Taylor, Helen M.

Helen M. Taylor, Church of Scotland missionary and teacher, arrived in Nyasaland in 1933, her first post being at a school at Loudon near Mzimba. She later moved to Livingstonia and became the principal of Overtoun Institute, the teacher training college there. When the Church of Scotland mission was dissolved in 1960 and responsibility passed to the synod of the Church of Livingstone Taylor became an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Central Africa. During the troubles in Nyasaland prompted by the actions of the nationalists under Hastings Banda opposed to Federation, she played and important role in speaking up to safeguard the place of the church and mission and the rights of normal Africans. Taylor was particularly concerned to bring to the attention of the government the intimidation practised by the security forces on Africans. While recognising the need for careful handling of the relationship between the government and the church she opposed Federation and called for the release of detained African leaders. Taylor published a pamphlet on African (Malawi) religious songs and lived in Edinburgh when she retired.

From the guide to the Papers of Helen M. Taylor, 1958-1963, (Edinburgh University Library)