In today's world, Melanesian Mission has become a topic of great interest and relevance in various areas of society. From the scientific to the political sphere, Melanesian Mission has captured the attention of researchers, academics, leaders and citizens in general, generating intense debate and analysis around its implications and repercussions. In this article, we will explore in detail the different facets and perspectives of Melanesian Mission, examining its impact today and possible projections for the future. From its origin to its evolution, including its effects on the present, we will delve into a complete and exhaustive analysis of Melanesian Mission, addressing its positive, negative and controversial aspects.
The Melanesian Mission is an Anglican missionary agency supporting the work of local Anglican churches in Melanesia. It was founded in 1849 by George Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand.
Bishop Selwyn's see was focused on New Zealand. In December 1847 he began a series of voyages to the Pacific Islands, which were included in his diocese by a clerical error in his letters patent. His see should have been defined as lying between 34th and 50th degrees of south latitude. The clerk drafted the boundaries as lying between 34th degrees of north latitude and 50th degrees of south latitude, which include islands to the north of New Zealand. At the time of his appointment, Selwyn was aware of this clerical error, but he chose not to point out the error.
His letters and journals of these journeys through Melanesia present the reader with a vivid picture of his versatility, courage, and energy. In 1849 he formed the Melanesian Mission to work in the Western Pacific.
The Undine, a small 21-ton schooner, serviced the mission from 1849 to 1857. In 1854, Selwyn commissioned the construction of a 100-ton schooner, the Southern Cross to service the mission and enlisted John Coleridge Patteson to lead the mission. His voyages and the administrative work resulted in 1861 in the consecration of Patteson as the first Bishop of Melanesia.
In 1867, the Mission established St Barnabas College on Norfolk Island, as a church and training centre for missionaries. The Melanesian Mission established an administrative centre on Mota island in the Banks Islands (now part of Vanuatu) and the Mota language became the lingua franca of the mission.
The missionaries included:
Today it continues to provide financial and staffing support for the Anglican Church of Melanesia, an independent province of the Anglican Communion. Its headquarters are in Feniton, Devon.