Nathaniel TURNER

TURNER, NATHANIEL (b. Wybunbury, Cheshire, England, 1793; d. 1864). Wesleyan missionary and minister.

Born into an Anglican farming family, Turner was orphaned at nine and taken in by a Wesleyan uncle. After a long religious search, he found assurance in 1812 and became a Wesleyan local preacher. He offered for missionary service and was accepted for service in New Zealand. He married Anne Sargent on 10 Jan 1822 and sailed for Hobart, where he worked until it was safe to go to New Zealand in Aug 1823. Tribal wars forced their return to Sydney. In Oct 1827 the Turners went to Tonga, where he played an important part in the conversion of Tupou and his reception into the Wesleyan Church in 1830. Turner was also one of the founders of the mission to Fiji, before he returned to Sydney in 1831. He was stationed in Hobart between 1831-36 and then returned to New Zealand, where his fluency in Maori and his administrative gifts consolidated Wesleyan work in the areas north of Auckland. He returned to Sydney in 1839 and was appointed Wesleyan superintendent for VDL between 1839-46. After a short period back in Sydney, his health broke down and he became a supernumerary in 1853. In 1855 he settled in Brisbane with members of his family and played an active part in the extension of Methodism, in civic affairs and in protestant cooperation. His courage in the face of great physical danger, his translations and his success in explaining the Gospel to Tongans and the Maori make him one of the most important early Wesleyan missionaries.

J G Turner, The pioneer missionary (Melbourne, 1872)

IAN BREWARD