As the abolition of slavery progressed in the different European colonies, converting freed slaves became a powerful motive for setting up European Christian missions. In South Africa, for instance, mission schools started educating African children in the mid-1800s, almost a century before government schools were built for them. Your email address will not be published. Reverend Henry Townsend. The Church of Nigeria is the second largest province in the Anglican Communion after the Church of England. Missionaries have often unwittingly imported their cultural preference into the churches they started. Europeans were seen as ruling Africans both in political and ecclesiastical matters'' (Falae). Missionary efforts, though not necessarily tied to government activity, began concurrently and are sometimes considered as one and the same. Today, due in large part to Livingstones legacy, Zambians are generally sympathetic to the message of missionaries and see themselves as having a Christian heritage. This paper explores medical missionary activities and its contributions to healthcare development in rural areas in southwestern Nigeria. The Christian missionaries of the Colonial Age worked in very different ways from the missionaries of today. Webvarious missionary bodies that have been operating in southern Nigeria since the nineteenth century and has highlighted the enormous contributions made by these missionary bodies towards the development and civilization of the area. [Leicester]: Study of Religion Sub-department, University of Leicester, 1976. Their converts increased steadily in numbers until 1821 when a section broke away to form the first independent African, Christian church in West Africa, called the West Africa Methodist Church. Europeans were not only curious to explore the lands but also the native people. (He discovered some close relatives there and was the means of conversion of his mother and sister.) Missionary Researches and Travels, no. Contribution to missions in Nigeria Presently, a lot of Irish missions, orders for priests, and congregations for sisters exist in Nigeria some dating back to early 1900s. When he died, his African attendants buried his heart under a tree in Zambia before transporting his body over one thousand miles to Britain for burial. Two thousand years later, Christian presence has left indelible marks on the continentsome positive, some less so. Part of the Niger Mission retained its autonomy as the Niger Delta Pastorate Church under Crowthers son, Archdeacon D.C. Crowther, and at least one of the European missionaries, H.H. Crowther, Samuel, James Frederick Schn, and William Russell Bascom. Crowther, Samuel, James Frederick Schn, and William Russell Bascom. In fact, the British missionaries were successful in largely eliminating common practices in Nigeria of human sacrifice and the killing of infant children. Missionaries who followed in Livingstones footsteps by addressing both spiritual and physical needs have had a profound impact on the continent. Journals of the Rev. in association with the West African Languages Survey and the Institute of African Studies, 1967. Wife of Rev. 1842. 4 No. Gollmer, he then opened a new mission in Yorubaland, centered in Abeokuta, by now the homeland of Crowthers Egba people. He was part of the first British Government sponsored Niger Expedition of 1841. London: Cambridge U.P. This was the start of a global economy, and colonialism. London: Hatchard and Son, 1842. Ibadan history series. His role in producing the Yoruba bible, which set new standards for later African translations, was crucial. He oversaw J.C. Taylors ground-breaking work in Igboland and directed the evangelization of the Niger Delta, with notable results at such centers as Bonny. Their converts increased steadily in numbers until 1821 when a section broke away to form the first independent African, Christian church in West Africa, called the West Africa Methodist Church. In conclusion, Christianity planted its roots only when a more secretic form was formed. The workers seek assistance for this aid and efforts to provide converts from Islam with places of refuge and new land and housing in secure areas. The content of this site is published by the site owner(s) and is not a statement of advice, opinion, or information pertaining to The Ohio State University. The missionary activities in Nigeria, especially their educational programs helped to whip-up the consciousness of a shared identity and helped to train a new set of elite that championed the course of nationalism and constituted a virile leadership for the young nation at independence. 2. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, The Gospel and the Flag: The Missionary Strands in the British Colonial Enterprise in Nigeria, 1841-1960, Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies: Vol. The Yoruba embraced the gospel and planted Baptist churches throughout western Africa as they traveled for trade. While seminaries offered insight into complex topics like the assurance of salvation, Africans are often more concerned with day-to-day concerns, like How can I be cured of this illness? Now African believers are increasingly turning to the health, wealth, and prosperity teachings of televangelists and modern-day prophets who are tuned in to the everyday wants and needs of African people. The British colonized many nations including Nigeria in order to exploit native labor and natural recourses beginning in the 1700s (Reviews). Today, although many Nigerian churches embrace the prosperity gospel, most Yoruba Baptist churches remain theologically solid. Much of the existing works on the history of the evolution of modern Nigeria seem to be concentrated on the activities of three principal bodies from Britain: the British explorers, the British traders and the British colonial administrators. The gospel on the banks of the Niger: journals and notices of the native missionaries accompanying the Niger Expedition of 1857-1859. Introduction The history of Christian mission in the southern part of Nigeria Countless children have been and continue to be educated in schools established by missionaries. When about 13, he was taken as a slave by Fulani and Yoruba Muslim raiders and sold several times before being purchased by Portuguese traders for the transatlantic market. Some freed slaves who had embraced Christianity in America also worked to spread the gospel upon their return to Africa. In fact, the British were successful in largely eliminating common practices in Nigeria of human sacrifice and the killing of infant children. WebThe missionary activities in Nigeria, especially their educational programs helped to whip-up the consciousness of a shared identity and helped to train a new set of elite that championed the course of nationalism and constituted a virile Again Christian missionaries who had been active in Nigeria since the 1840s had encouraged their converts in the creation of a modern nation state that would take its place in the comity of nations. WebThe work of the missionaries in southern Nigeria was not easy sailing, for while a few Africans and their rulers patronized missionary enter-prise, others rejected missionary intrusion in any form. Rev. The missionary activities in Nigeria, especially their educational programs helped to whip-up the consciousness of a shared identity and helped to train a new set of elite that championed the course of nationalism and constituted a virile leadership for the young nation at independence. McKenzie, P. R. Inter-religious encounters in West Africa: Samuel Ajayi Crowthers attitude to African traditional religion and Islam. A pastor leads a Bible class at Liberty Baptist Church in Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in northwestern Uganda. Contribution to missions in Nigeria Presently, a lot of Irish missions, orders for priests, and congregations for sisters exist in Nigeria some dating back to early 1900s. All rights reserved. The entire staff was African, mainly from Sierra Leone, and Venn moved toward an Anglican version of the three-self formula by securing Crowthers appointment in 1864 as Bishop of the countries of Western Africa beyond the Queens dominions. In the upper and middle Niger territories Crowther pioneered an early form of Christian-Muslim dialogue for Africa. Accessed February 28, 2021. The students will be able to apply the factors that contributed to the successes or failures of evangelism to their own lives and ministries. WebMissionaries have been involved in Nigeria during the late 1800s through training young men as evangelists and helping womens rights improve among the tribal people. Unfortunately, the emphasis on reading gave the impression that literacy was necessary to learn Scripture, and uneducated people were unintentionally alienated. Many young people educated in mission schools became leaders in the fight for independence, including Nelson Mandela in South Africa and Julius Nyerere in Tanzania. Christianity in Nigeria was first introduced in the 15th century by Portuegese Catholic priests during the Age of Exploration. When they realized they were not effectively evangelizing other ethnic groups due to language and cultural differences, they asked Nigerian and US Baptists for assistance. Today, missionaries have brought Holistic Development Centers, education, and medical care into Nigeria with the purpose of spreading the Gospel. How did Christianity come to Nigeria? https://bebegolf.com/history/. Hair, P. E. H. The early study of Nigerian languages: essays and bibliographies. Press, 1973. Missionaries who followed in Livingstones footsteps by addressing both spiritual and physical needs have had a profound impact on the continent. This paper explores medical missionary activities and its contributions to healthcare development in rural areas in southwestern Nigeria. The Contributions of the Christian Missionaries in Building the Nigerian Nation, 1840-1960. Many are of the opinion that the missionary bodies were mere spiritual arms of various European governments Studies on religion in Africa, 3. WebMissionaries have been involved in Nigeria during the late 1800s through training young men as evangelists and helping womens rights improve among the tribal people. The Church of Scotland started missionary work in the area of Calabar. Livingstone is considered a national hero in Zambia because of his desire to improve the lives of Africans. The Church Missionary Society established churches in several towns like Abeokuta, Lagos, Idaban, Oyo, and Benin. There was also a growing number of Nigerian pastors and independent Nigerian churches at the time. Webthe missionary propaganda that prepared the way for the governor, the explorer and the trader. Much of the existing works on the history of the evolution of modern Nigeria seem to be concentrated on the activities of three principal bodies from Britain: the British explorers, the British traders and the British colonial administrators. The Igbo had not elected Basden as their representative; he had been appointed by the colonial government. Hospitals established and often run by missionaries are frequently the only available source of health care, particularly in rural areas. This is a period where European powers set their sights on exploring the world. Falae, Vivien. Samuel Crowther: The Slave Boy Who Became the Bishop of Niger. Though the missionaries primary aim was to bring the gospel to Africans, some Africans consider Christianity a white mans religion that was used to subdue and control them in the process of colonization. On the whole, support or lack of support for missionary work was greatly influenced by internal developments in southern Nigeria. WebList of Early Missionaries in Nigeria Reverend Samuel Ajayi Crowther. She lives in Sub-Saharan Africa with her husband and two children. Andrew F. Walls, Crowther, Samuel Adjai (or Ajayi), in Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, ed. The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. Thanks to the efforts of missionaries and African believers who have diligently shared the gospel over the past two millennia, Africa is forever changed. For Christian missionaries of Nigerian nationality, see, Category: Nigerian Christian missionaries, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Category:Christian_missionaries_in_Nigeria&oldid=772768090, Christian missionaries by mission country, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 29 March 2017, at 06:34. These churches incorporated their old religious and cultural ideals with their new teachings of the Bible. Mzuni Press, 2018. Hospitals established and often run by missionaries are frequently the only available source of health care, particularly in rural areas. "One of the most prominent people that were largely responsible for the Christianisation of Nigeria is Samuel Ajiya Crowther, a former slave of Yoruba origin. This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Clay heads in Cape Coast Castle dungeon depict pain and sufferings the captured slaves endured. This article is reprinted from Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, Macmillan Reference USA, copyright 1998 Gerald H. Anderson, by permission of Macmillan Reference USA, New York, NY. He was part of the first British Government sponsored Niger Expedition of 1841. Christian missionaries believed that their dedication to Christianity would be enough for conversion. Journal of an expedition up the Niger and Tshadda rivers, undertaken by Maegregor Laird in connection with the British Government in 1854. Cass library of African studies. However, this early wave had no success as local kings were more interested in obtaining guns rather than the tales of Christianity. Today, missionaries have brought Holistic Development Centers, education, and medical care into Nigeria with the purpose of spreading the Gospel. Today many countries, particularly in southern and central Africa, claim to be at least 80 percent Christian. While continuing to serve unreached peoples and places, they are also renewing efforts to disciple existing believers, empowering them to take the gospel to their own people and around the world. Accessed February 27, 2021. Basden's appointment seems remarkable. Missionaries today have brought education, medical care, and Holistic Development Centers into Nigeria. Webthe missionary propaganda that prepared the way for the governor, the explorer and the trader. Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican missionaries were all trying to convert the native African people, often coming into conflict with one another. Bebe Golf Ranch. The British colonized many nations including Nigeria in order to exploit native labor and natural recourses beginning in the 1700s (Reviews). Webvarious missionary bodies that have been operating in southern Nigeria since the nineteenth century and has highlighted the enormous contributions made by these missionary bodies towards the development and civilization of the area. _____. _____. WebThe missionary activities in Nigeria, especially their educational programs helped to whip-up the consciousness of a shared identity and helped to train a new set of elite that championed the course of nationalism and constituted a virile The Church Missionary Society established churches in several towns like Abeokuta, Lagos, Idaban, Oyo, and Benin. In the past six years alone, 105,039 people became believers and 890 churches were planted among unreached peoples in Sub-Saharan Africa. WebNiger mission: Bishop Crowthers report of the overland journey from Lokoja to Bida, on the River Niger : and thence to Lagos, on the sea coast, from November 10th, 1871 to February 8th, 1872. As a result, missionaries are re-forming partnerships with seminaries and working alongside African leaders to teach sound theology that filters down into churches. WebThe work of the missionaries in southern Nigeria was not easy sailing, for while a few Africans and their rulers patronized missionary enter-prise, others rejected missionary intrusion in any form. The spread of the gospel through foreign missionaries often occurred simultaneously with the spread of colonial rule by European nations. Library Catalog 1. Although some Africans who profess Christianity actually follow a mix of biblical teachings and animistic or neo-Pentecostal practices, there are also millions of faithful believers. Reverend Henry Townsend. 3. Conversion progressively became something imposed rather than suggested; the way Christianity was teached seemed very alien to them.
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