Samuel Marsden grew up in Yorkshire during the religious revivals of the 18th century. He attended Magdalene College, Cambridge. In 1786 he got help from the Elland Society to train as an evangelical clergyman. He came in contact with members of the growing evangelical circle of the Church of England, committed to vital personal religion and social reform, such as stopping slavery.

In 1793 before completing his degree, he was invited, courtesy of William Wilberforce, to become chaplain to the penal colony in New South Wales. He and his wife Elizabeth arrived in Sydney in March 1794. They settled at Parramatta, 35 kms inland. Marsden was blunt, plain-spoken and could be touchy, but was without pretensions. Generous with his time and his money in causes that dear to his heart. His life there was dominated by 3 things:

1. Farming - Which he hugely enjoyed and saw as a benefit to the new community.
2. Magistrate Appointment - An honor which allied him with the governor and officials, but hurt his reputation with the mainly Irish convict population.
3. Church Missionary Society (CMS) Appointment - He was the official local agent for the Pacific from 1804, which suited his evangelical convictions.

Soon after his arrival, Maori from New Zealand (NZ) visited Parramatta. He welcomed them, lodged them, and they visited his new Church of St John. They impressed Marsden, who determined to find a way of reaching Maori with the gospel and civilization. 1807 he went to England to put before the CMS a proposal for a mission to New Zealand. His plan, a mission of artisans to teach useful skills, and share the gospel. 1809 Proposal accepted, Marsden sailed on "The Ann" for Australia with missionaries who were to go to NZ, William Hall, John King and their families.

A Nga Puhi chief Ruatara, who Marsden met in Parramatta had been viciously beaten and put on board "The Ann". Marsden found him vomiting blood and shocked at his condition, he personally nursed Ruatara back to health. God was opening the door to NZ. But there was a problem. In the wake of the “Boyd” incident, no Ship's Captain would go near NZ. He would have to buy his own ship. It was 1814, before he finally led his missionary team to New Zealand; on board "The Active" under the protection and invitation of Ruatara. Marsden gave the 1st Church service in NZ on Christmas Day 1814. After some exploration, he returned to his duties in Australia.

Marsden made 6 further visits, to oversee the mission, taking increasing numbers of Maori back to Parramatta, to teach them agriculture and other skills. His final visit in February to June 1837 had the air of a triumphal procession. Marsden, now almost 72 years, was received with great deference by Maori chiefs in the north, and he visited as many of the mission stations as possible. It was through Marsden’s determination and initiative that the first Christian mission was established in NZ, so it is appropriate to name him, the apostle to New Zealand.

BORN: 25 June 1765, Farsley, Yorkshire, U.K.

DIED: 12 May 1838 (aged 72), Windsor, New South Wales, Australia