Bishop Patteson

This is a photograph of Anglican Bishop John Coleridge Patteson. A former student of Eton college in London, with a gift for languages, he came to New Zealand in 1855 and played an influential role in developing and managing the Anglican Melanesian mission at Kohimarama, Auckland.

Anglican Melanesian Mission

The Melanesians were to be trained as “scholars” and then sent back to teach Christianity to their own peoples. They came from Vanuatu, the Loyalty islands, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. The scholars were schooled in English, prayer book worship and the essentials of Christian faith (Garrett 1982:183).

Originally, they were based at a Melanesian school at St Johns College in Auckland and then later in new buildings established at Kohimarama (present day Mission Bay). Patteson established strong relationships with his Melanesian trainees and was noted for his kindness and gentle manner. He made regular winter trips to the islands to recruit new trainees. In 1858, Patteson spent four months living in Lifu, in the Loyalty Islands.

Under Patteson's direction, the Melanesians based at Kohimarama were involved in printing teaching texts and scriptural and liturgical translations in island languages. They also printed missionary reports in English (Ross 1983:24). The Melanesians were involved in cooking, dairy work and gardening and even made their own clothes. Sometimes girls and young women, most of them wives or intended wives were members of the Melanesian party(Ross 1983:33).

Inscription

The inscription on this photograph reads: "Bishop Patteson Murdered at Nukapu Santa Cruz Islands Sept. 20th 1871 and the Revd. Mr Atkins mortally wounded by poisoned arrows. Both bodies were buried at sea."

Reference

Ross R.M.1983 Melanesians at Mission Bay.A History of the Melanesian Mission in Auckland. New Zealand Historic Places Trust.