| Order number: |
MMS/Special Series/Biographical/India/FBN 21 (fiche 930-931)
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| Summary: |
Small volume entitled 'Notes on our Expedition to the Godavery 1862' probably written by Rev Ebenezer Jenkins, detailing a trip he made with the Rev George Fryar along the Godavari River to assess whether a mission could be established. Records preparations, journey (including people and places encountered) and then time spent along the Godavari River. The latter includes comments on inhabitants, settlements, climate, river network, transport, industry, livestock, flora and fauna, religious beliefs and ceremonies, customs, potential missionary endeavours, trade and leisure.
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| Main author: |
Jenkins; Ebenezer E (1820-1905); ordained and educational missionary, mission administrator |
| Extent: |
1 volume
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| Note: |
In the original handlist this item had been mistakenly attributed to the Rev George Sawday.
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| Admin history: |
Ebenezer Evans Jenkins was born in Exeter in 1820 to John and Mary Jenkins who were Welsh Methodists. He attended Mount Radford School in Exeter but moved to Torquay, Devon, in his teens and became an assistant master in a day school run by William Pengelly. He was accepted for the ministry in 1845 and ordained at Great Queen Street Chapel, London, on 31 October. He was asked to serve in India and appointed to the Madras District, travelling to India via Colombo in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Upon arrival in Colombo (March 1846), and to his disappointment, he was informed that he would serve at Manargoody [Mannargudi] instead of the original intention for him to serve English colonists in Madras [Chennai] itself. He worked there and at Negapatam [Nagapattinam], whilst gradually learning Tamil, for nearly 3 years until he relocated to Madras [Chennai] where he served until 1863 (excluding furloughs).
In Madras [Chennai] he encouraged greater evangelical work amongst the lower castes as well as promoting educational work, including the founding of Royapettah College and the Wesleyan Mission High School (which was also known as the Jenkins High School). In his work he was assisted by his wife, Eliza Drewett, whom he married in 1850. By 1857 he had become Chairman of the Madras District and his reputation was further increased upon publication of some of his sermons in 1860. In 1862, along with the Rev George Fryar, he investigated the possibility of establishing a mission along a 200 mile stretch of the Godavari River between Rajahmundry and Sironcha. Despite his recommendations it took 15 years before a mission was established at Sironcha. By 1863 both his and his wife's health were poor so they left India arriving back in England (after a period of recuperation in Melbourne, Australia) in 1865.
Upon his return to England he served in London (Hackney & Brixton) with his wife unfortunately dying on 27 April 1869. In 1870 he relocated to Southport in Cheshire where he married on 19 October 1871 Margaret Heald Wood. In 1872 he returned to London but this time to Highbury. Throughout this period of work in home districts Jenkins maintained an active interest in missionary matters and regularly promoted mission work. In 1875 he was asked to undertake a mission to Ceylon [Sri Lanka], India and China and published a report on the Madras District where he encouraged further expansion of education (particularly for women and girls), the creation of a theological institution and a stronger Indian ministry. In 1876 he spent a year in Westminster before accepting the post of general secretary to the WMMS. As a missionary secretary he undertook visitations including a 'mission to the East' visiting India, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and China in 1884 & 1885 and encouraging the development of education, better housing for ministers and better financial accounting. In 1880 he served as President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, he became an honorary missionary secretary in 1888 and ardently defended missionaries during the education controversy of 1890. He died at Southport, Cheshire, on 19 July 1905.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol I, 1921 & vol V, 1924);
Jenkins, E E, Report of a visit of inspection to the Madras District, in the beginning of the year 1876;
Jenkins, E E, Report of a mission to the east (1886);
Jenkins, J, H, Ebenezer E. Jenkins: a memoir (?1906). |
Ebenezer Evans Jenkins was born in Exeter in 1820 to John and Mary Jenkins who were Welsh Methodists. He attended Mount Radford School in Exeter but moved to Torquay, Devon, in his teens and became an assistant master in a day school run by William Pengelly. He was accepted for the ministry in 1845 and ordained at Great Queen Street Chapel, London, on 31 October. He was asked to serve in India and appointed to the Madras District, travelling to India via Colombo in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Upon arrival in Colombo (March 1846), and to his disappointm ... View more |
| Access status: |
Open
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| Access conditions: |
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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| Copyright: |
Copyright probably held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes |
| User restrictions: |
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance |
| Language: |
English
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| Related material: |
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Ebenezer Jenkins (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 22-23). Further information on Jenkins' work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
A copy of Jenkins' obituary (including an image of him) from 'The Methodist Recorder' is available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 6, item 65). A similar obituary appears in the 'The Harvest Field' (August 1905).
An image of Jenkins can be found within MMS Box 1203. |
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Ebenezer Jenkins (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 22-23). Further information on Jenkins' work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
A copy of Jenkins' obituary (including an image of him) from 'The Methodist Recorder' is available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 6, item 65). A similar obituary appears in the ' ... View more |
| Format: |
Archive
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