No . 130
The Trusty Servant
Three generations in the mission field
Jim Stanley-Smith ( D , 42-47 ) recounts two historic occasions in Uganda in February :
The Bible Society of Uganda invited me to attend the 55-year celebration of the Runyankole / Rukiga Bible , which was translated by my father , Dr Algie Stanley-Smith ( D , 1903-08 ), and his team . I was 90 , but my son Christopher encouraged me to make the effort .
The celebration was held in the Boma Grounds in Mbarara , with about 3,000 people attending and bishops and church leaders from many denominations . We were given seats of honour and I was the guest speaker ; and we were given plaques to celebrate the occasion .
We were then driven down to Kabale , where I was born , to attend the 98th anniversary of the founding of Kigezi High School , which was founded by my father in 1922 . We spent some time at the school , which is aiming to be among the ten best in Uganda . On Sunday we attended a service in the Cathedral , with 700 people from parishes in the Diocese of Kigezi . I gave a talk there as well , partly about Dad and his work over 62 years : he was the longest-serving missionary in the history of the Church Missionary Society ( 1915-77 ). We were presented with plaques to celebrate the founding of the school . My son Chris and my grandson hope to visit the school for the centenary in 2022 . Winchester College has a copy of Not a Gap Year , but a Life Time in the library , which I gave them in 2008 . This tells the story of Dr Len Sharp and Dr Algie Stanley Smith founding hospitals and churches in Uganda , Rwanda and Burundi .
Then we were driven to Kigali , Rwanda , for our return flight . While there we met a mission group ( sent by Bishop Tim Dakin ), who had been visiting Kigeme . This was the mission station ( founded by Dad ), where our family lived for five years before returning to England , just in time for the Coronation of King George VI . I have a picture ( taken on my box brownie in 1946 ) of King George and Queen Elizabeth [ Ed . Received by ICS Normand ( Coll , 41-46 ), father of Win Coll Soc ’ s new Director ], when they were received Ad Portas !
Dad was born in China , where his father Stanley P Smith worked with DE Hoste of the China Inland Mission . He was one of the Cambridge Seven ( stroke of the Cambridge boat ) with CT Studd , a famous cricketer ; I have a picture of Charles and Stanley in China . Dad was in Kenny ’ s : ACS Smith is on the VIs board in the dining room ( 1908 ). In 1914 / 15 he was awarded the MC for bravery , carrying wounded soldiers on horses ( two were shot from under him ). I was in the choir , the 2nd X1 and Gym medals , then the Royal Artillery before getting into Durham University , partly because of the education I received at Win . Coll . There I was in the Durham Choral Society , the squash team and athletics ; I won the pole vault for five years and broke the record at 10 ft . 6 inches . There was a Win Coll Choir Reunion in 2014 / 15 that my wife and
I went to , and found ourselves sitting next to Sir Edward Studd ( A , 43-47 , grandson of CT Studd ; I had a photo of the choir ( 1944 / 5 ), and Mrs Studd pointed out Edward to me – we were standing next to each other !
I married Edith , whom I had met at Durham , two years after I left . We spent 16 years in Kenya with CMS , training teachers , then as RE Adviser for the Diocese of Mt Kenya ( from Nairobi to Ethiopia ). Then CMS appointed me as Area Secretary for Winchester and Portsmouth Dioceses under Bp . John Taylor ( for nine years ). We brought the Gayaza Girls High School to perform a concert in New Hall . Then I was ordained and served in Winchester Diocese for ten years , until we retired to Rownhams .
The Stanley Smith and Sharp families : ACSS seated far-left ; JSS standing top right .
For at least the last 25 years I have been a member of the Winchester Diocese Clergy Tennis team , playing friendly matches in different parishes . One of our regular matches was with some first-year boys at Win Coll , which was very popular , especially when on some occasions we played on the superb grass courts . Last year ( my 90th ) we started the match , but rain stopped play !
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