Robert Clark (missionary)

Robert Clark (1825-1900) was a British Anglican missionary who served with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in the Punjab region of British India for over 40 years. Born in Burnham Deepdale, Norfolk, England, he was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and ordained in 1851.

Clark arrived in India in 1852 and initially worked in Amritsar. He later played a key role in establishing the CMS mission in Peshawar, a frontier town strategically important due to its proximity to Afghanistan. He was known for his evangelistic work, his linguistic abilities (becoming fluent in Pashto, Punjabi, and Urdu), and his efforts to establish schools and hospitals. He translated religious texts into local languages and actively engaged in theological debates.

Clark was a strong advocate for indigenous leadership within the Church, and he played a vital role in training local clergy. He also promoted the education of women and girls, a cause that faced considerable social resistance at the time.

He retired from missionary service in 1897 and returned to England, where he died in 1900. His legacy includes the numerous churches, schools, and medical facilities established under his leadership, as well as his contributions to the development of Christian literature in the local languages of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province.