James Chalmers – Inveraray missionary and explorer
The unexpected loan of a book about James Chalmers from local musician, Jake MacKay, intrigued Rev Roderick Campbell, which led to a period of research and his decision to give a talk to Inveraray History Society so that a figure of the history of Inveraray would be remembered.
Born at Luss in 1841 with his early years in Ardrishaig, most of James Chalmers’ education and formative years were spent in Inveraray. Their first home was at High Ballantyre, and James and his two sisters went to Glenaray School, the ruins of which still stand beside the Dalmally Road, and where Jake’s grandmother was also educated.
At Inveraray his father took him on Sunday evenings to the United Presbyterian Church.
A new young minister, Rev Gilbert Meikle, filled the church and his message encouraging a young person to become a missionary had a powerful effect on James.
He approached the Glasgow City Mission, became a successful Sunday School teacher and had 130 attendees at his Bible classes before applying to the London Missionary Society (LMS) to begin training.
His intention was to follow in David Livingstone’s footsteps, but the LMS appointed him to Rarotonga, the largest of the 15 Cook Islands in the far off South Pacific. As a newly married man, having learned the Rarotongan language, pursued medical studies and photography, he and his wife, Jane, set off on their 15-month journey to the Cook Islands.
They arrived to find a wellset-up theological college and mission station and dedicated their next 10 years to missionary work. While James made many lengthy trips of exploration around the Cook Islands, getting to know the locals and helping the poorer ones where he could, Jane had been left to run the institute herself.
Aware that the LMS had struggled to set up a mission station in New Guinea, James asked to be allowed to try, and set off for the new post in 1877.
Jane succumbed to one of the many diseases/fevers and died two years later.
James met a friend of Jane’s, Sarah Elizabeth, when back home on leave in 1887, married the following year and returned together to New Guinea in 1888. On that trip, they met
James Chalmers was known to be a peacemaker but ultimately it was his undoing.
and developed an intimate friendship with Robert Louis Stevenson.
New Guinea was a huge challenge, trying to convert “savages” distrustful of white people and who frequently fought other tribes, and James often had to act as peacemaker. In 1901, whilst on a trip up the Fly River with another young missionary, they were met by natives in a dangerous mood and both were killed.
Memorials to James Chalmers can be found in Queensland, Australia, Nottingham, Rarotonga and Inveraray Parish Church. He was given the Freedom of the Royal Burgh of Inveraray in 1888 and is remembered locally by the naming of Chalmers Court residence.
The society’s AGM is on Tuesday May 7 at 7pm in Ardkinglas House for members only.