| Susannah Jane Rankin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Susannah Jane Ellis 26 November 1897 near Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire |
| Died | 24 July 1989 Australia |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Missionary, translator, educator, college administrator |
| Spouse | Robert Rankin |
Susannah Jane Rankin MBE (26 November 1897 – 24 July 1989, née Ellis) was a Welsh Congregational minister, religious educator, linguist and translator. She spent time as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. She translated works from Welsh and English to the Motu language.
Early life and education
Susannah Jane Ellis was born at Pengorffwysfa farm, near Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire, the daughter of Frank Ellis and Jane Ellis. In 1922, she was the first woman at the University of Wales to earn a Bachelor of Divinity, having studied at Bala-Bangor Theological Seminary. She was ordained in 1925 at Pendref, Llanfyllin.
Career
After serving as a lecturer at Lawes Theological College in Fife Bay. In 1927, Rankin became an evangelist, posted to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. In 1928, she went to Kalaigoro to improve the mission work there. In 1930, she moved to Saroa to unite the coastal and inland missions. She taught English and studied the Motu language, and other local languages. She married her husband Robert Rankin, a fellow missionary, in Moru in 1932. They both returned to the mission station she had established at Saroa and where she would be involved in setting up primary schools. They would leave Saro and PNG in 1956 for a year's leave before returning to Veiru.
She and her husband, were appointed Professor and Principal at Chalmers Memorial Theological College after its establishment in 1957. Her husband died three years later, and she took over the role of Principal until 1964. After retiring in 1965, she returned to Moru and mission work. For her translation work from Welsh and English to the Motu language, Rankin received an Honorary M.A. degree from the University of Wales.
Personal life
Susannah Ellis married Robert Rankin in 1932. Robert Rankin died in 1960, during a leave in Australia. Rankin died in Australia in 1989, aged 91 years.
References
- ^ Gruffydd, Ioan Wyn. "RANKIN, SUSANNAH JANE". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- Jones, Robert Tudur (2004). Congregationalism in Wales. University of Wales Press. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-7083-1887-4.
- ^ "6 Territorians honored". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 3 January 1972. p. 4. Retrieved 4 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1897 births
- 1989 deaths
- 20th-century British translators
- 20th-century British linguists
- 20th-century Welsh clergy
- 20th-century Welsh educators
- 20th-century Welsh women writers
- 20th-century Welsh writers
- 20th-century British educators
- 20th-century British women educators
- People from Montgomeryshire
- Congregationalist missionaries in Papua New Guinea
- Women Christian clergy
- Welsh Congregationalist ministers
- Female Christian missionaries
- Women linguists
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Welsh translators
- Welsh evangelists
- Women evangelists
- Alumni of the University of Wales
- British missionary educators
- Welsh Congregationalist missionaries
- Translators from English
- Translators from Welsh
- British missionary linguists
- 20th-century Congregationalist ministers