Rev. Benjamin Clough: Pioneer missionary of Methodist School-Education in Ceylon and Asia
Rev. Benjamin Clough: Pioneer missionary of Methodist School-Education in Ceylon and Asia
When Rev. Benjamin Clough arrived in Galle, Ceylon on 29 June 1814, he carried with him the Methodist mission’s vision of combining faith with school-education. Within weeks, on 25 July 1814, he inaugurated the first Methodist Day-School of Ceylon at Doonberg Walawwa in Galle. This modest beginning marked the launch of the Methodist educational enterprise in Asia, and this Galle School would eventually grow into one of Sri Lanka’s most enduring and prestigious institutions, which is the Richmond College.
Benjamin
Clough was only twenty‑three years old when he arrived in Ceylon. The school he
established in Galle was remarkable for its inclusivity. After serving nine
months in Galle, he was transferred to Colombo, while his Galle School
flourished, expanding into several vernacular and Anglo-vernacular branch
schools This ensured that children could learn in their own language while also
gaining access to English instruction. This bilingual model was far ahead of
its time, laying the groundwork for later government policy on education in
Ceylon.
Scholarship and Language
Benjamin Clough played a significant role in both education and language
development in the country. Not only did he initiate the establishment of
schools, but he also brought fresh energy and a new approach to the study of
local languages—Sinhala and Pali—particularly in relation to Buddhist religion.
His expertise in the Pali language elevated him to the status of a respected
scholar, leading to the publication of literary works of lasting interest.
His mastery of these disciplines enabled him to become a distinguished
scholar of Pali, producing works that gave new impetus to the study of local
languages and opened fresh avenues for intercultural and interreligious
dialogue.
Benjamin
Clough stands among the Western pioneers of Buddhist Studies in Ceylon. Through
the tutelage of Buddhist monks he mastered Sinhala, Buddhism, and the classical
Pali language, thereby enriching both local scholarship and the global study of
Buddhism. He is honoured as the publisher of the first English–Sinhala Dictionary
in 1821, and in 1824 he produced the earliest Pali grammar book. He also
translated into English selected stories from the Pansiya Panas Jathaka
Katha, thereby opening a window for wider appreciation of Buddhist
literature.
Expansion to Colombo
In 1815,
Clough moved to Colombo, where he expanded the mission’s educational reach. He
founded schools that blended Western knowledge with local traditions, and his
leadership extended beyond classrooms. After the death of Rev. Tolfrey in 1817,
Clough became head of the Sinhalese Bible translation committee, drawing on his
deep knowledge of Sinhala and Pali. Clough’s linguistic scholarship was not
only for advanced missionary work, but also contributed to the academic study
of these languages, earning him recognition among European and Asian scholars.
Methodist Girls’ School, Colpetty
The first female school in Colombo began in
Colpetty, initiated by Lady Brownrigg and Lady Johnston. The First Report of
the General Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (1818) records that the Colpetty Day-School was the
first regular institution devoted to the daily education of native girls in
Ceylon. Girls were taught to read and write in Tamil or Sinhala, to memorize
prayers and Scripture passages, and to receive instruction in moral and
practical subjects. English was also offered, and many made notable progress.
Rev. Benjamin Clough and Rev. William Harvard
soon became actively involved, assisting Lady Johnston in the management of the
school. In a letter dated 30 May 1817, Clough reported that the Colpetty School
had already enrolled 158 children — boys and girls together — who were
instructed daily in English and Sinhala, alongside religious teaching. Girls
were supervised by a capable woman
of mixed ancestry, The
boys were taught by Cornelius Wijesinghe, a young Sinhala scholar trained under
Clough himself at the Galle School, who later became the first local Wesleyan
Methodist minister. The Colpetty Girls’ School was formally entrusted to the
Wesleyan Mission, with Clough playing a decisive role in securing its future.
This collaboration ensured that the Colpetty School became the forerunner of
Methodist girls’ education in Colombo. By 1866, Catherine Scott took charge,
and in 1915 it was renamed Methodist College, which today stands as one
of Sri Lanka’s leading girls’ schools.
Legacy in Galle
The Galle
school he founded continued to grow. In 1876, it was upgraded as a
Superior School into Galle High School, introducing Science education to the
country for university entry. This was achieved reflecting the expansion
and formalization of the Methodist educational enterprise. Just a few years
later, in 1882, it was renamed Richmond College, The two prestigious
Girls-Schools, Southlands and Rippon are off-shoots of the Galle School
founded by Clough. Richmond today stands as one of Sri Lanka’s most prestigious
boys’ schools. Richmond College and all affiliated to it, gratefully
commemorate its founder Rev Benjamin Clough who founded their Alma Mater
in 1814.
Theological Reflection
The Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:14
resonate deeply with this history: “We were the very first to come even as
far as to you with the good news of Christ.” The same passage of scripture
formed the text of the inaugural Methodist sermon, delivered on 3 July 1814
within the Dutch Church at Galle by Rev. Thomas Squance. Methodist education in
Galle was not an intrusion but a faithful extension of the Gospel’s reach. By
teaching children to read, to think, and to discern, Clough embodied the
Methodist conviction that education is discipleship — a means of forming lives
in truth, justice, and compassion. His legacy reminds us that mission is not
only preached from pulpits but lived in classrooms.
Rev. Benjamin Clough passed away in
London on 13 April 1853, closing a life devoted to faith, scholarship, education,
and humanity. His contributions spanned three pillars: the foundation of
Richmond College in Galle, the establishment of Colombo schools and linguistic
scholarship, and the securing of the Colpetty Girls’ School, which evolved into
Methodist College. Together, these initiatives reveal a holistic vision of
education — inclusive, bilingual, and culturally respectful — that shaped Sri
Lanka’s educational landscape for generations.
Today, we
remember Benjamin Clough not only as a pioneering Methodist missionary but also
as a visionary educator whose work in Galle, Colombo, and Colpetty transformed
the landscape of learning in Ceylon to reach highest levels in Western and
international education. From founding the first Methodist school in Asia to
championing bilingual education and securing opportunities, Clough’s legacy
continues to live on in institutions such as Richmond College Galle, and
Methodist College Colombo, reminding us that true service lies in uplifting
generations through knowledge with moral and ethical values.
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