Charles Mead
Birth: 01.10.1792
Death: 13.01.1873
City: Bristol
Country: England
Place of Vision: India
Charles Mead is called the 'Father of the South Travancore Mission. During his first missionary journey from England to India, at a very young age, he lost his wife and a three months old child within a span of few days. Inspired by others who lost their possessions and lives for missionary work, Charles Mead, too, accepted his losses and committed himself for God's work actively.
He was in charge of the ministry left by Ringletaube at Mylaudy and moved its headquarters to Nagercoil. He built an orphanage to accommodate orphaned children, a boarding school, a church, and a printing press as well. Within a span of two years, he was able to save 3000 souls for Christ. He commenced a seminary in 1819 and an English Medium School in 1820 which provided education to many people without any caste or religious discrimination.
In those days, the lower caste ∆ women were treated like slaves by the upper castes and were not allowed to wear topcoats. Mead opposed this discrimination. He made efforts and started organizations for the rights and protection of lower caste women between the period 1822-1829. But it also drew the ire of the upper caste people in Neyyoor who burnt down many Christian houses, schools, and churches. However, the collective effort of many missionaries resulted in the enactment of a law empowering the lower caste women.
Many people conspired to kill Mead for his Christian work, but God miraculously saved him from all. He served the people of Colachel and many parts of Neyyoor district in Tamil Nadu for over 35 years and led them to Christ.