Charles Pearson

Charles William Pearson (1847-1917) was a merchant seaman for 8 years before he attended the Church Missionary Society(CMS) College in 1876. He was an Anglican Missionary in Uganda. In his journey to Uganda he was also a significant early traveller in the Sudan, He was later a parish priest in England.

In 1878 he led a party of 4 missionaries to Uganda to replace 4 who had died- 2 killed in a skirmish, 2 died of fever. The 4 travelled by ship to Suakim on the Red Sea. 3 reached Rubage in Uganda on 14th February 1878, it had taken over 9 months to arrive.

Charles was mainly involved in translation work, After 2 years he returned to UK for health reasons.

He studied theology at Oxford and was ordained deacon in 1886 and priest in 1887. He worked as an assistant curate at St. Ebb’s in Oxford for 4 years , then for 3 years the Church Pastoral Society for 3 years.

In July 1893 he became vicar of Walton ,Aylesbury. He was there for 24 years. he died on 20th June 1917.

He continued to translate throughout his life. He gained knowledge of 17 languages and served several publishers and missionary organisations in that capacity .