Henry Mackenzie (bishop)

Henry Mackenzie (1825-1878) was a British Anglican missionary and the first missionary bishop of the Universities' Mission to Central Africa (UMCA).

Mackenzie was born in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, on May 22, 1825. He was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, where he graduated as Senior Wrangler in 1848 and became a Fellow. He was ordained in 1851 and served as a curate in St. Mary's Church, Islington.

Inspired by David Livingstone's accounts of Central Africa, Mackenzie joined the UMCA in 1860. He led the first UMCA expedition to Nyasaland (modern-day Malawi) in 1861, establishing a mission station at Magomero. He aimed to establish a self-supporting and self-governing native church.

Mackenzie's tenure as bishop was short-lived. The mission faced numerous challenges, including disease, logistical difficulties, and hostile local tribes engaged in slave trading. Mackenzie himself succumbed to fever and died on January 31, 1862, near the Shire River.

Despite his brief time in Africa, Mackenzie's commitment and vision laid the foundation for the future growth of the UMCA. He is remembered as a pioneer of Anglican missionary work in Central Africa. His efforts helped shape the direction and strategies of the UMCA and influence subsequent missionary endeavors in the region.