From Corris to Cherra- The Life and Work of the Rev. Dr. John Roberts 1842-1908

About the Book The book is primarily on the life and contribution of Dr. John Roberts as a Christian missionary against the background of his times. He was the Founder-Principal of the erstwhile Cherra Theological College, established in 1887 at a place popularly known as Cherrapunji, officially called Sohra, Meghalaya, India. In 1994, the College was shifted to Mawklot, Shillong and renamed as 'John Roberts Theological Seminary'.

The main aim of the present work is to discover John Roberts as a preacher, teacher, pastor, translator and author; who spent over 37 years in growing and developing Church on the Khasi Hills. This scholarly research will be an important resource not only to theologians & historians but also to missiologists addressing their questions aimed at seeking to understand the culture & society in which the church is situated.

About the Author The Rev. Dafydd Andrew Jones is a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales and of its Association in South Wales. He was trained at the University of Wales and the University of Cambridge before his ordination in 1970 as minister of a rural pastorate in the Vale of Conwy and subsequently of Capel Mawr, Rhosllannerchrugog. In 1984, he was called by the Church to be its Mission Board Secretary and latterly its Director of Life and Witness. He has also served 'The Council of World Mission' within its European Region as its Secretary and Chair and globally as one of its Honourary Officers. He is married with three children and has one grandchild. He is deeply. interested in the historical link between the Presbyterian Church of Wales and The Presbyterian Church of India.

Foreword Dr. John Roberts was the founding Principal of erstwhile Cherra Theological College established in 1887 at a village popularly known to outsiders as Cherrapunji 1887, and officially as Sohra. In 1994, the College was shifted to, Mawklot. Shillong under a new name John Roberts Theological Seminary, in memory, Dr. John Roberts. Furthermore, Dr. John Roberts' contributions extend beyond the boundaries of the church and encompass endeavours in various social spheres as well. He played a vital role in the development of the Khasi language, for which he deservedly earned the worthy title as the Father of Khasi Literature. This book will undoubtedly serve as a treasure trove of knowledge not only for the general readership, but also for academics and researchers as well.

During the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Wales (PCW held at Lampeter in 2007, I shared with Rev. David Andrew Jones, then serving as Mission Secretary (PCW), of my desire to have a book written on the life and contributions of Dr. John Roberts to the Mission in Khasi Jaintia Hills in general and to the cause of theological education as founding Principal of the Seminary. I also mentioned that it would be ideal to have the book released during the Quosquicentennial celebration in 2012. In spite of the immense responsibility he shouldered as the Missions Secretary, Rev. Andrew Jones finally decided to take up the challenge of gathering all the needed information for the book. While the book missed the dateline, and for genuine reasons as the author had to run from pillar to post for the materials, it finally came out. On a personal note, I wish to record my sincere thanks to Rev. Andrew Jones for his hard work and dedication to the project. I also do so on behalf of the Faculty, office Staff and students of the Seminary past, present and future, and on behalf of the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Assembly.

Introduction The genesis of this book goes back a number of years to the visit of Rev. Dr. M. J. Hynniewta, Principal of the John Roberts Theological Seminary Mawklot to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Wales. His request was that someone would write on the Rev. Dr. John Roberts, Cherra, whose name is given to the Theological Seminary, and who is the founder of theological education on the Khasi Hills. On account of his literary contribution. Roberts has been honoured with the title 'father of Khasi literature.

Dr. Roberts, the third of four children born to stonemason Richard Roberts and his wife Jane, hailed from Corris, a rural and slate-quarrying community in mid Wales in the middle decades of the nineteenth-century. Growing up in the forties and fifties of that century he was aware of the powerful and transforming influences of the day. These were associated with industrialisation and the movement of peoples into and out of Corris, the growth and development of education and perhaps more significantly the development of religious and cultural life expressive of Welsh Nonconformity, the Calvinistic Methodist variety. His inquisitive mind led to his reading substantial volumes and articles at an early age and although opportunities of formal education were spasmodic in 1864 he candidated for the Christian ministry and trained at Bala College before offering himself for missionary work overseas and further training in Edinburgh. Subsequently he married Sydney Margaret Jones, daughter of a minister and poet from Mold on the Welsh-English border, sailing to India in September 1871. He was the first missionary based in the newly established station at Shella in the Khasi Hills, moving to Cherra in 1876 to pursue a ministry in education in addition to pastoral work. This move eventually led to his establishing the Theological Institution and developing his Khasi literary skills through his contribution to the translation of the scriptures, hymns and other genre such as drama as well as producing his own Khasi compositions. With his death in 1908 the Mission lost one of its most committed and talented pioneer workers.

This study seeks to analyse the life and contribution of John Roberts as a Christian missionary against the background of his times. This contribution is recognised in general histories of the Welsh Mission on the Khasi Hills. The Rev.

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