Just down the road from where we live is the chapel where John Coleridge Patteson had his first congregation. At the age of 27 he answered the call to become a missionary to the South Pacific. Here he travelled around Melanesia, working with the natives of the island and gaining their respect. Sadly, as a result of the suspicions brought about by European slave traders, he was murdered and his body returned on an open canoe. Patteson died for his faith.

We have placed a geocache in the area nearby, entitled Martyr, which has reasonably cryptic clues to encourage “cachers” to look further into the history of Patteson’s work.

While researching the geocache, we looked at Patteson’s cross, the church in Alfington and passed Feniton Court, his childhood home. See the photos.

Patteson’s work involved great journeys. His parish spread over 1800 miles, to include all of the scattered islands. It is our hope that the Incy Wincy travel bug will make a similar journey, heading for Norfolk Island.

Picture of a wood-carving given by the Melanesian Brothers to Rev. Simon Franklin

This is the woodcarving presented to the Alfington Parish Church by the Melanesian Brothers, showing the death of John Coleridge Patteson.

[Brief History] [Photographs] [Martyr Geocache] [Geocaching Website] [IncyWincy] [Wiki on JCPatteson] [Streetmap of area]