Of Merchants and Missions: A Historical Study of the Impact of British Colonialism on American Methodism In Singapore from 1885 to 1910 (American Society of Missiology Monograph Series)

It has often been held that missions rode on the coattails of colonialism. In the case of the British administered island of Singapore, the pluriform missions of the Methodist missionaries demonstrated industry, innovation, and integrity, which in many ways question the charge of compromise and complicity between missions and colonialism. This historical survey presents the case that the Methodist missionaries collaborated with the colonial administration insofar where benefits might be gleaned from cooperation but were intuitively commandeered by a different commander-in-chief and whose primary motivation of love for the Lord, for the people, and for the land were objectively evident.

Andrew Peh is a Lecturer in Mission and Mission History at Trinity Theological College in Singapore.