Godfrey Buxton
Encyclopedia
Barclay Godfrey Buxton MC
(7 January 1895 –1986) was a casualty of World War I
, who compensated for his inability to follow the family tradition of missionary service by founding and running missionary training colleges.
Buxton was the son of Reverend Barclay Buxton
, a missionary who co-founded the Japan Evangelical Band, and Margaret Maria Amelia Railton. He was the great-grandson of Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet the abolitionist and social reformer. He was educated at Repton School
, and Trinity College, Cambridge
. In World War I
, he fought in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
, gaining the rank of Captain. When a shell fell on his billet, he was severely wounded with shrapnel damage to both legs. He was invalided out and walked with two sticks for the rest of his life.
Unable to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a missionary himself, he asked his brothers - "What can God do with this bag of bones?" The answer was that if he could not go himself, he should stay behind to train those who could. He took over what was left of Harley College, dissipated due to the war, and, using the post-war Army billets and camps, founded the Missionary Training Colony in 1923, based in Upper Norwood
in south-east London. In 1962, the Missionary Training Colony merged with another South London seminary, the All Nations Bible College (formerly the All Nations Missionary Union), to form the All Nations Missionary College and in 1964, Buxton, then a member of the college council, suggested that the college move to the Easneye estate, the Buxton ancestral property. By another merger in 1971 the college became the All Nations Christian College
.
After the death of his father in 1946, Buxton succeeded him in his role at the Japanese Evangelical Band as Chairman of the British Home Council, the parent body
Buxton married Dorothea Reader Harris, younger daughter of Richard Reader Harris, in 1922 and they had a daughter and son.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(7 January 1895 –1986) was a casualty of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, who compensated for his inability to follow the family tradition of missionary service by founding and running missionary training colleges.
Buxton was the son of Reverend Barclay Buxton
Barclay Fowell Buxton
thumb|Japan, 1937.Rev. Barclay Fowell Buxton was an English evangelical Christian missionary in Japan.Buxton was the son of Thomas Fowell Buxton and Rachel Jane Gurney and grandson of Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet...
, a missionary who co-founded the Japan Evangelical Band, and Margaret Maria Amelia Railton. He was the great-grandson of Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet the abolitionist and social reformer. He was educated at Repton School
Repton School
Repton School, founded in 1557, is a co-educational English independent school for both day and boarding pupils, in the British public school tradition, located in the village of Repton, in Derbyshire, in the Midlands area of England...
, and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he fought in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Duke of Wellington's Regiment
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
, gaining the rank of Captain. When a shell fell on his billet, he was severely wounded with shrapnel damage to both legs. He was invalided out and walked with two sticks for the rest of his life.
Unable to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a missionary himself, he asked his brothers - "What can God do with this bag of bones?" The answer was that if he could not go himself, he should stay behind to train those who could. He took over what was left of Harley College, dissipated due to the war, and, using the post-war Army billets and camps, founded the Missionary Training Colony in 1923, based in Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood is an elevated area in south London, England within the postcode SE19. It is a residential district largely in the London Borough of Croydon although some parts extend into the London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Bromley. Upper Norwood...
in south-east London. In 1962, the Missionary Training Colony merged with another South London seminary, the All Nations Bible College (formerly the All Nations Missionary Union), to form the All Nations Missionary College and in 1964, Buxton, then a member of the college council, suggested that the college move to the Easneye estate, the Buxton ancestral property. By another merger in 1971 the college became the All Nations Christian College
All Nations Christian College
All Nations Christian College is a missions college, located in Hertfordshire and validated by the Open University.- Aims :Unlike some Bible colleges, the focus of ANCC is primarily missiological - that is, it is focused on training people for cross-cultural Christian mission service anywhere in...
.
After the death of his father in 1946, Buxton succeeded him in his role at the Japanese Evangelical Band as Chairman of the British Home Council, the parent body
Buxton married Dorothea Reader Harris, younger daughter of Richard Reader Harris, in 1922 and they had a daughter and son.