Today’s Leader of Faith
JAMES CHALMERS, Martyr.
Home Call : 08 April 1901
Brave Missionary, Explorer, Author, Apostle of Papua.
James Chalmers (1841–1901) was a Scottish missionary and explorer known for his work in the South Pacific, particularly in New Guinea. He had a deep passion for evangelism and was dedicated to spreading Christianity among indigenous tribes, often venturing into dangerous and uncharted territories. He was sent as a missionary to the Cook Islands in 1866, where he worked for about ten years before moving to Papua New Guinea in 1877. He learned local languages, built relationships, and worked to establish peace among warring groups. His method of evangelism emphasized personal interaction rather than forced conversion. When Chalmers and fellow missionary Oliver Tomkins arrived on Goaribari Island, they were tragically killed and consumed by the local cannibalistic tribes. His life and sacrifice serve as a powerful example of unwavering faith and commitment to spreading the Gospel, even in the face of extreme danger.
Chalmers was born on 4 August 1841 in the village of Ardrishaig, Argyll, Scotland, as the only son of an Aberdonian stonemason. His family moved to Inveraray when he was seven, where he attended local and grammar school. Initially employed in a lawyer’s office, he decided before turning 20 to become a missionary. In 1861, he joined the Glasgow City Mission as an evangelist, where he met Samoan missionary George Turner, who encouraged him to apply as a missionary candidate. The London Missionary Society accepted him, sending him to Cheshunt College for studies. On 17 October 1865, he married Jane Hercus, and two days later, he was ordained. Though he initially wished to serve in Africa, he was assigned to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
On 4 January 1866, Chalmers embarked on the missionary ship John Williams to Australia. After a series of setbacks, including shipwrecks, he finally arrived at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands on 20 May 1867. Initially disappointed to find that Christianity had already taken root there, he soon realized there was still much work to be done. He immersed himself in the local culture, learned the language, and became a well-loved figure, earning the Rarotongan name “Tamate.” In addition to teaching, he published a monthly newspaper. In 1877, he was sent to New Guinea, an almost entirely unexplored land at the time. Over the next nine years, he traveled extensively across southern New Guinea under dangerous conditions, always seeking peaceful relations with the indigenous people. Chalmers documented his experiences in several books, including “Work and Adventure in New Guinea.”
In 1896, Chalmers returned to New Guinea, establishing a mission station at Saguane, near the Fly River delta. His last station was Daru. In April 1900, he was joined by a young missionary, Oliver Fellows Tomkins. On 8 April 1901, while visiting the island of Goaribari, Chalmers and Tomkins encountered a group of hostile natives. Despite warning signs, they decided to go ashore, where they were ambushed, killed, and eaten by the islanders. He is commemorated in stained glass windows at Vatorato College Chapel and Eltham College Chapel in England.