William Williams (missionary)
| William Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born |
11 February 1859 Nanternis, Ceredigion, Wales |
| Died | 21 April 1892 (aged 33) Mawphlang, Meghalaya, India |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | BTh |
| Alma mater | Harley College |
| Occupation | Christian missionary |
| Known for |
Christianity in Meghalaya Christianity in Mizoram |
William Williams (11 February 1859 - 22 April 1892) was a Welsh Presbyterian missionary to Khasi Hills, northeast India, in the late 19th century. He was a son of a ship captain in Nanternis, a small village in Wales. Following his father's footstep he became a sailor for five years. Then he took a profession in carpentry for two years. After graduating in theology from East London Missionary Training Institute (now Cliff College) he became a pastor. Pursuing his ambition he became a missionary of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Foreign Mission to Khasi people in India from 1887 until his death. He is regarded as a pioneer missionary who paved the way for Christianity in Mizoram, now the most Christian-populated state in India. He visited the Mizo people, hitherto completely pagan tribals, in Aizawl (now the capital city of Mizoram) in March 1890, with determination to start evangelism. He died typhoid a year later.
The date of his arrival, 15 March, in Mizoram is adopted as "Missionary Day" by the Mizoram Presbyterian Church in its 89th General Assembly in 2012.
William Williams was born in Nanternis, a small village near New Quay, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Williams. His father was a ship captain. He was educated at Capel Neuadd, Calvinistic Chapel at Nanternis, till he was twelve years of age. The chapel was under the pastoral of Rev. William Lewis. At age twelve he followed his father's profession at sea to work as crew member. Once in the River Clyde a fierce gale buffeted their boat, which was completely wrecked. Out of fear and feeling of providence for narrow escape, he became devoted to religion. In 1876 he gave up life at sea and got an apprenticeship in carpentry. Finding time to read Bible, he became engrossed in theology. At age nineteen in 1878 he entered a preparatory Grammar School in New Quay, and then continued at Llandysul. At Llandysul he received scholarship for a term to enter University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. After completion of the term, he moved to London to join East London Missionary Training Institute (more popularly known as Harley College, and which became Cliff College). He graduated at age 27 in 1886.
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