Elizabeth Fairburn Colenso
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Fairburn Colenso (29 August 1821 – 2 September 1904) was a missionary and Bible translator in New Zealand
.
She was born at the Church Missionary Society station at Kerikeri
, New Zealand. Having grown up speaking the Māori language
from infancy, she helped see the Maori Old Testament
through the press in England. It was a lengthy undertaking; she was correcting proofs throughout the mid-1860s. Returning to New Zealand early in 1867 she helped prepare the revised New Testament for the press, correcting the printed copy, and sometimes suggesting alternative translations. She also translated Christian materials into the Mota language
.
After several unhappy years of marriage, her husband, missionary printer William Colenso
(not to be confused with his missionary cousin in South Africa, John William Colenso
), was dismissed from the mission for adultery and Elizabeth separated from him. She is noteworthy for several reasons, including the fact that the Church Mission Society
still retained her and appointed her to work despite the fact that she was separated from her husband (they never divorced).
She served for many years, before and after her work in Bible translation, as a school teacher for Maori children and also on Norfolk Island
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
She was born at the Church Missionary Society station at Kerikeri
Kerikeri
Kerikeri, the largest town in the Northland Region of New Zealand, is a popular tourist destination about three hours drive north of Auckland, and 80 km north of Whangarei...
, New Zealand. Having grown up speaking the Māori language
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
from infancy, she helped see the Maori Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
through the press in England. It was a lengthy undertaking; she was correcting proofs throughout the mid-1860s. Returning to New Zealand early in 1867 she helped prepare the revised New Testament for the press, correcting the printed copy, and sometimes suggesting alternative translations. She also translated Christian materials into the Mota language
Mota language
-External links:* in Mota* from Project Canterbury*...
.
After several unhappy years of marriage, her husband, missionary printer William Colenso
William Colenso
William Colenso was a Cornish Christian missionary to New Zealand, and also a printer, botanist, explorer and politician.-Life:Born in Penzance, Cornwall, he was the cousin of John William Colenso, Bishop of Natal...
(not to be confused with his missionary cousin in South Africa, John William Colenso
John William Colenso
John William Colenso , first Anglican bishop of Natal, mathematician, theologian, Biblical scholar and social activist.-Biography:Colenso was born at St Austell, Cornwall, on 24 January 1814...
), was dismissed from the mission for adultery and Elizabeth separated from him. She is noteworthy for several reasons, including the fact that the Church Mission Society
Church Mission Society
The Church Mission Society, also known as the Church Missionary Society, is a group of evangelistic societies working with the Anglican Communion and Protestant Christians around the world...
still retained her and appointed her to work despite the fact that she was separated from her husband (they never divorced).
She served for many years, before and after her work in Bible translation, as a school teacher for Maori children and also on Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
.