Gelson Engel
| First name | Gelson |
|---|---|
| Last name | Engel |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Date of Birth | 10.10.1868 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1898 |
| Submitted by | Richard Engel |
Story
Rev Dr Gelson Engel (baptised Gottlob) was born on 10 October 1868 in Rottenacker, Germany, where his father Daniel was the schoolmaster. After the death of his father the family moved to Neckarhausen near Nurtingen where he received a classical education and became a primary school teacher.
In 1889 he applied to the Basel Missionary Society and after graduation was sent to Poona India.There he married Clara Bath on 29.12.1894, daughter of Rev Henry Bath of South Australia. In 1898 the family came to Australia where he was accepted as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. In 1900 he was sent as a missionary to Pusan, Korea where he served as missionary, translator, Professor of Greek, Hebrew, and Church History for 37 years.
Clara died in 1906, mother of five children. Gelson married Agnes Brown a fellow missionaryand they had two more children. All seven children, Frederick, Herbert, Dora, Max, Norman, Frank and Elsie received their education and settled in Australia. Although Gelson was given the status of British Protected Person he was unable to gain Australian Citizenship, lacking residence qualifications.
In Korea he is revered as a founder of the Presbyterian Church, and an early Moderator. Over 500 Korean Pastors studied under him. He died 24.5.1939 in Melbourne Australia.