William Threlfall: A study in missionary vocation by N. Allen Birtwhistle
William Threlfall: A study in missionary vocation by N. Allen Birtwhistle
Lancashire Fylde and South African Settlers in heroic Missionary adventure 1820
Hardcover
Publisher: Oliphants, 1966 First Edition.
Condition: Very Good+. This book is in an excellent condition. The DJ has only some very slight signs of wear and the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains perfect. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. The book is protected with a Cellophane cover.
Please note: This book was the property of the then SABC with 2 purple stamps dated 6 Oct 1966, identifying the book as such. For one or other reason (maybe political) the book was withdrawn from circulation most probably shortly afterwards in 1967 as the book, it's DJ and pages are in new Fine condition. 3 such small prints were stamped on the first three pages. This does not detract at all from the beauty and near fine condition of the book.
168 p.; 2 pl.; 22 cm. William Threlfall, b. 1799, missionary to South Africa, murdered in 1825.
William Threlfall was born in Hollowforth, Lancashire, on 6 June 1799, the son of Richard Threlfall, a tanner. Threlfall, when eighteen, believed he had been called by God to evangelise in Madagascar and sought thereafter to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, his desire did not meet the then needs of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society who persuaded him that his service was required in South Africa. Consequently, Threlfall was ordained on 25 October 1821 and departed for South Africa aboard the 'Sun' at the end of December 1821 (arriving at Cape Town on 4 April 1822). He joined William Shaw at Salem [Eastern Cape] in June 1822 and assisted him with his work amongst the British settlers. As his desire to preach in Madagascar was unlikely to be met in the near future [in fact the WMMS never succeeded in founding a mission to Madagascar] he requested to be allowed to preach amongst the indigenous population and he was sent to assist Barnabus Shaw at Lily Fountain in Khamies-berg [Lilifontein, Kamiesberg, Northern Cape Province]. However, not long after his arrival an opportunity arose to start a new mission at Delagoa Bay [Maputo Bay, Mozambique]. Shaw and Threlfall, despite the belief that an 'unhealthy' climate existed in the area, agreed that Threlfall should go and, without having obtained the formal permission of the WMMS in London, he reached his destination on 21 July 1823. The mission did not proceed well. Threlfall became ill in August (probably malaria) with his condition worsening when he contracted dysentery in October. Work became impossible and he deteriorated rapidly with one ship refusing to relocate him due to the severity of his condition. However, he secured passage on the 'Nereid' and finally left for Cape Town in April 1824.
By the end of 1824 Threlfall had returned to Lily Fountain and was recovering well. For some time there had been a desire, and even the odd attempt, to preach north of the Fish River in Namaqualand [Great Fish River, Namibia]. On Threlfall's recovery it was agreed that he would lead a party to assess whether a mission would be possible. Threlfall left in late June 1825 with Rev Jacob Links, an indigenous minister, and Johannes Jager, a local missionary assistant. On route they were discouraged from progressing further and found it increasingly difficult to procure a guide. However, at Warm Bath [Warmbad, Namibia] they acquired the assistance of Nauwghaap (alias Hans Jantje) as a guide. One or two days after leaving Warm Bath (around 10 August) they were joined by a group of local bushmen and whilst camping that evening, at the instigation of Nauwghaap, Threlfall and his two companions were murdered for their possessions. Nauwghaap, along with his conspirators, were tried and executed at Silver Fountain [Silverfontein, Cape Province] on 3 September 1827.
