Introduction : Among many Methodist Mission missionaries who came to India as Missionaries for the cause of Christ the following three namely :- Rev. R James Lynch, the founder of the Methodist Missions in India [ GG Findlay and Holds worth , p 178] Rev. George Mackenzie Cobban [ Ibid ,p 231 [ and Rev. William Goudie [ ibid, p, 232] deserve our attention on many accounts. These Methodist Missionaries played praiseworthy and spectacular role for the spiritual, economic, social and educational development of the poorest and uncared people who lived in the Northern districts of Tamil Nadu . Below we will see the biographical sketch of the Founder of Wesleyan Methodist mission in India Rev James Lynch .
Rev. James Lynch
Rev. James Lynch's Birth : Rev. James Lynch was born in a Roman catholic family in about 1775 at Parish muff , County Donegal, in Ireland.. His parents' names are not readily available and the names will be provided here later. .
Rev James Lynch Became a Methodist : Rev. James Lynch was brought up as a Roman catholic . However in 1808 he converted to Methodist mission and entered Wesleyan Methodist Ministry . We can infer that he underwent a theological Course before he began to work as a Methodist Pastor in the North of Ireland . He was ordained at Lambeth , St George's in -the - East, and great Queen street. While he was working as a Methodist Pastor in Ireland he was requested by Irish Methodist Conference to assist the venerable Methodist pastor Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke and accompany him as a Missionary Team member, in his journey to the East [ India and Ceylon]. .
Rev. James Lynch and his Team started their Missionary Journey towards the East [ Ceylon and India] ; .In 1813 the venerable Methodist pastor Dr. Thomas Coke embarked for India accompanied by the following six Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries namely : Rev. James Lynch., Rev. William Ault, Rev. George Erskine, Rev. William M. Harvard, Rev. Thomas H. Squance and Rev. Benjamin Clough. and two sisters namely ; Mrs Ault and Mrs. Howard .. They were ordained at Lambeth, St. George's in- the- East and great Queen Street. .Rev Dr. Thomas Coke and his Missionary team started their journey towards the East [ India and Ceylon ], in December 1813 but unfortunately the leader of the team Rev. Dr. Coke died on enroute on May 3, 1814 and Rev. James Lynch who was the most remarkable of the Missionaries who sailed with Dr. Coke to the East was asked to take the leadership of the Missionary Team .. This Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Team had scarcely a guinea among them and when they landed three weeks later at Bombay, were unable to pay for their first meal at the inn. With aching hearts they committed the body of their missionary Bishop Rev. Dr. Thomas Coke to the mighty deep . They started their voyage towards Ceylon . Rev. Lynch and his Team landed at Galle in Ceylon on 29- 6- 1814.. This Methodist Missionary Team decided to assign the places of missionary work by Lot. As per the Lot, Rev. Lynch and Rev Squance were allotted Jaffna as their place of ministerial work. . Rev Lynch and Rev Squance initially started to preach at the Dutch Church at Jaffna Fort mainly to the Soldiers and Europeans.
Rev. Lynch Founded a Wesleyan English School at Jaffna : Rev. James Lynch was a visionary Educationist. Rev. James Lycnh with the support of his co-worker Rev Squance established an English School in 1816 in Jaffna .and it was called as Jaffna Wesleyan English School. Rev. James Lynch served as its first Principal The relentless efforts of Rev Lynch attracted more than 60 students to the Jaffna Wesleyan English School.. This School gradually and steadily started to grow. Sir Browning the then Governor of Ceylon writes that "there were 70 boys in the School [ Jaffna Wesleyan English School ] who were instructed by Rev. James Lynch . The English School progresses well and created job for the students in Various sectors." In course of time this Jaffna Wesleyan English School passed through many name changes and now it is called ."Jaffna Central College ". The following are some of the prominent Alumni of JCC :- Mr. Herbert Thambiah, , Mr. Henry Thambiah, , Mr. A.W. Mailvaganam, O.B.E, Sir Sabaratnam Arul Kumaran , the great Tamil Scholar Mr. Arumuka Navalar and many others.. In recognition of Rev. Lynch's contribution to J.C,C. a School Athletic House was named after him in 2002 and a Statue was unveiled in front of the Romaine Cook Hall , J.C.C, in 2013. .
Rev. James Lynch's Historical travel via Nagapattinam to Madras : Rev. James Lynch was asked to visit Madras to take necessary steps to regulate the Wesleyan Methodist Society, which awaited his coming . Accordingly Rev. James lynch proceeded to Madras through Nagapattinam, located near Tranquebar in Tamil Nadu and preached to some persons who were eager to hear him , so we can say that it was in Nagapattinam that the first message in India was delivered by a Methodist Missionary .. Mr.G.G Findaly writes in his book "The history of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society " that , " On the way from Negapattinam to Madras Lynch was the guest of the Royal Danish Mission at Tranquebar and visited the graves of Plutschau and Ziegenbalg the first Danish Missionaries sent out under Frederick IV of Demark ". A revisit and perusal of Lynch's diary about his visit to the graves of the pioneer Danish Halle missionaries will help the readers to understand the spirit of Rev Lames Lynch. And so the relevant page from Rev. Lynch's diary is given below :
From the above paragraph we can infer a direct line of spiritual succession--- Ziegenbalg; Susanna Wesley; John Wesley; James Lynch . , Rev. James Lynch after having visited the graves of the pioneer Danish Halle Mission Missionaries in Tranquebar proceeded towards madras and arrived at Madras and on arriving Madras Rev. James Lynch was received hospitably by Mr. Durnnford. . Rev. Lynch without delay reported his arrival in Madras to the Governor of Madras. .
Rev. James lynch Preached His first Sermon in a Godown in George town
Next Part Final will follow soon .
By. P. Babu Manoharan, M.A, ,. [ All rights are reserved. This Article will be enlarged, modified or corrected later if needed ].
