Edward Steere

Edward Steere (1828 - 26 August 1882) was an English Anglican colonial bishop in the 19th century.[1]

lithograph of Edward Steere

Life

Steere was educated at London University and ordained in 1850.[2] After curacies in Devon and Lincolnshire, he joined William Tozer (Bishop in Central Africa) on a mission to Nyasaland in 1863.[3] He was appointed Bishop in Central Africa[4] in 1874 and died on 26 August 1882.[5]

Steere spent several periods in Zanzibar, 1864-68, 1872-74, and 1877-82. In 1873 he placed the foundation stone at Christ Church, Zanzibar, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The cathedral was based on his vision; its concrete roof shaped in a barrel vault was Steere's idea. He also worked with David Livingstone to abolish slavery in Zanzibar. He is buried behind the altar in the church.[6] David Livingstone's aides James Chuma and Abdullah Susi were part of an expedition led by Steere. Chuma was captain of the expedition and both men acted as interpreters.[7]

Works

Steere was a considerable linguist and published works on several East African languages and dialects, including Shambala, Yao, Nyamwezi, and Makonde. But he is especially known for his work on Swahili, publishing a Handbook of Swahili in 1870, and he also translated or revised the translation into Swahili of a large part of the Bible.[8]

Notes

  1. Zanzibar Christians
  2. The Times, Tuesday, Aug 29, 1882; pg. 6; Issue 30598; col D Obituary
  3. Heanley, R. M. A Memoir of Edward Steere, D.D. Ll.D., Third Missionary Bishop in Central Africa. (see External links).
  4. Ranger, Terence O.; Kimambo, Isaria N. (1976). The Historical Study of African Religion. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-03179-1.
  5. The Times, Tuesday, Sep 19, 1882; pg. 4; Issue 30616; col F Bishop Steere And His Work
  6. 'Workers at the church'
  7. Waller, Horace (1876). "Paths into the Slave Preserves of East Africa". LSE Selected Pamphlets: 9–23. JSTOR 60221873.
  8. Harris, Charles Alexander (1898). "Steere, Edward" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 54. pp. 141–142.

See Also

References


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