Anna Hinderer

Hinderer was born in Hempnall in Norfolk in 1827. Her mother died when she was five and from the age of twelve she was cared for by her aunt and grandfather until she went to live in Lowestoft. In Lowestoft's vicarage she worked there as secretary to the Reverend Francis and Richenda Cunningham. Whilst serving as a Sunday School teacher she reported her own conversion.[1] She had an ambition to be a missionary and on 14 October 1852 she married David Hinderer. Her new husband came from Germany but he was employed as an African missionary by the British Church Missionary Society.[2]

In 1852 they set out to establish a new mission in what is now Nigeria. Anna briefly stayed at Abeokuta.[1] In 1853 she arrived in Ibadan and although they had intended to travel further they decided to set up their mission in that settlement.[2] Ibadan's population was around 55,000 according to David.[3] Anna would teach in the school that they built and she would run the mission when David was away preaching or trying to translate the New Testament.[2] Her husband could speak Yoruba and he was on good terms with the local dignitaries. This advantage meant that the children of local chiefs attended and sometimes boarded at the school which Anna ran.[3] The first two Christian converts were Yejide and Akielle who were the son and daughter of a local chief.[1] Lady Hannah Buxton sent boxes of toys to Hinderer in 1855. By 1866 her grandchildren were parcelling up toys to send to Nigeria.[4]

In 1860 war broke out and the hostilities prevented them from being able to travel to the coast for five years. Parcels from Lady Buxton could not be sent as they would be ambushed. Money and food ran out and Hinderer had to return children in her own care wherever possible. Sadly one of their converts died after being mistreated by their family for being Christian.[1] This was the start of her poor health and she returned to England in 1869.[2]

Two Victorian missionaries

Hinderer died in Martham in Norfolk in 1870 where her husband was acting as curate. Two years later her memoirs were published. Seventeen Years in the Yoruba Country[5] and although her husband was shown as joint author the book had been compiled by two sisters, named Hone, who lived in Halesowen Rectory. The book raised £31 and this was sent to Daniel and Sussanah Olubi who had taken over the mission in Ibadan. Daniel and Sussanah had married whilst working and deputising for the Hinderers.[1]

Hinderer has a small stained glass window devoted to her in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral.[6] In 1933, Kudeti Girl's School in Ibadan restored a memorial in thanks for the life of Anna (and David) Hinderer. That school would eventually become part of a school that changed its name to St Anne's School in honour of Hinderer in 1950. The school celebrates its 'birthday' on July 26, the feast day of Saint Anne.[7]