Margaret Grace Chapman died 1938

MARGARET GRACE CHAPMAN
WHO FELL ASLEEP 15 FEB 1938

I WILL LIFT MY EYES TO THE HILLS
HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD

GLENAROUA
AUSTRALIA
(Nishatganj Cem., Lucknow)

Great granddaughter Sue Muller
and husband Robert visited the
grave mid-October 2017 and later, at my request, provided the information on the life of 

 Margaret Grace Chapman   1893-1938

Margaret Grace Chapman was born near Kilmore in Victoria, Australia in 1893. Named after her mother Margaret, she was known by her middle name, Grace.  Grace was the third of 7 children, having 4 sisters and 2 brothers.

In 1908 when Grace was around 14 years of age she first met Ms Jean Fulcher from the British based Zenana Bible and Medical Mission in India. ⁽¹⁾  This meeting provided the basis for Grace’s later decision to work with the mission.

Grace completed her teacher training in 1913 and taught in several city and rural locations before resigning from the Education Department in June 1920. In September 1920 she sailed to India to work with the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission in Sholapur in the state of Maharashtra. She worked with Ms J Fulcher, as a teacher for local girls and later taught teacher training classes. Her work in teaching and translating reading primers meant she travelled and resided in several places around India until 1936. These included Dornakal, Berwada in Godavari Delta, Guntur etc. Literacy for adults as well as children became her focus.

Grace arrived in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in early 1937 and made the Lucknow Ashram established by Dr Stanley Jones her base.  Her time was spent travelling, instructing students in the Laubach⁽²⁾ method of learning to read, translating gospel primers and training others to teach. She also spent time planning for a literacy campaign in Lucknow, which included lobbying for  government support.

Grace was admitted to the Lucknow Civil Hospital in October 1937 for surgery which indicated her cancer was extensive and she was  initially not expected to live more than a few days. Her friend from Sholapur, Winfred Carnegie travelled to Lucknow to be with Grace during her illness.  Jean, her older sister and Pearl one of her younger sisters, also travelled from Australia and England respectively to be with Grace. Winifred, Jean and Pearl were with Grace when she passed away on 15^th February 1938.

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Blogger: Louise Marston, died 1916, aged 33 and Alice Bielby 1845--1879 were at least two other missionaries of the Zenana Bible Medical Mission buried in the Nishatganj Cemetery.