George Pilkington was an Anglican Missionary for the Church Missionary Society in Uganda. Pilkington was a Cambridge graduate who, although initially planning to serve in the China Inland Mission,[1] served in Uganda until his death in 1897. Pilkington was enlisted into East African service by Douglas Hooper, who had served there for several years.[2] Pilkington’s contemporaries in Uganda thought “war [had] ruined the country.”[3] The violence between native groups would cost Pilkington his life; he died during a battle against rebellious Sudanese troops in eastern Uganda.[4]
Pilkington arrived in Buganda (now Uganda) in 1891 and published his dictionary a year later. In a letter written to Mr. Lang in 1892, Pilkington wrote how difficult it was for most missionaries to learn African languages. Out of an “earnest desire to see the Gospel preached to all nations,” Pilkington compiled a Luganda dictionary, which was published in 1892.[5]
A major accomplishment of Pilkington during his time in Africa was his translation of the Bible into Luganda.[6] Pilkington based his translation on the Swahili translation of the Bible and did his translation in Tore in 1895/6.[7] Pilkington also translated other theological works, such as Prayers and hymns. In his dictionary, he includes the translation of some prayers and scriptures, which can be found in the Appendix.
For more information, see ‘Pilkington of Luganda’ by Charles F. Harford, published 1899.
[1] Harford, Charles F. Pilkington of Luganda, Fleming H. Revall Company, 1899, page 43. https://archive.org/details/pilkingtonofugandaflem00harf/page/42/mode/2up
[2] Harford, Pilkington, pages 51-52.
[3] Harford, Pilkington, page 120.
[5] Harford, Pilkington, page 196.
[6] Gerald H. Anderson, ‘Pilkington, George Lawrence.’ Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1998. https://dacb.org/stories/uganda/pilkington-george/
[7] Harford, Pilkington, page 265-270.
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