John White

1866-1933. Wesleyan missionary. Born in Cumberland, he served in Southern Rhodesia (1894-1931), and as chairman of the district from 1903 supervised a growing work south and north of the Zambesi. He was the founder of Waddilove Institution and governor for two periods, a founder and chairman of the Southern Rhodesia Missionary Conference, and the translator of the Shona NT. White laid equal stress upon personal salvation and the social implications of the Gospel. Throughout his ministry he championed Shona interests, denouncing injustice, opposing discriminatory legislation, and earning much unpopularity among Europeans. His health was never robust and broke down completely in 1931.