02/09/2026
At Midweek Gathering we prayed a Collect for The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, 1901 and 1942. Loving a bit of "local" history I came across this from The Daily Office (Anglican Prayer Book App) and found it encouraging...
The Martyrs of Papua New Guinea, commemorated on September 2nd, are a testament to the unwavering faith and sacrificial love of missionaries who gave their lives for the Gospel in the face of great danger. This group of martyrs spans two distinct periods: 1901 and 1942-1943, during World War II. In 1901, the London Missionary Society sent James Chalmers, Oliver Tomkins, and their companions to New Guinea. These brave missionaries met their deaths at the hands of local tribesmen on April 8, 1901. Chalmers, known affectionately as "Tamate" by the indigenous people, had served in the Pacific for 35 years, tirelessly working to bring the message of Christ to remote island communities. Tomkins, a young and enthusiastic missionary, had only recently arrived in New Guinea. Their martyrdom, while tragic, laid the foundation for future missionary work in the region. The larger group of martyrs emerged during the Japanese invasion of New Guinea in World War II. In January 1942, as the threat of invasion loomed, Anglican Bishop Philip Strong of New Guinea made a fateful decision. He advised his clergy and staff to remain at their posts, believing that abandoning their mission would betray the trust of the local people and weaken the Church. In a powerful radio broadcast, Bishop Strong declared, "We could never hold up our faces again if, for our own safety, we all forsook Him and fled, when the shadows of the Passion began to gather around Him in His spiritual and mystical body, the Church in Papua". Heeding this call, many missionaries chose to stay, knowing the dangers they faced. Among the Anglican martyrs were priests John Barge, Henry Holland, Henry Matthews, Bernard Moore, and Vivian Redlich. They were joined by lay missionaries including nurses Margery Brenchley and May Hayman, teachers Lilla Lashmar and Mavis Parkinson, and builder John Duffill. Notably, two Papuan evangelists and teachers, Leslie Gariardi and Lucian Tapiedi, also gave their lives for their faith. The martyrdoms occurred in various circumstances throughout 1942 and 1943. Some, like Father Vivian Redlich, were killed while conducting church services. Others, like sisters Mavis Parkinson and May Hayman, were handed over to the Japanese and bayoneted to death. Father Henry Holland, who had served in Papua New Guinea for 25 years and translated Scriptures into the Orokaiva language, was killed along with his colleague John Duffill. Lucian Tapiedi, showing remarkable courage, chose to stay with the missionaries, saying, "I am single; I'll stay with the fathers and sisters; it doesn't matter if the Japanese get me". The sacrifice of these martyrs was not limited to Anglicans. Research from the University of Papua New Guinea indicates that a total of 333 church workers from various denominations were killed during the Japanese invasion. This included 197 Roman Catholics, 77 from the United Church, and smaller numbers from other denominations such as the Salvation Army, Lutheran Church, and Seventh Day Adventists. The legacy of these martyrs has had a profound impact on the Church in Papua New Guinea and beyond. Their faithfulness unto death became a source of inspiration and strength for the local Christian community. The Martyrs' School was established in their honor, serving as a living memorial to their sacrifice. The witness of these martyrs also contributed to the rapid growth of the Church in Papua New Guinea in the post-World War II era, including expansion into inland Papuan areas and the New Guinea Highlands. As Archbishop David Hand, the first Archbishop of Papua New Guinea, reflected, "The blood of the martyrs has once again proved to be the seed of the Church". Today, the Martyrs of Papua New Guinea are remembered not only in their home country but also in the wider Anglican Communion, with their feast day observed on September 2nd as a testament to their unwavering faith and sacrificial love for Christ and His people.
See Daily Office: https://www.dailyoffice2019.com/commemorations/312019ee-129d-4cdb-9605-b1c4326e58d8
