Item number: M483

Year: AD 1892

Material: Iridium

The results after XRF testing

Size: 44.6 x 44.6 x 3.3 mm

Weight: 23.45 g

Provenance: Private Collector, UK, 2025

This is a Baptist Mission Centenary Medal issued in AD 1892 to mark the centenary of the foundation of the British Baptist Missionary Society.

The upper semicircle of the obverse is inscribed with the legend “BAPTIST MISSION CENTENARY 1792-1892”, indicating that its issuance was intended to celebrate the completion of one hundred anniversary of modern overseas evangelical enterprises by the missionary organisation. The central field intricately depicts a typical traditional English two-storey residence, complete with chimneys and a forecourt palisade. At the exergue, the explanatory inscription reads: “THE HOUSE AT KETTERING IN WHICH THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY WAS FORMED OCT 2ND 1792”. This explicitly identifies the illustrated architecture as the birthplace of the Society on 2 October AD 1792, which was the residence of Mrs Wallis in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

The reverse design features an open book at its center symbolizing the Holy Bible, from which rays of light radiate to interconnect four distinct circular medallions, whilst the outer perimeter bears the names of four pioneering figures: “CAREY” (William Carey), “FULLER” (Andrew Fuller), “MARSHMAN” (Joshua Marshman), and “WARD” (William Ward). These four medallions represent the quadrant of geographical and historical themes underpinning the Society’s missionary endeavors, comprising “AFRICA”, depicted with a steamboat and palm trees; “INDIA”, characterized by an Oriental domed structure; “CHINA”, illustrating a Chinese pagoda and a junk; and “WEST INDIES EMANCIPATION”, showcasing severed slave chains to denote the promotion of the abolitionist movement. A suspension perforation is preserved at the apex, which originally facilitated the threading of cord for adherents to suspend, wear, or display the medal.

This commemorative medal encapsulates the inception and a century of achievements of the modern overseas missionary movement. On 2 October AD 1792, twelve rural ministers, including William Carey and Andrew Fuller, assembled in the drawing room of Mrs Wallis—the very building represented on the obverse—to co-sign the founding covenant and establish the Baptist Missionary Society. Subsequently, Carey, Marshman, and Ward journeyed to Bengal to form the celebrated “Serampore Trio”, pioneering the translation of the Bible into various Indian languages as well as Chinese, alongside substantial undertakings in printing and education. This centenary medal not only chronicles the trajectory of these missionary pioneers across Asia and Africa, but also records the monumental contributions of missionaries in the West Indies who vigorously championed human rights for enslaved Africans, ultimately facilitating the abolition of slavery within the British Empire.

物件編號: M483

年代: 公元 1892 年

材質: 銥

XRF分析結果

尺寸: 44.6 x 44.6 x 3.3 mm

重量: 23.45 g

來源: 英國私人收藏 2025

這是一枚發行於公元1892年的英國浸信會傳教差會成立一百週年紀念章。

紀念章的正面上半部鑄有「BAPTIST MISSION CENTENARY 1792-1892」的字樣，表明其發行旨在慶祝該傳教組織開展現代海外宣教事業滿一百週年；中央主體圖案細緻地描繪了一棟兩層樓、帶有煙囪與前院圍欄的典型英式傳統建築；底部則配以文字說明：「THE HOUSE AT KETTERING IN WHICH THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY WAS FORMED OCT 2ND 1792」。這指明了圖像中的建築即為公元1792年10月2日差會的誕生地，位於北安普敦凱特林的華里絲夫人(Mrs. Wallis)邸。

紀念章的背面中央一本打開的書籍象徵《聖經》，放射出光芒，並串聯起四個圓形徽章，外圈則圍繞著四位先驅的名字：「CAREY」（威廉·克里）、「FULLER」（安德魯·富勒）、「MARSHMAN」（約書亞·馬士曼）與「WARD」（威廉·沃德）。這四個圓徽分別代表差會宣教與歷史的四大主題：包含繪有蒸汽船與椰子樹的「AFRICA（非洲）」、展現東方圓頂建築的「INDIA（印度）」、描繪中式佛塔與帆船的「CHINA（中國）」，以及展現被斬斷的奴隸鐵鍊、象徵推動廢奴運動的「WEST INDIES EMANCIPATION（西印度群島之解放）」。其頂部亦保留了當時便於信徒穿繩懸掛、佩戴或展示的穿孔。

這枚紀念章縮影了現代海外宣教運動的起點與一世紀以來的成果。公元1792年10月2日，威廉·克里與安德魯·富勒等12位鄉村牧師，正是聚集在北安普敦郡凱特林（Kettering）的華理絲夫人客廳（即正面所示建築），共同簽署並創辦了「浸信會傳教差會」。隨後，克里、馬士曼與沃德前往孟加拉組成了著名的「塞蘭坡三傑」，在當地開創了包含印度諸語及中文在內的聖經翻譯、印刷與辦學事業。這枚百年紀念章不僅紀錄了傳教先驅們在亞洲與非洲的歷程，更記錄了傳教士在西印度群島極力為黑奴爭取人權、最終促成大英帝國廢除奴隸制度的貢獻。