Reluctant Mission

The Anglican Church in Papua New Guinea 1891-1942

by David Wetherell

University of Queensland Press, 1977, First edition
Black and white photographic plates
ISBN 0702214116
Hardcover, dustjacket

Condition: Very Good
Light edge and shelf wear with light rubbing and bumping to edges and corners. Dustjacket very good with light rubbing to edges and corners (see photographs)

“For fifty years before World War II, most Europeans along the 400 kilometres of coast in north-eastern Papua were Anglican missionaries.  Reluctant Mission is the compelling story of the meeting between the Papuan people and the Christian missionaries who came to convert them.
The Anglican church had always been lukewarm about setting up missions and the Australian branch of the church in the 1890s was no exception.  The 186 Europeans and 46 Melanesians who worked as missionaries in north-eastern Papua were never to overcome the inertia of the home church; they were “maintained” rather than actively supported, with little encouragement or enthusiasm.”