Congo & Angola
After a large donation by wealthy recluse Robert Arthington, BMS sent Thomas Comber and George Grenfell from Cameroon to explore Congo and the possibility of setting up mission stations along the Congo River.
The explorations were successful: gradually missionaries advanced along the river and were able to establish mission stations all the way along over 1,200 miles of riverway, with the help of the BMS steamers, notably the Peace.
Churches, schools, hospitals and agricultural projects were built and developed.
Though the name of the country around the river has changed over the years – part of lower Congo became Portuguese Congo and then Angola; Congo became Belgian Congo, then Zaire and now the Democratic Republic of Congo – the missionary work in Angola and D R Congo continues today.