The Achill Mission
The Rev Edward Nangle was born in Meath. His father, a Catholic, was a widower when he married Edward's mother, who was a Protestant. Edward was reared as a Protestant but his half brothers and sisters were Catholic. He was ordained in the Church of Ireland and served as a curate.
In 1828, he had a nervous breakdown and during his recovery had a conversion experience. He subsequently became involved with the Protestant evangelical movement, particularly The Plymouth Brethren, though he never joined that sect. He decided to devote his life to the conversion of poor Irish speaking Catholics in the west. He had great sympathy for the poor and a great love for the Irish language but detested Catholicism (Comerford, 2013). Like most evangelists, he felt popery was the cause of the ignorance and poverty of the Irish (Moffitt, 2008). There was an outbreak of famine and cholera in 1831 in Achill. Nangle and his wife were sent by evangelists aboard a steamer with a cargo of food. He was horrified by conditions in Achill and decided to set up a mission. Rev Stoney and Sir Richard in Newport and Archbishop Le Poer Trench of Tuam offered their support. |
By 1838, four schools, a church and an orphanage had been established. He brought the first doctor to Achill and set up a medical dispensary.
Nangle introduced new farming methods. He established a model farm on Innishbiggle, an island between Achill and Ballycroy. He produced surplus food and was able to donate food to some of the starving in Erris. He also set up the first printing press on the island and published two magazines. They were used to raise funds and to proselytise. However, life on Achill was difficult. Five of his children died in infancy. His wife became ill and died in 1850. Nangle left the mission in 1852, though he remained involved until his death. |
Click HERE for Information on Dissention
|