No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
From Church to Mission: An Examination of the Official Missionary Strategy of the Church Missionary Society on the Niger, 1887–93
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2016
Extract
Crowther’s consecration in 1864 did not produce a church on the Niger which was entirely independent of the CMS. It remained financially dependent. Nonetheless, though technically still a mission, it had a very great deal of independence and, in some respects, it seemed to symbolize the Venn ideal - a self-governing native church. That the events of the nineties in the Niger represented a major disenchantment with Henry Venn’s vision of an independent church under African administration cannot be questioned. The curtailment of Bishop Crowther’s powers, the appointment of European missionaries on the Niger, the public criticism and dismissal of African ministers, and the replacement of Crowther by a European all made the point eloquently.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1986
References
1 Church Missionary Society (MS, London, CMS and Birmingham, University of Birmingham). All MS references are to CMS archives unless otherwise specified.
2 Ayandele, E.A., Holy Johnson: Pioneer of African Nationalism, 1836-1917 (London 1970) p. 230;Google Scholar The Missionary Impact on Modern Nigeria, 1842-1914: A Political and Social Analysis (London 1966) p. 213; Ajayi, J.F.A., Christian Mis sions in Nigeria, 1841-1891: The Making of a New Elite (London 1965) pp. 263–4;Google Scholar Webster, J.B., The African Churches among the Yoruba, 1888-1922 (Oxford 1964) p. 8.Google Scholar
3 Tasie, G.O.M., ‘The Story of Samuel Ajayi Crowther and the CMS Niger Mission Crisis of the 1880s: A Re-Assessment’, Ghana Bulletin of Theology 4 (1974) pp. 47–60.Google Scholar
4 Porter, A., ‘Evangelical Enthusiasm, Missionary Motivation and West Africa in the Later Nineteenth Century: The Career of G.W. Brooke’, The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 6 (1977) pp. 23–46 Google Scholar and ‘Cambridge, Keswick and Late Nineteenth Century Attitudes to Africa’, The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History 5 (1976) pp. 5–34.Google Scholar Hudson Taylor was the founder of the China Inland Mission (hereafter CIM).
5 Ayandele, , Holy Johnson p. 227.Google Scholar
6 Eldridge, C.C., Victorian Imperialism (London 1978) p. 173.Google Scholar
7 G/C 1, vol 46, pp. 568-9, 5 April 1881, Committee of Correspondence Minutes (hereafter CCM).
8 G/AZ 1/4, no. 158, ‘Report of the Deputation Appointed by the Committee of the CMS to Confer with Bishop Crowther and Others …’, 1881, p. 2.
9 Ayandele, , Holy Johnson p. 157;Google Scholar Tasie, G.O.M., Christian Missionary Enterprise in the Niger Delta, 1864-1918 (Leiden 1978) p. 92.Google Scholar
10 Ajayi, , Christian Missions p. 247.Google Scholar
11 Lambeth Palace Archives (hereafter LPA), Benson Papers (hereafter BP) vol 166 fols 177-9 Memorandum of the Rev. J.A. Robinson, September 1890.
12 Ayandele, , Holy Johnson pp. 147–8, 156–7.Google Scholar
13 Loiello, J.P., ‘Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the Church Missionary Society and the Niger Mission, 1857–1891’ (University of London PhD) pp. 273, 299, 323.Google Scholar
14 G3/A3/L3, p. 35, 18 January 1887, Instructions, R. Lang and W. Gray.
15 Williams, C. P., ‘The Recruitment and Training of Overseas Missionaries in England between 1850 and 1900’ (University of Bristol MLitt 1976) pp. 182–3.Google Scholar
16 Ace 82 F 4/7, Pt. 2, pp. 42 and 182, 17 April 1889 and 5 March 1890, G.W. Brooke’s diary.
17 Register of Missionaries (Clerical, Lay and Female) and Native Clergy, 1804-1904 (private circulation nd) no. 1044.
18 Ace 82, F 4/7, Pt. 2, p. 52, 23 April 1889, Brooke’s diary.
19 G3/A3/L3, p. 61, 20 July 1887, Lang and Gray to Robinson and p. 76, 5 August 1887, Lang to Robinson.
20 Williams, , ‘Recruitment and Training’, p. 176;Google Scholar Stock, E., History of the Church Missionary Society 3 vols (London 1899) 3 pp. 356, 361, 433;Google Scholar Porter, , ‘Evangelical Enthusiasm’ p. 28.Google Scholar
21 Wesley an Methodist Missionary Society, The Missionary Controversy: Discussion, Evidence and Report (London 1890).
22 Taylor, Isaac, ‘The Great Missionary Failure’ Fortnightly Review 44 (1888) pp. 488—500.Google Scholar
23 G3/A3/1887/68, 26 May 1887, Robinson to Lang.
24 G/Y/A3/I/IJ, 7 May 1888, Robinson to Lang.
25 G3/A3/1888/108, 17 October 1888, Robinson to Lang.
26 G3/A3/L3, p. 142, 27 July 1888, Lang to Robinson.
27 Porter, , ‘Evangelical Enthusiasm’ pp. 34–5.Google Scholar
28 G/C t, vol 53, pp. 269-71, 8 January 1889, CCM.
29 G3/A3/1888/115, 17 December 1888, Brooke to Lang.
30 Stock, , History 3 pp. 361, 433.Google Scholar
31 G/AC 4/7/13603, 31 May 1891, R.N. Cust to F.E. Wigram.
32 Stock, E., My Recollections (London 1909) pp. 200–3.Google Scholar
33 Ibid. p. 162.
34 Acc 82 F 4/7, Pt. 2 p. 148, 10 October 1889, Brooke’s diary.
35 Stock, , Recollections pp. 161–2.Google Scholar
36 Stock, , History 3 pp. 260–1.Google Scholar
37 G/AC 2/32, pp. 7-10, 2 November 1889, Wigram to H. Moule.
38 Stock, , Recollections pp. 142, 143–4, 203, 250–1.Google Scholar
39 Porter, , ‘Evangelical Enthusiasm’ p. 34.Google Scholar
40 G3/A3/L3, p. 192, 22 March 1889, Lang to Robinson.
41 Williams, , ‘Recruitment and Training’ p. 279.Google Scholar
42 Lang to Robinson, 22 March 1889, loc. cit.
43 G/AC 2/38, p. 289, 30 November 1891, Wigram to S. Gedge.
44 Stock, , History 3 p. 363.Google Scholar
45 G3/A3/L3, pp. 181-183, 15 February 1889, Lang to Archdeacon Crowther and pp. 190-1, 21 March 1889, Lang to G.F. Packer.
46 G/Y/A3/1/1A/16, 20 June 1889, Robinson Memorandum; G/Y/A3/1/1/J, 20 June 1889, Robinson to Lang; G3/A3/1889/86, 9 July 1889, Robinson to Lang.
47 G3/A3/P3/1889, 12 August 1889, General Committee Minutes (hereafter GCM).
48 G3/A3/L3, p. 225a, 10 January 1890, Lang and Wigram to native clergy and lay agents.
49 G/C 1, vol 54 pp. 224-33, 9 December 1889, GCM.
50 Williams, , ‘Recruitment and Training’ pp. 8–9.Google Scholar
51 G3/A3/1889/n8, 16 July 1889, Brooke to Lang.
52 Stock, , History 3 p. 364.Google Scholar
53 Williams, ‘Recruitment and Training’, tables 1A-E. Thirty-five graduates became missionaries in 1890, 24 from Cambridge (CMS, Register).
54 Stock, , History 3 p. 433.Google Scholar
55 G3/A3/1889/166, 9 December 1889, Bishop Crowther’s Observations.
56 G3/A3/L3, pp. 245-7, 21 January 1890, Lang and Wigram’s instructions to Brooke and pp. 229-33, 13 January 1890, instructions to Robinson.
57 G3/A3/1889/86, 9 July 1889, Robinson to Lang.
58 G3/A3/1890/93, 5 June 1890, Brooke to General Touch.
59 Ibid. /124, 6 August 1890, Brooke to Lang and /122, 5 August, Robinson to Lang.
60 Ibid. /165, 18-28 August 1890, Minutes of Finance Committee.
61 Ibid. /122, 5 August 1890, Robinson to Lang.
62 LPA, BP, vol 166, fols 102, 184, September 1890, Robinson’s Memorandum. His references were to controversial events in CMS’s recent history, Stock, , History 3 pp. 203–16, 333–9, 343–8.Google Scholar
63 G3/A3/L3, p. 316, 18 October 1890, Lang to Robinson.
64 G3/A3/L3, pp. 323-4, 22 October 1890, Wigram to Brooke.
65 Ibid. pp. 321-2, 22 October 1890, Wigram to Bishop Crowther.
66 G/Y/A3/1/1J, 21 November 1890, ‘Rough Notes’ of Niger Sub-Committee.
67 Stock, , History 3 pp. 669–71.Google Scholar
68 Webster, , African Churches pp. 27–8, 31.Google Scholar
69 G3/A3/L3, pp. 316-8, 18 October 1890, Lang to Robinson.
70 Ibid. pp. 348-50, 18 November 1890, Lang and Gray to Dobinson.
71 Ibid. pp. 336-7, 7 November 1890, Lang to Dobinson.
72 Ibid. pp. 319-20, 24 October 1890.
73 G3/A3/1890/214, received December 1890, F.N. Eden Memorandum.
74 G/Y/A3/1/1A/32, 22 January 1891, Eden to Wigram.
75 G3/A3/1891/169, 28 May 1891, Brooke to Lang.
76 Ibid. /208, 17 July 1891, Brooke to Lang.
77 Ibid. and Eden to Wigram, loc. cit.; Stock, , History 3 p. 393.Google Scholar
78 Acc 82 F 4/7, Pt. 2 pp. 147-8, 10 October 1889, Brooke’s diary.
79 G/AC 4/7/13603, 31 May 1891, Cust to Wigram.
80 G/AC 4/7/1257, 29 December 1890, Lang to Wigram.
81 G3/CS 1, pp. 49-50, 8 December 1890, Minutes of the Special Niger Sub-Committee. Stock’s name has been crossed through in the minute book but his general stance makes it probable that this was a decision about the detail of the minutes rather than their accuracy. No other name was substituted.
82 G3/A3/1891/208, 17 July 1891, Brooke to Lang; for Whiting’s considerable role see G3/CS 1, pp. 43-4, 5 December 1890, Special Niger Sub-Committee Minutes.
83 G/Y/A3/1/1A/32, 22 January 1891, Eden to Wigram.
84 G3/A3/L3, pp. 336-7, 7 November 1890, Lang to Dobinson.
85 Cust, , ‘The Committee of the Church Missionary Society: A Retrospect’, Church Missionary Intelligencer (hereafter CMI) ns 25 (1900) p. 733.Google Scholar
86 G/C 1, vol 55 pp. 208-13, 20 January 1891, Special GCM.
87 Ayandele, , Missionary Impact p. 220.Google Scholar
88 G3/A3/1891/208, 17 July 1891, Brooke to Lang.
89 Ibid. /31, 24 January 1891, Brooke to Lang.
90 Ibid. /169, 28 May 1S91, Brooke to Lang.
91 G/Y/A3/1/1A/32, 22 January 1891, Eden to Wigram.
92 G3/A3/1891/112, 27 March 1891, Robinson to Lang and /122, 8 April 1891.
93 G3/A3/1891/142, 23 April 1891, H.H. Dobinson to Lang. Webster, Cf., African Churches, p. 17 Google Scholar for his later position.
94 G3/A3/1891/175, June 1891, Joint Letter from the Niger Missionaries.
95 Ayandele, , Holy Johnson cap. 9.Google Scholar
96 G3/A3/L3, p. 419, 20 February 1891, B. Baring-Gould to Bishop Crowther. From the letter-books it appears that Wigram returned in May and Lang in the autumn.
97 G3/A3/1891/41, 21 January 1891, J. Milner to Cust.
98 Baring-Gould to Crowther, 20 February 1891, loc. cit. pp. 417-9.
99 G3/A3/1891/131, 8 May 1891, Crowther to CMS.
100 G3/A3/P3/1891, 15 July 1891, Group 3 Sub-Committee.
101 G/C 1, vol 55 pp. 586-7, 21 July 1891, CCM.
102 G/AC 4/8/1410, 25 July 1891, Whiting to Wigram.
103 G3/A3/L3, pp. 485-9, 31 July 1891, secretaries to the European missionaries of the Lower and Upper Niger.
104 G3/A3/1891/233A, 1 October 1891, Preface to the joint letter.
105 G/Y/A3/1/1A/37, 13 October 1891, C.F. Harford-Battersby to the General Committee.
106 G3/A3/1891/263, 17 September 1891, Brooke to secretaries.
107 G/AC 2/38, pp. 287-90, 30 November 1891, Wigram to Gedge.
108 G/C 1, vol 55 pp. 668-70, 13 Oct. 1891, GCM.
109 G3/CS 1, p. 83 23 October 1891, Special Conference on the Niger Mission.
110 Wigram to Gedge, loc. cit.
111 Ayandele, , Holy Johnson p. 241.Google Scholar
112 G3/A3/P3/1891, 4 November 1891, Statement and letter from Wigram and C.C. Fenn to the West African Christians connected with the Church Missionary Society.
113 G3/A3/1891/269, 10 November 1891, Harford-Battersby to Lang.
114 Whiting was obliged to resign from the Group Sub-Committee (G/AC 4/8/1406, 23 July 1891 Whiting to Wigram). Cust agreed not to speak on Niger matters (ibid. /1439a, 28 September 1891, Cust to Wigram).
115 G/AC 2/36 p. 987, 10 July 1891, Wigram to Whiting and p. 949, 9 July 1891, Wigram to Cust.
116 G3/A3/1892/81, 21 January 1892, Brooke to Lang and /237, 6 December 1892, E. Lewis to CMS.
117 G3/A3/L3, p. 501, 17 November 1891, Instructions to Archdeacon J. Hamilton and Rev. W. Allan.
118 LPA, BP vol 165 fols 49-50, 24 May.1892, Cust to Archbishop Benson. This resignation was from the Committee of Correspondence. G/AC 4/8/15723, 8 February 1892, Lang to Wigram.
119 CMI ns 17 (1892) pp. 546-8 and G3/A3/L4, p. 66, 26 February 1892, Lang to Hamilton for Lang’s mind on the matter.
120 G/AC 4/8/1522, 11 January 1892, Whiting to Lang.
121 LPA, BP vol 165 fols 85-90, 8 June 1892, Whiting to Benson and fols 102-3, 28 June 1892, Cust to Benson.
122 Ibid, fols 79-84, 3 June 1892, Wigram to Benson.
123 G/AC 4/8/1514, 7 January 1892, J.S.Hill to Wigram. Crowther died in Dec. 1891, Stock, , History 3 p. 396.Google Scholar
124 LPA, BP vol 165 fols 417-8, 25 June 1893, Cust to Benson; Hair, P.E.H., ‘Archdeacon Crowther and the Delta Pastorate, 1892-9’ Sierra Leone Bulletin of Religion 5 (1963) p. 23.Google Scholar
125 Faulkner, R.E., Joseph Sidney Hill: First Bishop of Western Equatorial Africa (London 1895) p. 116.Google Scholar
126 LPA, BP vol 165 fols 244-265, 20 December 1892, Hill’s Memorandum to Benson.
127 G3/A3/1892/224, 30 September 1892, Hill to Harford-Battersby.
128 Ibid. 71893/41, 31 January 1893, Hill to F. Baylis.
129 Ibid. /1892/237, received 6 December 1892, Lewis to CMS. Brooke died in March 1892, Stock, , History 3 p. 394.Google Scholar
130 G3/A3/L4, pp. 167-171, 6 December 1892, CCM.
131 Ibid. pp. 198, 24 February 1893, Baylis to Hill.
132 CMI ns 19 (1894) p. 146.
133 Ayandele, , Holy Johnson pp. 32, 79, 331-2.Google Scholar