The Beginnings of Ghana Methodism....the blood and toil of our Founders

By Karen Ama Owubaa Essiful-Ansah

When Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey stated 'You can play a tune of sorts on the black keys only, and you can play a tune of sorts on the white keys only but for perfect harmony you must use both the black and white keys",he sought to express his belief in co-operation, which involved equality of opportunity; where each side [race] has something to contribute. He may well have been making observations about the sacrifices and contributions made by the founding fathers of the Church ' born in songs' in the Gold Coast.

The story of the Gold Coast Bible Band led by William DeGraft and their desire for Bibles, which resulted in the arrival of the first Missionary Joseph R. Dunwell is worthy of note. Unfortunately the history thereafter is replete with sudden obituaries and long but well deserved replacements. While an enthusiastic Dunwell died after six months, the Wrigleys and Harrops just as enthusiastic were called home within months.

Dunwell’s was a time when there was profound ignorance of the causes of the fever, which exacted a heavy toll on the lives of Europeans. Dunwell came over knowing his days would probably be few but he came anyway and immediately crowded as much work as possible into every hour of each day. He took no precautions to safeguard his health. Through the hot afternoon hours he hurried from house to house evangelising or visiting his members.

One remarkable thing he did was to begin plans to build the first Chapel in Cape Coast. He worked early and late to draw up plans, using every minute not engaged so to preach. He again managed to obtain from the Governor and traders resident there substantial gifts for the project. The result of the exposure to the sun and the excessive toll were inevitable. His strong body weakened rapidly and being unable to overcome the germs in his blood, it gave way. He had worked and died in the process for the new flock.

While the Church was 'orphaned' as a result of the unfortunate deaths of the Missionaries the true love of God found in the converts was evident.  Led by a reconciled team of Joseph Smith and William DeGraft the Christians held the fort and worked hard to bring more souls to the Lord. So great was their impact that a formerly unconcerned group - fetish priests begun to oppose the Christians vehemently. By the time the Wrigleys arrived therefore threats on their lives were common as were forecasts of drought and consequent famine. The  said priests' anger may have frightened a few back to their old ways but largely it led the Christians to  earnest prayer and closer fellowship with each other.

The Wrigleys came ready to work and like their predecessor they worked hard. Rev. Wrigley began immediately to build as the chapel per the plans left by Dunwell while his dear wife started a school of Domestic Economy for girls, one believed to be the roots of the now renowned Wesley Girls High School. She taught her pupils to read English, to sew and such simple domestic duties as should make them suitable wives of the teachers and evangelists of the coming days.

Four months after their arrival the Rev. and Mrs. Harrop joined them. Excited by the evidence of an abounding harvest waiting to be reaped, they forgot, it appears, all the warnings about safeguarding their health. Like Dunwell they went from house to house at all hours of the day, talking eagerly of Jesus to all ready to listen. Within weeks the Harrops were both seriously sick.

Then Rev.Wrigley fell ill too and poor Mrs. Wrigley had 3 patients to nurse. Mrs. Harrop died  first only 3 weeks after setting foot in Africa and the shock of her death caused an exhausted Mrs. Wrigley to collapse. She died three days later. Rev. Harrop followed suit leaving a recovered but heart-broken Rev. Wrigley. He immediately sent word to England fearing all the while that the triple tragedy could prevent others from coming to what  seemed a certain death.

What finally ended the tale of tears was the arrival of a Missionary named Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman following the message sent by the Wrigleys. Rev.Freeman is said to have been born in Twyford, Hampshire,England in 1809. It is believed that  Rev Freeman's mother was an English woman of humble circumstances, one of several servants in a large country home in Winchester,England. His father was an African and thought to be a servant in the same house.

Suffice it to say that the infamous Slave Trade may have destroyed Africa and deserved to be called ' the World's worst wound' but it had its benefits at least for the Methodist Church. As Joseph declared to his ' long lost ' brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" [Genesis 50:20]. It is believed that Rev. Freeman's ability to withstand the climate and fevers came from the African in his blood.

Thus what befell his predecessors did not  frustrate his dream of a Gold Coast freed from the curse of slavery and truly Christian. He landed with his bride on 3rd January 1838 and immediately plunged into work.He set out to complete the Chapel and school began by Rev. Wrigley to  contain the ever-growing congregation. So engrossed was he in the work he steadily treaded the way of his predecessors.The continued exposure to the sun so many hours each day resulted in a fever just a month after his arrival. Taking care of her sick husband  must have been a very taxing for as soon as Rev. Freeman started showing signs of health she collapsed out of relief and died in a room nearby.

A grieving but even more determined Rev. Freeman took up the challenge once the Lord restored his health and began to do as the Lord advised ‘be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves’, [Matthew 10:15 - 17 -  KJV] He began studying his environment and observed that while the Missionaries died months after arriving in the Gold Coast the Government officials and other traders resident  there survived, indeed  they lived and plied their trade for several years.

His studies established that apart from their hard work and zeal, the problem lay in the manner the Missionaries lived! Dunwell and Wrigley rented and lived in a small house largely stuffy and unbearably hot at midday. Freeman thus decided to build a two-story mission house, a decision, which was to have an incalculable influence on the health of future missionaries thereby prolonging their lives and strengthening the work already began.

Rev. Freeman on behalf of the Wesleyan Missionary Society accordingly purchased from Governor Macclean the little hill on which most of the Society’s property then stood in Cape Coast. It cost 500 pounds at the time and was the best bargain the Society made in West Africa.He named the Mission house “Standfast Hall” indicating his resolve to stand by the country to which he had dedicated his life.

It did also signify that the Methodist mission was to stay and to expand in the Gold Coast and beyond. And stay he did for from 1838 to 1857 he preached and visited converts far and near; he farmed and established missionary settlements like the famous Beulah; he visited England to appeal for funds and recruits. His pioneering work in founding many mission stations and chapels in the area underpinned later Methodist success in the Gold Coast, later Ghana, Western Nigeria and Benin.

By the grace of God and to the credit of these first Missionaries and Christian folk several other English Missionaries followed  and came to work in the Gold Coast. Their sacrifices, their blood and their toil made many of us what we are today - Children of God and practising Methodists.

Praise we the wise and brave and strong

Who graced their generation.

Who helped the right and fought the wrong

And made our folk a nation.