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Ogilvie, Frances
Full NameFrances Gordon Ogilvie
Date of Birth03 April 1895Date of Death03 May 1993Biography“It’s the set of sails, not the gales, that determine the way you go.” – 1947, to the graduates of Deaconess College in Dunedin, from Frances Ogilvie.
Frances Gordon Ogilvie (1895 -1993) had an impressive life, filled with unimaginable circumstances, touching the hearts of all those she encountered, and with as much spirit and passion as one could possibly imagine. Born in Adelaide on 3rd April 1895, Frances Ogilvie was the oldest of six children. Her family house was opposite the Anglican Church in Walkerville. It was here looking through the Church windows on a Sunday and seeing the candles flicker she felt something of the mystique of God.
Frances Ogilvie was relocated on many occasions. First in 1907, Ogilvie and her family when her position her father (Charles Ogilvie, 1864-1933) at the Union Bank of Australia was relocated to Tasmania. Once there, Ogilvie attended the Hobart Ladies’ College for five years, becoming a top scholar. Ogilvie was introduced to the Student Christian Movement, which has a purposeful impact on her years to come. In 1913, Frances Ogilvie began her studies at the University of Tasmania, engaging with English, French, German, Latin and Mathematics. Her father, Charles Ogilvie, was transferred yet again, and this time it was at the Union Bank branch in Christchurch. Ogilvie continued her studies, completing her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English. Further study took form in a Master’s degree in both English and French, but failed the latter. She took her next step and acquired skills in teaching at the Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru, teaching senior students. On the 1st September 1919, aged only 24, Ogilvie applied to the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church to serve as a missionary in China.
Ogilvie chose China because ‘the women of China need so much the experience of the life more abundant of which Christ speaks,’ and China was becoming such an important country that it was essential to win it for God ‘so in future years it may be a great power for good.’ Ogilvie was ordained by Dr. Robert Erwin at a service of dedication for mission work on 9th August 1920 at Knox Church, Christchurch with the simple yet difficult injunction – ‘Frances, keep close to Jesus!’
On the 19th August 1920 Ogilvie set sail to China, her final destination being the Canton Village mission (CVM) of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. After a month on board, Ogilvie reached Hong Kong. Ogilvie took some a few days to explore Cheung Chau Island with other missionaries, then wrote to Reverend Alexander Don that she was ‘feeling very fit and very ready to begin work.’ Reverend George McNeur and his wife Margaret was sent to Canton in late 1901 to establish the first New Zealand mission there, where McNeur became a founder of the Union Theological College in Canton. McNeur remarked to Ogilvie that ‘I believe this district is the hardest in the whole of the Empire.’
Ogilvie’s priority was to become the principal of the new girls’ boarding school. In order to obtain this role, Ogilvie had to navigate her way through 2 years of studying the Cantonese language. The classes were spoken entirely in Cantonese, with no English; three hours a day were spent as a class, and a further two hours were with a private tutor. It was expected that Ogilvie and her fellow peers were to learn 60 characters a week, with rigorous testing.
From 1922-93 Ogilvie was principal of the Tak Kei Girls’ boarding school at Kong Ch’uen, and later persuaded Miss Wong Sau Kan to take over the role. Ogilvie’s belief was that the Chinese should take control over their own affairs as soon as practical, and would allow Ogilvie time to focus on evangelistic work in village churches and homes, holding house meetings, teaching, taking prayers, organising discussion groups, what she described as ‘seed-sowing work.’ By 1925 the roll at Tak Kei had risen from 19 to 46 (most of them were boarders) and the syllabus had expanded too, with handicrafts and practical skills being taught.
On the 14th June 1925, Ogilvie made the decision to close the Tak Kei Girls’ boarding school, and all those were to retreat to Canton, due to the Civil War edging nearer. Kong Ch’uen was at a junction of a river and a railway strategically important to Canton and was the battlefield for numerous rival clans, warlords, mercenaries, roving bandits and contending Nationalist and Communist forces. This event drove Ogilvie to return to New Zealand on her first furlough and was not to return till 1926 until the political and civil situation improved.
With Miss Wong Sau Kan in charge of the school, Ogilvie was free to expand her evangelical beliefs into the rural areas. During this time of unrest in China, there was a lot of anti-Christian anti-foreigner propaganda circulating. This had a positive impact, as many Chinese became curious enough to purchase the Bible to see what all the unease was about. During 1926 the British Consul-General in Canton requested three times that the mission staff were to evacuate Kong Ch’uen for Hong Kong until it was safe to return. Mission schools of all denominations were finding it horrendously hard to get registered with the new central government at Nanking. The area of Kong Ch’uen, which was once possessed by the warlord Chan Chai Tong, was now controlled by the central government. With undisciplined soldiers roaming the area, and xenophobia heightened, it was recommended that foreign nationals leave, especially the British. Naturally, Ogilvie and her colleagues remained at the Tak kei Girls’ boarding school.
In 1931 Ogilvie commenced another furlough, then returned to Kong Ch’uen. At this stage, Kong Ch’uen had a troubled and tense atmosphere, was now overrun with bandits and American missionaries had been murdered. Keeping safe whilst travelling seemed nearly impossible. The Pearl River used to travel to Canton by boat, was mined and passengers constantly robbed by bandits, trains were commandeered by trops and soldiers, and had to be billeted free of charge whenever lodgings were requested. Missionaries took special precautions to avoid the sticky hands of robbers, but they too became victims.
In 1938, Ogilvie returned to China from her final furlough in New Zealand, after missing out seeing her father, Charles Ogilvie, one last time before he passed in 1933. Ogilvie was asked by the Chinese Church to be the leader of the Shung Kei Bible Training Institute in Canton, known as the ‘Bible School.’ This school was set up by the Kwangtung Synod of the Church of Christ in China to train young women as deaconesses. Ogilvie accepted, but months later the city became a victim to the Japanese.
Japan and China had been skirting around the possibilities of war since the Mukden incident of 1931. On the 7th July 1937, Northern China was overrun by the Japanese. Shanghai and northward of the Yangste River was in the hands of the Japanese. In December, Nanking fell leaving in its wake devastation due to the unthinkable acts performed by the Japanese. Hankow and Canton fell in October 1938, despite efforts from the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists under Mao Tse-tung to join forces and cooperate to build defence against a Japanese attack.
Kong Ch’uen was attacked a number of times, and the railway station, a mere hundred metres from the school, was the focal point for much of the bombing. The Shung Kei Bible School became a refugee centre, as the remaining pupils had already been relocated to Macau. All schools in the district closed their doors, apart from the Union Theological College and Ogilvie’s Shung Kei Bible School. Students and staff were offered the choice to retreat to Hong Kong, and approximately 18 men and women decided to remain at the school.
On 18th October 1938, refugees who were from the rural outskirts migrated into Canton, and plans were formulated to use the two big American Presbyterian high school buildings (the True Light Girls’ School and Pooi Ying Boys’ School); Ogilvie was to arrange accommodation. Within five days of opening, over 2700 women and children were occupying the space designed for no more than 300. Fortunately, as British, American and New Zealand missionaries were not from a country that was at war with Japan, they were still able to do work, and it allowed refugees to gain protection under foreign protection.
The camp was made to be disbanded, on Japanese demand. Ogilvie supported those students who wished to go home, and those who wished to continue their studies moved to Shatin in the New Territories, were the British still had control. These evacuees were the foundation of the new Church of China Shung Kei Bible Training Institute at Shatin. 12 Students enrolled by September 1940, all of them over 20 years old with experience in church or school work. Despite Ogilvie’s 1940-1941 report to the Foreign Missions Committee opening with gratitude regarding the opportunity to work ‘in the midst of a small student family and surrounded by the peace and beauty of the hills,’ there was hints of uncertainty and uneasiness; ‘…I have wakened to find..[the] sharp, quick sound of a machine-gun in the grounds as they carried out practice manoeuvres.’
Ogilvie was offered a free passage home to Australia, and a chance to re-establish the Shung Keu Bible School at Macau. Ogilvie declined both opportunities. On 8th December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, Malaya and Hong Kong. At 07:50am, while Ogilvie was conducting morning worship, a police officer knocked on the door and issued a notice ordering everyone to leave for Hong Kong as the British were now at war with Japan. The Japanese were preparing to storm though the Shatin Pass en route to Kowloon. It was Ogilvie’s job to organise the hostel helpers and students make the journey over the hills of Kowloon. Those who were not physically able, were collectively gifted a $100 note from Ogilvie to help, where it could. Air raids commenced, and bombs were dropped. Once the all-clear was sounded, Ogilvie shepherded her fellow students to the London Missionary Society house at 1 Knight Street. The next morning, Ogilvie demanded that her students be taken onboard to Wanchai, in which Ogilvie travelled with them, just to return to Kowloon. Ogilvie and her remaining three students presented themselves at the La Salle Emergency Hospital in Kowloon, and assisted where they could despite the bombs, looting, rioting, shortage of food, failure of electricity and the constant sounds of gun fire.
La Salle had little understanding of what was going on at the current time. The defending British and Indian troops were struggling to maintain control over Kowloon, and on the 12 December, the British and Indian troops were driven out, and the Japanese obtained complete control. Japan seemed to be preoccupied with Hong Kong than to worry about La Salle until Sunday 14th December. Within two days, over 1000 brutally wounded civilians and soldiers, with some unlikely to survive, in the hospital designed for 100. Other military hospitals were not spared as much grace as La Salle Hospital, and Ogilvie put this down to the hospital being Catholic. European staff believed that a factor to the La Salle Hospital being saved, was because they were treating Japanese soldiers that were injured as well as Europeans.
On Sunday 18th January 1942, Ogilvie and the others at La Salle were informed they would be transferred to the Stanley Civilian Internment Camp, established by the Japanese at Stanley Bay. On the 27th January 1942, the following Tuesday morning, Ogilvie and the La Salle staff were to have one last wash, pack their essential items and were ferried under armed escort to Stanley Camp. Ogilvie was to remain at Stanley Camp until September 1945. Ogilvie became quite unwell during her time at Stanley Camp, suffering from malnutrition and the beginnings of beri-beri. Her medicine was codliver oil and special bran and raisins from the canteen. In 1934 Ogilvie became ill again suffering from a gastric flu. This caused Ogilvie to refuse her rations, which benefited her hungry fellow inmates.
During this time at Stanley Camp, Ogilvie focused on the positives of a very unpleasant situation. She maintained excitement over events such as Christmas and birthdays and took classes in the camp school and Bible study groups. There were approximately 22 denominations at the Stanley Camp. The Catholics and Christian Scientists tended to worship amongst themselves, the rest worked in harmony, branding themselves ‘The United Churches.’
Food rations were scarce and as was fresh water, tea and electricity. The horrors that Ogilvie witnessed due to the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers stuck with her for many years. The Japanese surrendered on 14th August 1945, and Ogilvie spent time after her release at Stanley Camp to provide comfort for her Chinese Christian friends who suffered badly during the occupation of Hong Kong.
Ogilvie returned to the Shung Kei Bible Training Institute in Canton, and was delighted to find that so much work had been done since the surrender of the Japanese. Ogilvie was forever busy, teaching New Testament studies, English, psychology and Church history, and help run nine Sunday schools, supervise literary classes, conduct examinations and direct village missions. Ogilvie was also elected chairperson of the mission and as on the executive of the Kwangtung Synod. During this time, China was at war with itself. No longer was Mao Tes-tung and President Chiang Kai-shek able to put aside their differences, like they did in their attempts to stop the Japanese invasion. War was waging.
In 1950, the Chinese government made it clear that all missionaries were to leave china when their furloughs fell due. Leading up to that time, all missionaries were to oppose imperialism, feudalism and capitalism. In January 1951, Ogilvie applied for her exit permit and on Good Friday she left through the Hong Kong boarder. The field council of the Canton mission was finally closed 14th July at a meeting in Hong Kong, with the notion that the church had to stand on its own to feet or perish.
After another furlough in New Zealand, Ogilvie taught during 1952-1953 at the Chinese School is Suva, Fiji. Then moved to Hong Kong to teach at the Church of Christ in China. Ogilvie was reunited with many old colleagues and former students from Kong Ch’uen and Shung Kei and Shatin. Ogilvie stayed at the training centre until her retirement at the end 1959, aged 64.
In early 1960, Ogilvie returned home to New Zealand, and a special service at Knox Church was held in February to commemorate her 40 years of service as a missionary. Her work did not stop then, continuing to travel around New Zealand advocating the amalgamation of various church women’s groups into the Association of Presbyterian Women known today. Ogilvie also lent a hand at the Deaconesses College in Dunedin, for six months she spent time in the New Hebrides, in late 1964 she returned briefly to Fiji. In 1965 Ogilvie retired to Wellington. By October 1970 Ogilvie paid a visit to Hong Kong, and on return in 1971 took up her own flat in Karori. Ogilvie made history by being made the first woman elder in St. Andrew’s on The Terrace Church, and served until 1978.
As time progressed, Frances Ogilvie spent time with her family, often being called ‘Aunt Fran.’ She had no children of her on, but her pride and joy was her nieces and nephews. They remarked that she would always return home with exotic gifts, spending every shilling she had, was full of stories, and a ‘fresh way with words.’ Common phrases that Ogilvie used were ‘Cheerio!’, ‘a bit of mixi-maxi’ (when something was confusing), and ‘I’ll have to have a good thunk about that.”
Nearing the end of her life, Ogilvie’s sight and hearing deteriorated, and so did her memory. Unafraid of death, but hated the thought of lingering or being useless, Ogilvie would cover pages and pages of Chinese characters and the lord’s prayer to test her memory. After a bad fall where Ogilvie injured her arm, she was transferred to Woburn at Lower Hutt, where her youngest sister Noel was residing. Ogilvie was becoming frustrated with her dependence on others, saying ‘this is abominable!’
Ogilvie passed away during her sleep in the 3rd May 1993, in her 99th year. A service of thanksgiving and farewell was held at St. Andrews conducted by Reverend John Murray. Her coffin was carried to the hearse by six great-nephews and great-nieces, and laid to rest next to her mother, Edith Ogilvie (1871-1941).
References
Ogilvie, Gordon. Little Feet in a Big Room: Frances Ogilvie of China. Christchurch, New Zealand: Shoal Bay Press Limited, 1995.
Brameld, Katherine. ‘Diary of Events from December 9th 1941.’ A 46 page typescript of life under the Japanese at Kowloon and Stanley.
Date of Birth03 April 1895Date of Death03 May 1993Biography“It’s the set of sails, not the gales, that determine the way you go.” – 1947, to the graduates of Deaconess College in Dunedin, from Frances Ogilvie.Frances Gordon Ogilvie (1895 -1993) had an impressive life, filled with unimaginable circumstances, touching the hearts of all those she encountered, and with as much spirit and passion as one could possibly imagine. Born in Adelaide on 3rd April 1895, Frances Ogilvie was the oldest of six children. Her family house was opposite the Anglican Church in Walkerville. It was here looking through the Church windows on a Sunday and seeing the candles flicker she felt something of the mystique of God.
Frances Ogilvie was relocated on many occasions. First in 1907, Ogilvie and her family when her position her father (Charles Ogilvie, 1864-1933) at the Union Bank of Australia was relocated to Tasmania. Once there, Ogilvie attended the Hobart Ladies’ College for five years, becoming a top scholar. Ogilvie was introduced to the Student Christian Movement, which has a purposeful impact on her years to come. In 1913, Frances Ogilvie began her studies at the University of Tasmania, engaging with English, French, German, Latin and Mathematics. Her father, Charles Ogilvie, was transferred yet again, and this time it was at the Union Bank branch in Christchurch. Ogilvie continued her studies, completing her Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English. Further study took form in a Master’s degree in both English and French, but failed the latter. She took her next step and acquired skills in teaching at the Craighead Diocesan School in Timaru, teaching senior students. On the 1st September 1919, aged only 24, Ogilvie applied to the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church to serve as a missionary in China.
Ogilvie chose China because ‘the women of China need so much the experience of the life more abundant of which Christ speaks,’ and China was becoming such an important country that it was essential to win it for God ‘so in future years it may be a great power for good.’ Ogilvie was ordained by Dr. Robert Erwin at a service of dedication for mission work on 9th August 1920 at Knox Church, Christchurch with the simple yet difficult injunction – ‘Frances, keep close to Jesus!’
On the 19th August 1920 Ogilvie set sail to China, her final destination being the Canton Village mission (CVM) of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. After a month on board, Ogilvie reached Hong Kong. Ogilvie took some a few days to explore Cheung Chau Island with other missionaries, then wrote to Reverend Alexander Don that she was ‘feeling very fit and very ready to begin work.’ Reverend George McNeur and his wife Margaret was sent to Canton in late 1901 to establish the first New Zealand mission there, where McNeur became a founder of the Union Theological College in Canton. McNeur remarked to Ogilvie that ‘I believe this district is the hardest in the whole of the Empire.’
Ogilvie’s priority was to become the principal of the new girls’ boarding school. In order to obtain this role, Ogilvie had to navigate her way through 2 years of studying the Cantonese language. The classes were spoken entirely in Cantonese, with no English; three hours a day were spent as a class, and a further two hours were with a private tutor. It was expected that Ogilvie and her fellow peers were to learn 60 characters a week, with rigorous testing.
From 1922-93 Ogilvie was principal of the Tak Kei Girls’ boarding school at Kong Ch’uen, and later persuaded Miss Wong Sau Kan to take over the role. Ogilvie’s belief was that the Chinese should take control over their own affairs as soon as practical, and would allow Ogilvie time to focus on evangelistic work in village churches and homes, holding house meetings, teaching, taking prayers, organising discussion groups, what she described as ‘seed-sowing work.’ By 1925 the roll at Tak Kei had risen from 19 to 46 (most of them were boarders) and the syllabus had expanded too, with handicrafts and practical skills being taught.
On the 14th June 1925, Ogilvie made the decision to close the Tak Kei Girls’ boarding school, and all those were to retreat to Canton, due to the Civil War edging nearer. Kong Ch’uen was at a junction of a river and a railway strategically important to Canton and was the battlefield for numerous rival clans, warlords, mercenaries, roving bandits and contending Nationalist and Communist forces. This event drove Ogilvie to return to New Zealand on her first furlough and was not to return till 1926 until the political and civil situation improved.
With Miss Wong Sau Kan in charge of the school, Ogilvie was free to expand her evangelical beliefs into the rural areas. During this time of unrest in China, there was a lot of anti-Christian anti-foreigner propaganda circulating. This had a positive impact, as many Chinese became curious enough to purchase the Bible to see what all the unease was about. During 1926 the British Consul-General in Canton requested three times that the mission staff were to evacuate Kong Ch’uen for Hong Kong until it was safe to return. Mission schools of all denominations were finding it horrendously hard to get registered with the new central government at Nanking. The area of Kong Ch’uen, which was once possessed by the warlord Chan Chai Tong, was now controlled by the central government. With undisciplined soldiers roaming the area, and xenophobia heightened, it was recommended that foreign nationals leave, especially the British. Naturally, Ogilvie and her colleagues remained at the Tak kei Girls’ boarding school.
In 1931 Ogilvie commenced another furlough, then returned to Kong Ch’uen. At this stage, Kong Ch’uen had a troubled and tense atmosphere, was now overrun with bandits and American missionaries had been murdered. Keeping safe whilst travelling seemed nearly impossible. The Pearl River used to travel to Canton by boat, was mined and passengers constantly robbed by bandits, trains were commandeered by trops and soldiers, and had to be billeted free of charge whenever lodgings were requested. Missionaries took special precautions to avoid the sticky hands of robbers, but they too became victims.
In 1938, Ogilvie returned to China from her final furlough in New Zealand, after missing out seeing her father, Charles Ogilvie, one last time before he passed in 1933. Ogilvie was asked by the Chinese Church to be the leader of the Shung Kei Bible Training Institute in Canton, known as the ‘Bible School.’ This school was set up by the Kwangtung Synod of the Church of Christ in China to train young women as deaconesses. Ogilvie accepted, but months later the city became a victim to the Japanese.
Japan and China had been skirting around the possibilities of war since the Mukden incident of 1931. On the 7th July 1937, Northern China was overrun by the Japanese. Shanghai and northward of the Yangste River was in the hands of the Japanese. In December, Nanking fell leaving in its wake devastation due to the unthinkable acts performed by the Japanese. Hankow and Canton fell in October 1938, despite efforts from the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists under Mao Tse-tung to join forces and cooperate to build defence against a Japanese attack.
Kong Ch’uen was attacked a number of times, and the railway station, a mere hundred metres from the school, was the focal point for much of the bombing. The Shung Kei Bible School became a refugee centre, as the remaining pupils had already been relocated to Macau. All schools in the district closed their doors, apart from the Union Theological College and Ogilvie’s Shung Kei Bible School. Students and staff were offered the choice to retreat to Hong Kong, and approximately 18 men and women decided to remain at the school.
On 18th October 1938, refugees who were from the rural outskirts migrated into Canton, and plans were formulated to use the two big American Presbyterian high school buildings (the True Light Girls’ School and Pooi Ying Boys’ School); Ogilvie was to arrange accommodation. Within five days of opening, over 2700 women and children were occupying the space designed for no more than 300. Fortunately, as British, American and New Zealand missionaries were not from a country that was at war with Japan, they were still able to do work, and it allowed refugees to gain protection under foreign protection.
The camp was made to be disbanded, on Japanese demand. Ogilvie supported those students who wished to go home, and those who wished to continue their studies moved to Shatin in the New Territories, were the British still had control. These evacuees were the foundation of the new Church of China Shung Kei Bible Training Institute at Shatin. 12 Students enrolled by September 1940, all of them over 20 years old with experience in church or school work. Despite Ogilvie’s 1940-1941 report to the Foreign Missions Committee opening with gratitude regarding the opportunity to work ‘in the midst of a small student family and surrounded by the peace and beauty of the hills,’ there was hints of uncertainty and uneasiness; ‘…I have wakened to find..[the] sharp, quick sound of a machine-gun in the grounds as they carried out practice manoeuvres.’
Ogilvie was offered a free passage home to Australia, and a chance to re-establish the Shung Keu Bible School at Macau. Ogilvie declined both opportunities. On 8th December 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, Malaya and Hong Kong. At 07:50am, while Ogilvie was conducting morning worship, a police officer knocked on the door and issued a notice ordering everyone to leave for Hong Kong as the British were now at war with Japan. The Japanese were preparing to storm though the Shatin Pass en route to Kowloon. It was Ogilvie’s job to organise the hostel helpers and students make the journey over the hills of Kowloon. Those who were not physically able, were collectively gifted a $100 note from Ogilvie to help, where it could. Air raids commenced, and bombs were dropped. Once the all-clear was sounded, Ogilvie shepherded her fellow students to the London Missionary Society house at 1 Knight Street. The next morning, Ogilvie demanded that her students be taken onboard to Wanchai, in which Ogilvie travelled with them, just to return to Kowloon. Ogilvie and her remaining three students presented themselves at the La Salle Emergency Hospital in Kowloon, and assisted where they could despite the bombs, looting, rioting, shortage of food, failure of electricity and the constant sounds of gun fire.
La Salle had little understanding of what was going on at the current time. The defending British and Indian troops were struggling to maintain control over Kowloon, and on the 12 December, the British and Indian troops were driven out, and the Japanese obtained complete control. Japan seemed to be preoccupied with Hong Kong than to worry about La Salle until Sunday 14th December. Within two days, over 1000 brutally wounded civilians and soldiers, with some unlikely to survive, in the hospital designed for 100. Other military hospitals were not spared as much grace as La Salle Hospital, and Ogilvie put this down to the hospital being Catholic. European staff believed that a factor to the La Salle Hospital being saved, was because they were treating Japanese soldiers that were injured as well as Europeans.
On Sunday 18th January 1942, Ogilvie and the others at La Salle were informed they would be transferred to the Stanley Civilian Internment Camp, established by the Japanese at Stanley Bay. On the 27th January 1942, the following Tuesday morning, Ogilvie and the La Salle staff were to have one last wash, pack their essential items and were ferried under armed escort to Stanley Camp. Ogilvie was to remain at Stanley Camp until September 1945. Ogilvie became quite unwell during her time at Stanley Camp, suffering from malnutrition and the beginnings of beri-beri. Her medicine was codliver oil and special bran and raisins from the canteen. In 1934 Ogilvie became ill again suffering from a gastric flu. This caused Ogilvie to refuse her rations, which benefited her hungry fellow inmates.
During this time at Stanley Camp, Ogilvie focused on the positives of a very unpleasant situation. She maintained excitement over events such as Christmas and birthdays and took classes in the camp school and Bible study groups. There were approximately 22 denominations at the Stanley Camp. The Catholics and Christian Scientists tended to worship amongst themselves, the rest worked in harmony, branding themselves ‘The United Churches.’
Food rations were scarce and as was fresh water, tea and electricity. The horrors that Ogilvie witnessed due to the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers stuck with her for many years. The Japanese surrendered on 14th August 1945, and Ogilvie spent time after her release at Stanley Camp to provide comfort for her Chinese Christian friends who suffered badly during the occupation of Hong Kong.
Ogilvie returned to the Shung Kei Bible Training Institute in Canton, and was delighted to find that so much work had been done since the surrender of the Japanese. Ogilvie was forever busy, teaching New Testament studies, English, psychology and Church history, and help run nine Sunday schools, supervise literary classes, conduct examinations and direct village missions. Ogilvie was also elected chairperson of the mission and as on the executive of the Kwangtung Synod. During this time, China was at war with itself. No longer was Mao Tes-tung and President Chiang Kai-shek able to put aside their differences, like they did in their attempts to stop the Japanese invasion. War was waging.
In 1950, the Chinese government made it clear that all missionaries were to leave china when their furloughs fell due. Leading up to that time, all missionaries were to oppose imperialism, feudalism and capitalism. In January 1951, Ogilvie applied for her exit permit and on Good Friday she left through the Hong Kong boarder. The field council of the Canton mission was finally closed 14th July at a meeting in Hong Kong, with the notion that the church had to stand on its own to feet or perish.
After another furlough in New Zealand, Ogilvie taught during 1952-1953 at the Chinese School is Suva, Fiji. Then moved to Hong Kong to teach at the Church of Christ in China. Ogilvie was reunited with many old colleagues and former students from Kong Ch’uen and Shung Kei and Shatin. Ogilvie stayed at the training centre until her retirement at the end 1959, aged 64.
In early 1960, Ogilvie returned home to New Zealand, and a special service at Knox Church was held in February to commemorate her 40 years of service as a missionary. Her work did not stop then, continuing to travel around New Zealand advocating the amalgamation of various church women’s groups into the Association of Presbyterian Women known today. Ogilvie also lent a hand at the Deaconesses College in Dunedin, for six months she spent time in the New Hebrides, in late 1964 she returned briefly to Fiji. In 1965 Ogilvie retired to Wellington. By October 1970 Ogilvie paid a visit to Hong Kong, and on return in 1971 took up her own flat in Karori. Ogilvie made history by being made the first woman elder in St. Andrew’s on The Terrace Church, and served until 1978.
As time progressed, Frances Ogilvie spent time with her family, often being called ‘Aunt Fran.’ She had no children of her on, but her pride and joy was her nieces and nephews. They remarked that she would always return home with exotic gifts, spending every shilling she had, was full of stories, and a ‘fresh way with words.’ Common phrases that Ogilvie used were ‘Cheerio!’, ‘a bit of mixi-maxi’ (when something was confusing), and ‘I’ll have to have a good thunk about that.”
Nearing the end of her life, Ogilvie’s sight and hearing deteriorated, and so did her memory. Unafraid of death, but hated the thought of lingering or being useless, Ogilvie would cover pages and pages of Chinese characters and the lord’s prayer to test her memory. After a bad fall where Ogilvie injured her arm, she was transferred to Woburn at Lower Hutt, where her youngest sister Noel was residing. Ogilvie was becoming frustrated with her dependence on others, saying ‘this is abominable!’
Ogilvie passed away during her sleep in the 3rd May 1993, in her 99th year. A service of thanksgiving and farewell was held at St. Andrews conducted by Reverend John Murray. Her coffin was carried to the hearse by six great-nephews and great-nieces, and laid to rest next to her mother, Edith Ogilvie (1871-1941).
References
Ogilvie, Gordon. Little Feet in a Big Room: Frances Ogilvie of China. Christchurch, New Zealand: Shoal Bay Press Limited, 1995.
Brameld, Katherine. ‘Diary of Events from December 9th 1941.’ A 46 page typescript of life under the Japanese at Kowloon and Stanley.
!["Frances' first Amah," China](/img/placeholder.gif?1773707079 ""Frances' first Amah," China")
Ogilvie, Frances. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 03/04/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/112518
