Makers and Shapers Profile

Allen Francis Gardiner

Person

28 January 1794 - 6 September 1851

[Source - Benathi Marufu for FHYA, 2022, using GFA missions website: He entered the naval college at age 14 and went to sea at age 16. He traveled widely, seeing all parts of the world and living the rowdy life of a sailor. He first encountered real violence in a battle with a U.S. ship called the Essex. The dead and dying seamen greatly affected him. Back in the U.K. he secretly bought a Bible and read it at times when he was alone. He came to faith in Christ in 1820 at Penang Malane Strait in a Chinese temple, where he had secreted himself after receiving word that his mother had died. After his wife's death, he turned to South Africa with a goal to win the Zulu chief to Christ. He made contact with Dingaan, the king of the Zulus, and was able to win his confidence, bring about peace between the warring tribespeople of that part of South Africa, and negotiate a peace treaty between Dingaan and England. This opened the door for missions among the Zulus, a remarkable work of missionary statesmanship in a relatively short time. For several years he worked with a small group of English colonists as well as the Zulus and started a school for the native children. It was during this same period of time that he laid out the basic plan for the city that is now named Durban. A bitter war broke out between the Dutch settlers and the Zulus. Due to the fighting, it became impossible to continue the work among them. It would prove to be a number of years before a permanent work could be established in that area. Seeing little hope for a ministry among the Zulus, he and his wife and family sailed for South America. 6 September is Allen Gardiner Day in the Anglican calendar in honour of the man who founded what became the South American Mission Society (SAMS) and who sacrificed his life as one of its first missionaries.]