In the 1800's, Catholic missionary expeditions were launched with new
vigour to the West, in Senegal and Gabon. Protestant missionaries took
up work in Sierra Leone in 1804. The missionaries represented a big spectrum
of denominations or churches: Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, many of
them in competition and conflict with each other.
The abolition of slave owning in 1807 and slave trading in 1834 throughout
the British Empire proved to be two important turning points. Outlawing
the slave trade and converting freed slaves became a powerful motive for
setting up European Christian missions. Human compassion in Europe for
the plight of slaves meant that money could be raised to fund the considerable
expenses of setting up a mission.
The Protestants spread the Christian gospel through the slaves who were
liberated from slaving ships along the West Coast after 1834. The application
of Christian doctrine was much stricter than it had been in previous centuries.
The success of Christian missionary programmes can be linked to the education
they offered. Many people in Africa wanted education; and missionaries
taught people to read, in order that they might understand the word of
God.
