David Griffiths (missionary)
Encyclopedia
David Griffiths was a British Christian missionary
and translator in Madagascar
. He translated the Bible
and other books into the Malagasy language
. The Malagasy Bible of 1835 was among the first Bibles to be printed in an African language.
, in south Wales. He was the son of William Griffith David and his wife Elizabeth. He became a member of the neighbouring Congregational church at Gwynfe in 1810, and soon after began to preach. He conducted a school of his own at Cwmaman in 1811-12; entered the college at Neuaddlwyd 1812, that at Wrexham 1814, and in 1817 or early in 1818 left Llanfyllin, whence the Wrexham College had been meanwhile removed, for the missionary college at Gosport
.
He married Mary Griffiths in May 1820, and in June received the appointment of missionary to Madagascar, as colleague of the Rev. David Jones
, who had gone out two years before. On 27 July he was ordained at Gwynfe, and on 25 October sailed with his wife from London
, reaching Mauritius
on 23 January 1821, and soon afterwards proceeded to Madagascar. With the help of his colleague he soon formed a flourishing church, preached twice every Sunday, and established day and night schools, his wife teaching the girls. In 1824, the schools in the capital numbered 300 scholars, and there were 32 other schools over the country, all of which he visited weekly.
In 1825, many Madagascans were able to help the work in all its branches. Griffiths and Jones devised a Roman-letter alphabet for Malagasy; in 1827 a printing press
was obtained, and the following year a catechism
, a hymnal
, and some schoolbooks were published in Malagasy, and the printing of the Gospel of St. Luke was begun.
In 1828 king Radama I of Madagascar
, who had been a friend of the Christian missionaries, died at the age of 36. A period of confusion followed, and the mission's work was for a time interrupted. In 1830 night-schools, however, were opened for the lowest classes, and the work of the mission generally was continued with success. In 1831 the New Testament
was published in Malagasy, and a large part of the Old Testament
.
But in the same year the mission experienced many new difficulties. Although the Queen of Madagascar, Ranavalona I
, was favourable to the work, her ministers were opposed to it, and the missionaries were ordered to leave. But this order was cancelled, and from 1832 to 1835 the mission was continued successfully.
In 1835, however, a fierce persecution arose, and Ranavalona was forced by her ministers to expel the missionaries. David Griffiths preached his last sermon in the chapel on 22 February, and left the island in September 1835, reaching Britain in February 1836.
At the end of two years he received an intimation from Ranavalona that he might return as a merchant
but not as a missionary. He did so in May 1838.
Persecution still raged throughout the island, and Griffiths was charged with having helped some Madagascan Christians to leave the country and was sentenced to death, a sentence afterwards commuted to payment of a fine.
He returned to Britain in 1842, and settled as pastor
of the congregational church at Hay-on-Wye
in Powys
. While here he formed a new congregation at Kington, Herefordshire
.
About 1850, some hopes being raised of renewing the mission in Madagascar, the London Missionary Society asked Griffiths and Joseph John Freeman, the only missionaries then surviving, to revise the Malagasy translation of the Bible. J. J. Freeman soon died (1851), and the whole work devolved upon Griffiths, who spent some five years on it.
In 1858 he moved to Machynlleth, where he busied himself in preparing for the press a grammar and other works in Malagasy.
He died on 21 March 1863 at Machynlleth
, where he was buried.
Griffiths wrote the 'History of Madagascar' in Welsh, the 'Persecuted Christians of Madagascar' (London, 1841) in English, a Malagese grammar (Woodbridge, 1854), some catechisms, a hymn-book, and nine or ten original treatises. He also revised many works already translated, e.g. the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' the 'Whole Bible,' and dictionaries.
He had eight children by his wife, who died at Swansea
on 15 July 1883, aged 93. One of his daughters, Margaret Jane, married the missionary and translator, Griffith John
, and worked with him in China until her death in 1873.
The archives of the London Missionary Society relating to Madagascar are conserved at the School of Oriental Studies in the University of London.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and translator in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. He translated the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
and other books into the Malagasy language
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
. The Malagasy Bible of 1835 was among the first Bibles to be printed in an African language.
Life and work
David Griffiths was born on 20 December 1792 at Glanmeilwch, Llangadoc, CarmarthenshireCarmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, in south Wales. He was the son of William Griffith David and his wife Elizabeth. He became a member of the neighbouring Congregational church at Gwynfe in 1810, and soon after began to preach. He conducted a school of his own at Cwmaman in 1811-12; entered the college at Neuaddlwyd 1812, that at Wrexham 1814, and in 1817 or early in 1818 left Llanfyllin, whence the Wrexham College had been meanwhile removed, for the missionary college at Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
.
He married Mary Griffiths in May 1820, and in June received the appointment of missionary to Madagascar, as colleague of the Rev. David Jones
David Jones (missionary)
David Jones was a pioneering Welsh Christian missionary to Madagascar. A gifted linguist, he was noted for establishing the orthography of the Malagasy language and for his translation of the Bible into Malagasy, a work that he undertook with fellow missionary David Griffiths.- Life and work...
, who had gone out two years before. On 27 July he was ordained at Gwynfe, and on 25 October sailed with his wife from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, reaching Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
on 23 January 1821, and soon afterwards proceeded to Madagascar. With the help of his colleague he soon formed a flourishing church, preached twice every Sunday, and established day and night schools, his wife teaching the girls. In 1824, the schools in the capital numbered 300 scholars, and there were 32 other schools over the country, all of which he visited weekly.
In 1825, many Madagascans were able to help the work in all its branches. Griffiths and Jones devised a Roman-letter alphabet for Malagasy; in 1827 a printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
was obtained, and the following year a catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
, a hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
, and some schoolbooks were published in Malagasy, and the printing of the Gospel of St. Luke was begun.
In 1828 king Radama I of Madagascar
Radama I of Madagascar
Radama I "the Great" , the first king of greater Madagascar from 1810 to 1828, united two-thirds of the island under his rule. He had twelve Great Wives, one of them his adopted sister Ranavalona I who would emerge victorious in the struggle for succession after his premature death.-Reign:In 1810,...
, who had been a friend of the Christian missionaries, died at the age of 36. A period of confusion followed, and the mission's work was for a time interrupted. In 1830 night-schools, however, were opened for the lowest classes, and the work of the mission generally was continued with success. In 1831 the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
was published in Malagasy, and a large part of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
.
But in the same year the mission experienced many new difficulties. Although the Queen of Madagascar, Ranavalona I
Ranavalona I
Ranavalona I , also known as Ranavalo-Manjaka I, was a sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar from 1828 to 1861...
, was favourable to the work, her ministers were opposed to it, and the missionaries were ordered to leave. But this order was cancelled, and from 1832 to 1835 the mission was continued successfully.
In 1835, however, a fierce persecution arose, and Ranavalona was forced by her ministers to expel the missionaries. David Griffiths preached his last sermon in the chapel on 22 February, and left the island in September 1835, reaching Britain in February 1836.
At the end of two years he received an intimation from Ranavalona that he might return as a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
but not as a missionary. He did so in May 1838.
Persecution still raged throughout the island, and Griffiths was charged with having helped some Madagascan Christians to leave the country and was sentenced to death, a sentence afterwards commuted to payment of a fine.
He returned to Britain in 1842, and settled as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the congregational church at Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye , often described as "the town of books", is a small market town and community in Powys, Wales.-Location:The town lies on the east bank of the River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, just north of the Black Mountains...
in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. While here he formed a new congregation at Kington, Herefordshire
Kington, Herefordshire
Kington is a market town and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,597.-Location:Kington is near the Wales-England border and, despite being on the western side of Offa's Dyke, has been English for over a thousand years. The town is in the...
.
About 1850, some hopes being raised of renewing the mission in Madagascar, the London Missionary Society asked Griffiths and Joseph John Freeman, the only missionaries then surviving, to revise the Malagasy translation of the Bible. J. J. Freeman soon died (1851), and the whole work devolved upon Griffiths, who spent some five years on it.
In 1858 he moved to Machynlleth, where he busied himself in preparing for the press a grammar and other works in Malagasy.
He died on 21 March 1863 at Machynlleth
Machynlleth
Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.Machynlleth was the seat of Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh Parliament in 1404, and as such claims to be the "ancient capital of Wales". However, it has never held any official...
, where he was buried.
Griffiths wrote the 'History of Madagascar' in Welsh, the 'Persecuted Christians of Madagascar' (London, 1841) in English, a Malagese grammar (Woodbridge, 1854), some catechisms, a hymn-book, and nine or ten original treatises. He also revised many works already translated, e.g. the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' the 'Whole Bible,' and dictionaries.
He had eight children by his wife, who died at Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
on 15 July 1883, aged 93. One of his daughters, Margaret Jane, married the missionary and translator, Griffith John
Griffith John
Griffith John was a British Christian missionary and translator in China. A member of the Congregational church, he was a pioneer evangelist with the London Missionary Society , a writer and a translator of the Holy Bible into the Chinese language.-Biography:Griffith John was born on 14 December...
, and worked with him in China until her death in 1873.
Further reading
- D. Griffiths, The persecuted Christians of Madagascar ... 1838 to 1840 ... (1841)
- D. Griffiths, Hanes Madagaskar (1842)
- D. Griffiths, A Grammar of Malagasy (1854)
- J. Sibree, The Madagascar mission (1907)
- B. Gow, Madagascar and the Protestant impact ... 1819-95 (1979)
- R. M. Jones, 'Griffiths, David (1792-1863)', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- G. Campbell, David Griffiths and the Missionary 'History of Madagascar' (2012)
The archives of the London Missionary Society relating to Madagascar are conserved at the School of Oriental Studies in the University of London.