Scottish missionaries of the 19th century enjoyed considerable status at home, as evidenced by the commemoration of Alexander Duff through the building of this once fine church.
The nation took great pride in the many men and women who left the home shores to go out and preach ‘the Word’ all over the globe.
Part of the explanation as to why the Scots should be so pre-occupied with spreading the Word overseas can be found in the competition that existed between the three Presbyterian churches which followed the Disruption of 1843 – a schism within the established Church of Scotland in which 450 evangelical ministers of the Church broke away over the issue of the Church’s relationship with the State to form the Free Church of Scotland. Also, overseas conversions were able to be presented as more glamorous than endeavours at home.
The cult of David Livingstone was very important in fuelling Scottish missionary endeavour. He was seen to embody the very characteristics which most Scots could identify with – he was from a humble background, but through diligent and hard work educated himself and went on to become famous for his exploration of Africa.
The churches paid particular attention to the efforts of missionaries and accounts of their sterling efforts were given out regularly in journals and popularised in children’s books which were often used as Sunday School prizes.
The work of missionaries was brought home to Scots by means of the Magic Lantern Show. Audiences in church hall throughout the land were treated to images of the strange and the exotic and this novelty appeal was important in raising funds.
Literature produced by and about missionaries emphasised the importance of their ‘civilising’ work and provided and moral imperative for British Imperial Expansion.
Source: Oxford Companion to British History, edited by Michael Lynch
