Faithful Friday: John Coleridge Patteson

By Sarah Levesque (G)

John Coleridge Patteson was born in Feniton, East Devon, England, on April 1st, 1827. After attending Ottery St Mary, Eton College, and Balliol College, Oxford University, Patteson was ordained an Anglican priest on September 24, 1854. He traveled Europe, learning many languages, then, inspired by George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand, became a missionary to the people of Melanesia – a group of small island countries north of Australia. In 1861, Patteson became the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Melanesia. As bishop, he spent much of his time sailing between islands, learning 23 dialects, setting up schools, and working to end slavery. He continued this work for ten years. Unfortunately, on September 20, 1871, his life was cut short as he was killed by natives of his adopted land, who may have believed erroneously that he was a slave trader. His death was not without effect; it spurred the British Government to stamp out slavery in their ocean territories. The Melanesia Mission continues to this day.

May we, like Bishop Patteson, be willing to follow God’s will, whether He calls us to hard toil, to other lands, or to die in His Name.

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