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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: gramsie on Thursday 16 April 09 10:46 BST (UK)

Title: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: gramsie on Thursday 16 April 09 10:46 BST (UK)
I have a couple (Rev Arthur and Mrs Audrey Allen) who sailed to Matadi, Congo (Zaire) from England on 1/9/1920 as missionaries.
I don't know how to find out any more about them from this point, can anyone assist please?

Thank you
Title: Re: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: lizdb on Thursday 16 April 09 11:22 BST (UK)
Do you know which Missionary Society they went with? If so, it would be worth contacting them to see if any records survive.

I know the Baptist Missionary Society goes/went to Zaire, but there are probably others . Africa Inland Mission for example.
Googling should find contact addresses for them.
Title: Re: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: gramsie on Friday 17 April 09 21:06 BST (UK)
Thank you for your reply
No, unfortunately I don't know which missionary society they went with - the page of the passenger list that I have has 7 other misiionaries with them (there are 2 more pages that I haven't purchased, so there could be more) but unfortunately it doesn't give the denomination or society.

I'll try googling again
Title: Re: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: Keziahemm on Friday 17 April 09 21:38 BST (UK)
I had an ancestor who was a missionary in the Congo 1881-1893.  He was with The Regions Beyond Missionary Union founded by Henry Grattan Guinness. 

http://www.worldteam.org/content.asp?id=84

The archives are held by Edinburgh University http://www.mundus.ac.uk/cats/3/42.htm

Copies of the yearly journals are also at The British Library.

Susan  :)
Title: Re: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: gramsie on Sunday 19 April 09 08:34 BST (UK)
thank you for your reply
Title: Re: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: ShaunJ on Tuesday 21 April 09 14:13 BST (UK)
One of the other British missionaries on that voyage was Clement Chesterman - later Sir Clement. He was a member of the Baptist Missionary Society. His obituary in The Times (July 23 1983) confirms that he travelled to the Belgian Congo with his wife in 1920 - to Yakusu.
Title: Re: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: lizdb on Tuesday 21 April 09 18:06 BST (UK)
Here is the website for BMS (Baptist Missionary Society) - found as I suggested, by googling!

http://www.bmsworldmission.org/index.aspx?id=1

There is a contact us button - so Go For It! they could well have some archives of interest - and if you dont ask ....
Title: Re: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: gramsie on Tuesday 21 April 09 22:41 BST (UK)
Quote from: ShaunJ on Tuesday 21 April 09 14:13 BST (UK)
One of the other British missionaries on that voyage was Clement Chesterman - later Sir Clement. He was a member of the Baptist Missionary Society. His obituary in The Times (July 23 1983) confirms that he travelled to the Belgian Congo with his wife in 1920 - to Yakusu.

Thank you - I presume that would suggest that the other missionaries on the ship were probably also from the BMS, so will see if they are able to assist - thanks for the link, lizdb
Title: Re: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: gramsie on Saturday 25 April 09 07:56 BST (UK)
Wow! The BMS responded exceeding quickly with some very useful details, thank you for your help in pointing me in the right direction.
I have been sent their obituaries - Arthur Allen first sailed for the Congo in 1910 and was a missionary for 38 years. Audrey went with him in 1914, after their marriage.
Title: Re: Congo/Zaire: missionaries to Zaire 1920
Post by: lizdb on Saturday 25 April 09 16:16 BST (UK)
Brilliant.

Just goes to show - worth asking!