Story: Missions and missionaries

Church Missionary Society hymn

Church Missionary Society hymn

'Fair are New Zealand's wooded mountains,
Deep glens, blue lakes, and dizzy steeps;
But sweeter than the murmuring fountains
Rises the song from holy lips'.

The Church Missionary Society was formed in 1799 and 15 years later it sent the first missionaries to New Zealand. This colourful tract, or religious pamphlet, was published in England in 1849 to celebrate the society's 50th anniversary. It includes the hymn, 'New Zealand'.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-015-009
Hand-coloured lithograph by Church Missionary Society

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Peter J. Lineham, 'Missions and missionaries - Missionaries from Britain', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/27979/church-missionary-society-hymn (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Peter J. Lineham, published 5 May 2011, reviewed & revised 8 Aug 2018