Mary Slessor: A Life on the Altar for God

by Bruce McLennan

Mary Slessor was no ordinary woman, indeed she was no ordinary missionary. Brought up in Dundee, one of eleven children, Mary was called to mission. Setting sail for West Africa on the 5th August 1876, Mary arrived one month later. Bruce McLennan examines this remarkable story of a woman who shared the Gospel, stood up against inequality and impacted all areas of life in Calabar with boldness and conviction. McLennan also considers the debt owed to the work of previous missionaries who had established the work and looks at the legacy of Slessor after her death.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2014

About the author

Bruce McLennan holds degrees from Edinburgh University, the University of Guelph, Ontaria, the University of Aberdeen and Dundee University. Specialising in Church History, particularly the Reformation in the North-east of Scotland he has contributed to a number of journal articles and has spent most of his career in secondary education in England, Scotland and Western Australia.

Reviews

[Hannah Gulasky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mary Slessor but I would not recommend this specific book to anyone. The book begins with an overview of Mary Slessor’s life, covering her childhood, young adulthood, her 38 years of ministry, and concluding with her death. The second half provides more detailed accounts of her various settlements, ministries, and relationships, but these sections are not presented in chronological order. At times, it felt less like a continuation of the same story and more like reading two separate books—either by two different authors about the same person or by the same author about two entirely different people. While the first half was engaging, the second half felt tedious, as it seemed to revisit material I had already read without adding enough new insight. The book would have been more effective if these details had been integrated throughout the narrative, allowing each phase of her life to be explored fully and cohesively as it unfolded.

[Margaret Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The incredible story of the Victorian missionary, Mary Slessor in Calabar (Nigeria). Mclennan looks first at the missionaries who were in Calabar before Mary came, her time there and the legacy. It is inspiring and amazing to read of how Mary lived and what she achieved in Calabar. She was bold and brave for God and overcame sickness to serve the people.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Slessor was a remarkable individual who altered the spiritual landscape for many Nigerians. Mclennan’s biography did her story justice as he ably delved into the inspiring story of this single female missionary pioneer.

Slessor’s love for Jesus, singular dedication to His calling, courageous exploits and surprising diplomatic skills were carefully detailed throughout the book. Often relying on eyewitness accounts, the author expounded on the intricate relational framework that made her so effective. Slessor’s simplicity of life and deep enculturation with the people of Calabar were so distinctive that several leading agnostics and anti-missionary personalities of her day expressed a profound respect for her. She was in a category or her own for most people.

Biographies such as this are a treasure because they demonstrate what a life sold out to Jesus can become.

[Ann Riddle (camelshepherd21)]

I was reading this book for an upcoming Missionary book club. This book is divided into 2 sections. One that is the actual biography and part 2 reflecting on Mary’s impact. I stopped the book in the beginning of chapter 8 (67%), because I felt that I had most of the same knowledge as the wy wam biography on her and most everyone else will have read that biography. I currently have two other books of more importance to me right now and just wanted to be finished with this book. The writing is well done, but it is more of a studious book.

[Tim Franks · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a powerful story about the life of a Godly woman who really brought the good news of Jesus to an unreached people group. I really love her story and learning more deeply about the impact of her work in Nigeria a hundred years ago. The writing style was a bit choppy and there were way too many quotes from other sources and lacking in enough original material. I may attempt to read some other works on her life for more of that. We all need to take the challenge of Mary's life and be bold with the Gospel where the Lord has us.

[Jason Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenging account of the life of Mary Slessor, missionary to Nigeria in the late 19th-early 20th century.