John William Colenso (1814-1883) was born in St Austell, Cornwall, and educated at a local school and at St John’s College, Cambridge. During the next few years, his time was divided between teaching mathematics at Harrow School and at St John’s College as a fellow. He was ordained into the Church of England in 1839. In 1846, he married (Sarah) Frances Bunyon (1816-1893) and, through his wife’s family, obtained the living of Fornett St Mary in Norfolk. In 1853, Colenso was offered the new bishopric of Natal in southern Africa and he and his family settled at Bishopstowe near Pietermaritzburg, where he built a cathedral as well as opening mission stations in Natal and Zululand (KwaZulu-Natal). He became proficient in the Zulu language, teaching Zulu converts, publishing a Zulu-English dictionary, grammar and other books and translating the New Testament into Zulu. Colenso’s views on the Bible and his defence of Zulu customs provoked controversy and division in the Church, leading to his prosecution for heresy in 1863 and disputed excommunication. Following the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, he criticised the policy of the high commissioner, Sir Bartle Frere, and argued on behalf of Cetshwayo, the deposed Zulu king.

Colenso had five children of whom Harriette Emily (1847-1932), Frances Ellen (1849-1887), and Francis Ernest [Frank] (1852-1910) continued their father’s campaign on behalf of the indigenous African people.

For further information on John, Harriette, Frances, and Frank Colenso, see the Oxford Dictional of National Biography.