more invitations from churches, conferences, and camp meetings.

She played a significant role in spreading the concept of Christian holiness throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

Some of those whom Palmer influenced through her speaking and writing were temperance leader Frances Willard; the co-founder of the Salvation Army, Catherine Booth; and the first president of the National Camp Meeting Association for the Promotion of Holiness (later the Christian Holiness Partnership), John Swanel Inskip.

While Phoebe Palmer remained committed to the Methodist tradition, her works also influenced the Higher Life movement.

[citation needed] Palmer's daughter, Phoebe Knapp, wrote several hymn tunes, including the melody for Fanny Crosby's "Blessed Assurance.