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Canton Villages Mission
Collection
Collection DescriptionThe Rev Alexander Don, European Missionary to the New Zealand Chinese during the late 19th Century, noted that four out of every five NZ Chinese came from villages near Canton. He foresaw vast opportunities for Christian evangelism in South China, assisted by the relationship of trust built up with the NZ Chinese gold miners, many of whom would later return back home.
During 1896 to 1897, Rev Don returned to Canton with instructions from the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland "To arrange if feasible for placing a Missionary of our own in South China". Although foreigners were generally mistrusted here ( the words "Fan kwai", meaning literally "Foreign Devils" was frequently heard), Rev Don was on the whole well received due to his contact with family members working on the NZ gold fields.
Upon his return to NZ, and with his typical energy and enthusiasm, he travelled widely, giving public lectures (illustrated with a map and his own glass lantern slide images of South China), encouraging support for the foundation of the "Canton Villages Mission". He wrote the Mission motto which included his basic aim of evangelizing one Million Chinese souls (who were "depending on us for their evangelization").
During 1896 to 1897, Rev Don returned to Canton with instructions from the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland "To arrange if feasible for placing a Missionary of our own in South China". Although foreigners were generally mistrusted here ( the words "Fan kwai", meaning literally "Foreign Devils" was frequently heard), Rev Don was on the whole well received due to his contact with family members working on the NZ gold fields.
Upon his return to NZ, and with his typical energy and enthusiasm, he travelled widely, giving public lectures (illustrated with a map and his own glass lantern slide images of South China), encouraging support for the foundation of the "Canton Villages Mission". He wrote the Mission motto which included his basic aim of evangelizing one Million Chinese souls (who were "depending on us for their evangelization").
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Connections
CollectionMissions - China
Canton Villages Mission. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 28/04/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/117076
