Loochoo Naval Mission

The Loochoo Naval Mission was begun in February 1843 by a small group of naval officers who wished to send a missionary to the Loochoo Islands (Ryukyu Islands) aiming thereby to reach Japan. When their application for help from the Church Missionary Society was refused, they set up an independent fund and sent out Dr. Bernard Jean Bettelheim. A chapter on and biography of Dr Bernard J. Bettelheim may be consulted in the publication by Edward E. Bollinger, The Cross and the Floating Dragon: the Gospel in Ryukyu (William Carey Library, 1983). Bettelheim was succeeded by Reverend G. H. Moreton. When Moreton's health failed the mission came to an end. In 1861 the balance of the funds was given to CMS as a basis of support for evangelistic work in Japan, when that should be possible. CMS began work in Japan in 1869. The Secretaries of the Loochoo Mission were Lieutenant Herbert Clifford, 1841-1852 and George Rochfort Clarke, 1852-1857.

Reference: Rosemary Keen, 'The Church Missionary Society Archives: or thirty years work in the basement', Catholic Archives (No. 12, 1992.).

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