Themes Collections
Articles
Multimedia About Support Search
log_in

Indigenous Cultures and Christian Conversion in Ghana and Sierra Leone, 1700-1850

The United Society Partners in Gospel (USPG) is a UK-based Anglican missionary organisation that operates around the world. During the 18th, 19th, and early-20th centuries, the USPG went by the name of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). This collection contains letters and supplementary material compiled by its various West African branches during the period 1700-1850. The collection also includes the papers of Thomas Perronet Thompson, the first governor of the Colony of Sierra Leone. Taken together, these documents provide a unique insight into British colonialism and the slave trade in West Africa.

Schooner taken was The Africaan, the property of Jan Meier of Delmina. Had on board a ton of ivory, fifty ounce of gold-dust, two women & a girl slaves. Was armed with with four carriage guns & five blunderbuses, & armed with 11 men

Proceedings in Vice-Admiralty Court relating to slaves in the 'Africaan' ship, Mar, 1909., Sundry letters from Z. Macauley, T. Ludlam, & others to T.P.T; img 8.

Key Documents

(Video)

(Exhibit)

Insights

Correspondence from other missions in Sierra Leone includes that from the Rio Pongo mission. The Rio Pongo mission was run by a staff of West Indian and African native clergy for 25 years.
The legal end of the slave trade did not prevent all slave traders from trying to continue trading. The Papers of Thomas Perronet Thompson reveal how slavers were caught and tried while he was Governor.
The Rev. Phillip Quaque was a native of the Cape Coast in Ghana. Sent to England for training as a priest, he survived the experiment and became the first African priest to be ordained by the Church of England.
Thompson's idea of sending the three young Ghanaians to England was a source of interest to the Society. Extracts from the Society's journal cover the experiment from the idea stage to a report on their progress.
No downloads are currently available.

Filters

Showing  1–8  of  32  
Document
Miscellaneous papers, 1753-1764
Document
Original letters received, 1860-1867 : calendar
Document
Deeds, etc., from the Bishop of Gambia and the Rio Pongas
Document
Original letters received, 1899
Document
Original letters received, 1894-1898
Document
Original letters received, 1890-1893
Document
Original letters received, 1880-1889
Document
Original letters received, 1872-1879