Abstract:

The British Missionary movement, which began in earnest in the early 19th century, was one of the most extraordinary movements of the last two centuries, radically transforming the lives of people in large parts of the globe, including in Europe itself.

By exploring a range of artefacts, photographs and archival documents that have survived, or emerged from, these transformations, this volume sheds an oblique light on the histories of British Missionaries in Africa and the Pacific, and the ways in which their work is remembered in different parts of the world today.

Short contributions describing the histories of particular items, accompanied by rich visual imagery, showcase the extraordinary items that were caught up in histories of conversion, and are still controversial for many today. By focusing on the varied forms of missionary heritage, this volume aims to question the often used categories of trophies, relics or curios, and highlight the complexity involved in the missionary encounter.

This volume is the result of a research networking project bringing together specialists of missionary collections, i.e. artefacts, photographs or archival documents. These specialists are academics of various disciplines, museum curators and indigenous stakeholders who aim to show to a wide audience what missionary heritage constitutes and how varied it is. The heritage in focus is based in museums, archives, churches and archaeological sites in Britain, the Pacific and Africa.

With contributions by Ben Burt of the British Museum, Sagale Buadromo of the Fiji Museum, Ghanaian artist, art historian and curator Atta Kwami, Jack Thompson of the University of Edinburgh, Steven Hooper of the Sainsbury Research Unit, Joshua Bell of the Smithsonian Institute, Samoan artist Greg Semu and many more.

Contents

Introduction
Karen Jacobs and Chris Wingfield

Part One – Trophies?

Giraffe, South Africa
Chris Wingfield

The Family Idols of Pomare, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Maia Nuku

Female Statuette, Tonga
Andrew Mills

Illustration of an Exhibition and Sale at the Wesleyan Centenary
Hall, United Kingdom
Steven Hooper

“Livingstone’s Loom”, Malawi
Sarah Worden

Bird Specimen, Papua New Guinea
Joshua A. Bell

Slit drum, Vanuatu
Chantal Knowles

Sorcerer’s kit, Papua New Guinea
Tabitha Cadbury

Brass Necklet, Uganda
Rachel Hand

A Bird of the Net, Solomon Islands
Ben Burt

Interview
François Wadra and Julie Adams

Part Two – Relics?

David Livingstone’s Magic Lantern, United Kingdom
T. Jack Thompson

Wood image, Fiji
Steven Hooper

Thomas Baker’s Shoes, Fiji
Sagale Buadromo and Katrina Talei Igglesden

Bishop Patteson relics, Solomon Islands
Ben Wate

Mask, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Jill Hasell

“African Church”, Botswana
Paul Lane

Ship’s bell, United Kingdom
Chris Wingfield

A green dress, Vanuatu
Carol E. Mayer

Interview
Greg Semu and Jacqueline Charles-Rault

Part Three – Curios?

Moffat’s model house, South Africa
Catherine Elliott Weinberg

Wooden doll, Fiji
Karen Jacobs

Drum, Torres Strait, Australia
Anita Herle

Chess Piece, Botswana
Ceri Ashley

Communion Tokens, Vanuatu
Eve Haddow

Photograph, Democratic Republic of Congo
Jocelyne Dudding

“Bowl”, Solomon Islands
Nick Stanley

Parade knife, Democratic Republic of Congo
Johanna Zetterstrom-Sharp

Interview
Atta Kwami and Chris Wingfield