English: Two Victorian missionaries, buried in the country churchyard of Martham in Norfolk. The Hinderers have an interesting history ; the husband, David, was born in Germany. His wife, Anna, née Martin, came from Lowestoft, where the couple were married in 1852. Anna died in 1870 in Martham, where David was, at that time, Curate in charge of the parish.

Bearing in mind that attitudes were different in Victorian times and that many missionaries caused considerable friction in the places where they rode in with a degree of arrogance, these two appear to have been well-received in Nigeria and appreciated long after their death, as witnessed by the fact that the gravestone itself was restored in 1933 in memory of the work that Anna had done for Kudeti school.

The definitive 'History of the Yorubas', by The Revd Samuel Johnson, first published in 1921, was reprinted in Lagos as recently as 2001 and is still an invaluable source on the history of the area. The author actually dedicated the book to David Hinderer, describing him as a man of, 'untiring energy, self-denying devotion and determination of purpose in spite of privations and bodily infirmities'.

Hinderer arrived in what was a warring nation when he first landed in 1851 but was kindly received by the leading chiefs in Ibadan, though not without some prelminary discussion on their behalf. Johnson says, 'When he told them the object of his visit, the five leading chiefs, viz the Bale, Balogun, Otun, Osi and an elderly chief Lanosos by name, in whose house he was lodged, held consultation whether they should receive the white man and the message he brought, or not. Osundina, the Osi, a staunch Moslem, raised objections, evidently on religious grounds ; he stoutly opposed his stay among them. Said he, "Awon obaiye je ni iwonyi" ( these are the world spoilers), there is no country they enter but misfortune will follow for that place". Ogunmola, the Otun said, "But white men are at Lagos, Badagry and Abeokuta ; why should we refuse him? We are not the first nor shall we be the last to receive them, and, whatever be the consequence to others let the same be to us also". Ibikunle the Balogun suggested that the national god Ifa should be consulted, and if Ifa prognosticated evil let the white man be ordered out of the town at once ; but if favourable, let him be received. These five chiefs accordingly repaired to the Ogboni house at the Ibasorun market and consulted the brazen Ifa, which is the national god. The omen was favourable and Mr Hinderer was accorded a cordial welcome and well entertained'.

David Hinderer later returned to Ibadan, with his wife, Anna and she is particularly associated with the school they set up at Kudeti. The fact that one of the chiefs sent his own children as pupils to this school speaks highly of the trust that was placed in the Hinderers. Anna is also memorialised in a window in Liverpool Anglican cathedral. See

www.flickr.com/photos/8118630@N08/9627994289/in/album-721...