William Tobias Ringeltaube
William Tobias Ringeltaube, or Wilhelm Tobias Ringeltaube (1770- ?) was the first Protestant missionary in the far south of India.[1] He spent much of his time in Travancore. He was the first child of Gottlieb Ringeltaube, Vicar of Scheidelwitz (today Szydlowice), near Brzeg, in Silesia. He was born on 8 August 1770. The cause and date of his death are uncertain, but it is widely believed that he died of liver failure whilst on a voyage to Africa. Others believe that he was killed by the natives whilst on a mission to Jakarta (then called Batavia).
William Tobias Ringeltaube | |
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| Born | August 8, 1770 |
| Nationality | Germany |
| Alma mater | Halle University |
| Occupation | PASTOR,MISSIONARY |
Early life
Five days after his birth he was baptized and given the name William Tobias Ringeltaube. For seven years Ringeltaube grew up in the quietness of a country home; after this his father went to Warsaw in Poland, and spent nine years in the city. During this time, William was educated by his father before attending the University of Halle.[2]
When he was 16, his father became a Court Preacher and General Superintendent at Oels, in Silesia. There, the young boy attended the Gymnaesium, but the boy was naturally shy and shunned all interaction with fellow students. In his 18th year he went on a walking tour, on which he made many friends. During this time, he made the decision to become a Christian missionary. Ordained in Wernigerode in 1796, he spent some time in Calcutta and England before he was invited by the London Missionary Society to join their 1803 mission to India.[2]
Ministry
Maharasan Vedamonikam, the first Protestant Christian from Mylady, was baptized by Rev. Kohlhoff and he invited Ringeltaube. Once Ringeltaube reached Tharangam padi, Maharasan Vedamanickam took him to Travancore. His ministries are building schools, orphanages, job training and proclaiming the gospel.
He opened many churches in Kanyakumari district. Mylaudy, South Thamaraikulam, Puthalam, Koilvilai (James town), Zionpuram, Perinbapuram and Ananthanadarkudy churches are the fruits of his ministry. One of these was Perinbapuram Church 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Nagercoil on the way to Monday market. All church has a history of more than 200 years. Thamaraikulam church is 5 km from Kanyakumari. Ananthanadarkudy church is 7 km from Nagercoil. Mylaudy church is 10 km from Nagercoil and Kanyakumari.
The first Protestant missionary to South Travancore was William Tobias Ringeltaube of the LMS in 1806. Ringeltaube, born in 1770, Pass on an invitation of Maharasan Vedamonikam of Mylaudy who had been converted christian in Tanjore by Rev. Kohlhoff, an SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) missionary. Ringeltaube was moved at the plight of the social out-castes of South Travancore. He worked among them and in May 1809 laid the foundation for church in Mylaudy, the first Protestant Church of South Travancore. He visited ‘Trivandrum’ in 1811. He left Travancore in 1816.
References
- Kent, Eliza F. (2004). Converting Women: Gender and Protestant Christianity in Colonial South India. Oxford University Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780195165074.
- Mateer 1871, p. 258.
- Bibliography
- Mateer, Samuel (1871). "The Land of Charity:": A Descriptive Account of Travancore and Its People, with Especial Reference to Missionary Labour. J. Snow and Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)