U Larsing

U Larsing (1838 - 1863), also known as Larsing Khongwir, was an Evangelist missionary who practiced in the area of the Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India during the late 1850s and early 1860s. Additionally, he was among the first Khasi Missionaries to visit and preach in England and Wales during the early 1860s

Personal life

Gravestone

U Larsing, also known as Larsing Khongwir, was born in about 1838 in Mawsmai. His father was a trader, and U Larsing was the older of two children. His family followed the Hindu religion.

U Larsing died at Ty Cerrig, Caergwrle, Flintshire, Wales on 24 August 1863 whilst visiting the area doing missionary work. He was buried at the Overleigh Cemetery, Chester, Cheshire on 28 August 1863.

The inscription on his gravestone is in both English and Welsh and reads:

Inscription

Here rests in hope the body of U Larsing one of the first fruits of the Welsh Missionary Society on the Khassia Hills, Bengal where he laboured several years as an Evangelist. In 1861 he visited this country and endeared himself to thousands in England and Wales. When about to return to his native land his saviour called him to himself and he entered into the joy of his Lord at Caergwrle August 24, 1863.

The gravestone was listed as Grade II on the National Heritage List in England on 23 July 1998.

A book titled 'U Larsing Evangelist from the Khasia Hills' about his life and missionary was written by John Hughes Morris and published in 1912 in both the English and Welsh language.

Missionary work

Portrait of U. Larsing

U Larsing became involved with the Evangelist movement when he studied at the Mawsmai Missionary School. After his parents' death he was supported by Reverend William Lewis, and his wife, Mary Lewis who were missionaries working in Nogwalia. U Larsing was received into the Evangelist Church at Nogwalia on 11 July 1849. Later, he was baptised at the school room, Shella on 5 October 1851.

U Larsing was stationed as a missionary at several locations, including Jowai, the principal village in the Jaintia Hills, and Shella, in the Khasia Hills.

An advantage of the local people being converted to missionary work was they were able to access areas others could not. However, an alternative viewpoint expressed during the era was such use of local people in this manner was exploiting them.

U Larsing's missionary work attracted the attention of the English and Welsh Evangelist Churches and he was invited to visit its members. He arrived at London on 27 May 1861. He was involved in a preaching tour throughout England and Wales, including venues in London, Llandeilo, Liverpool, Manchester, Menai Bridge, and Pwllheli. Subsequently, he stayed in Chester for three month. Later, he practiced at the Holt Academy near Wrexham under the supervision of Reverend Ebenezer Powell.

Further reading

• Morris, John Hughes (1912) U Larsing Evangelist from the Khasia Hills, Canarvon: C.M. Bookroom.
• The article by Baishya, Amit Rahul in Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities uses U Larsing as an example when discussing the issues about the local population as missionaries.
• The article by Cleall, E. (2014) ‘Welsh Missionaries and British Imperialism: The Empire of Clouds in North-East India, by Andrew May’, Journal of Imperial & Commonwealth History, 42(4), pp. 768–770. doi:10.1080/03086534.2014.966571 discusses U Larsing's role as a Khasia missionary.
• Multiple articles information about the life and Missionary of U Larsing appear in the journals:

Monthly Tidings (Available on-line via The National Library of Wales)

The Treasury (Available on-line via The National Library of Wales)