He and James Herbert Lorrain brought Protestantism to Mizoram, and some parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Together they were entirely responsible for the creation of written language in Mizo, beginning of literacy, origin of formal education and establishment of churches in Mizoram.

In 1891 he accepted the missionary post offered by the Arthington Aborigines Mission to work in India.

He attended an evangelical campaign at Brahmanbaria (now in Bangladesh) organised by the New Zealand Baptists where he met Lorrain.

[4][5] Savidge and Lorrain were to start camping and work in Tripura according to the plan of Arthington Aborigines Mission.

From Brahmanbaria they headed east into Tripura, where their visit was bluntly objected by the ruler, Maharaja.

Since Lushai Hills was still under tribal chieftainships with constant warfare, their application was deferred and allowed to stay at Kasalong village, the nearest possible location.

The area suffered a heavy shortage of food supply, and infectious diseases were rampant.

Finally a permit was issued and they immediately set off on Tlawng River in a canoe on Boxing Day of 1893.

They were the first foreigners the Mizo had ever seen having not authority on anything, so that they soon earned the nickname Sap Vakvai ("Vagabond Sahibs").

The Welsh Mission objected to the continued service of Savidge and Lorrain because of their Baptist persuasion.

[4][11] Since the Welsh Mission managed only the northern part of Mizoram, the Baptist Missionary Society of London adopted the new field.

The Savidges were fully devoted to school management, theology classes, medical centre and social services.

[16] Savidge and Lorrain were given an honorific title Zosap (meaning "Mizo Sahib" or "respected master".