When BMS’ first missionaries,
William Carey and John Thomas, sailed away from England in 1793, their destination was the vast continent of Asia – and
India in particular.
Arriving in Kolkata, the mission base moved after a few years to Serampore.
The Serampore Trio, as Carey and new recruits Marshman and Ward, became known, developed work in several areas including preaching, founding schools, printing and translation work. Missionaries were soon appointed to other parts of India.
By the mid-19th century, BMS was also able to turn its sights to
China. The political situation opened the way for both traders and missionaries to enter the country and BMS’ first volunteers arrived in 1860. BMS work in China lasted for 90 years and involved nearly 400 missionaries who took part in evangelism and church work, medical mission, famine relief work, education, translation work and the distribution of Christian literature.
Missionary work in both India and China provided the foundation for a long-standing work in Asia, which continues today, notably in Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, as well as in India.