BIO: George Augustus Selwyn, bishop and missionary (11 Apr 1878)

[Dr Nancy's Sweetie]

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GEORGE AUGUSTUS SELWYN, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY (11 APR 1878)

Selwyn was born in London in 1809, educated at Eton and Cambridge
and ordained in 1833. In 1841, he was made first Bishop of New
Zealand. He diligently studied the Maori tongue on his long sea
voyage, and was able to preach in it on his arrival. He laid the
foundations of the Church, not only in New Zealand, but throughout
the islands of Melanesia. (This was the result of a clerical error.
The northern boundary of his diocese was supposed to be the parallel
of latitude 34 degrees south of the equator. The official document
read "north" instead of "south," and Selwyn cheerfully accepted
responsibility for the vast Pacific regions of the Melanesian and
Polynesian islands as well as New Zealand. In 1957 the Islands
became a separate Province of the Anglican Communion.) In the
ten-year war between the Maoris and the European colonists, Selwyn
managed to keep the confidence of both sides, and ultimately at the
first general synod of the Church in New Zealand in 1859 to secure
the adoption of a Constitution that established the principle of
full participation by Maori Christians at all levels of Church
government.
In 1867, Selwyn was pressured to accept appointment as Bishop
of Lichfield. Reluctantly, he returned to England, where he died
eleven years later.

PRAYER (traditional language):
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank thee for thy servant
George Augustus Selwyn, whom thou didst call to preach the
Gospel to the peoples of New Zealand and Melanesia, and to lay
a firm foundation for the growth of thy Church in many nations.
Raise up, we beseech thee, in this and every land evangelists
and heralds of thy kingdom, that thy Church may proclaim the
unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and
reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language):
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant
George Augustus Selwyn, whom you called to preach the Gospel to
the peoples of New Zealand and Melanesia, and to lay a firm
foundation for the growth of your Church in many nations. Raise
up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your
kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches
of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Psalm 96:1-7 or 98:1-4
Ephesians 2:11-18
Matthew 10:7-16 (Ap)

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