Archive of Robert Henry Codrington

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Diaries, letters, lectures, correspondence, etc., mainly relating to missionary work in Melanesia (1867-1887), and as Prebendary of Chichester (1887-1922).

Dates

Creation: 1859-1926

Extent

1.36 linear metres (31 boxes)

Language of Materials

English
Multiple languages

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Pac. s. 2].

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Full range of shelfmarks:

MSS. Pac. s. 2-33

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 1273

Additional Description

Abstract

Archive of Robert Henry Codrington relating to missionary work in Melanesia and as Prebendary of Chichester.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Henry Codrington was born on 15 Sep 1830 in Wroughton, Wiltshire, England. He was educated at Charterhouse and Wadham College, Oxford (he became a Fellow of the College in 1855). He was ordained as a deacon in 1855 and as a priest in 1857.

In 1860, Codrington emigrated to Nelson, New Zealand, and joined the Melanesian Mission; he was head of the Mission from 1871 to 1877. He travelled throughout Melanesia, making the first systematic study of Melanesian society and culture.

Codrington left missionary work in Melanesia in 1887 and returned to England as Prebendary of Chichester (1887-1922). In 1888, he became vicar of Wadhurst, Sussex (1888-1893), and in 1894 he became Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Chichester (1894-1901). For 25 years, he was also a lecturer at Chichester Theological College and was an authority on Melanesian languages. Codrington died on 11 Sep 1922 in Chichester, Sussex.

Other Finding Aids

The library holds a card index of all manuscript collections in its reading room and a handlist is also available for this collection.

Listed as no. 457 in Manuscript Collections (excluding Africana) in Rhodes House Library, Oxford, compiled by Louis B. Frewer (Oxford, Bodleian Library, 1970).