This week in Christian history: Congress endorses a Bible; Catholic Church condemns Blaise Pascal letters

Samuel Marsden shipwrecked – Sept. 7, 1823

This week marks the anniversary of when Samuel Marsden, an English missionary known for his evangelism of the Māori people of New Zealand, survived a shipwreck in the Pacific.

Marsden was traveling to Australia on a ship called the Brampton when the vessel was struck by a strong east wind that drove it into a reef. No one was killed in the wreck.

During his life, Marsden would make several mission trips to New Zealand, including a few after the shipwreck, and is credited with helping to advance peace among warring local tribes.

“Without him the conversion of Māori to Christianity might have been long delayed,” explained the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. “Marsden also transformed the Māori economy and laid the foundations of New Zealand agriculture. It can be said, too, that he made a notable contribution to the debate which ended in the British annexation of New Zealand.”