Richard Knill

He became a student of the Western Academy at Axminster in 1812, and under the influence of a sermon by Dr. Alexander Waugh, volunteered for missionary work.

His health soon failed, and he was sent in September 1818 to Nágarkoil in Travancore;[3] during his short stay, he worked with Mead, and he laid the foundation stone of the Home Church at Nagercoil on New Year’s Day 1819.

On the persuasion of the British and Americans, he agreed to remain there, where his work obtained the support of the emperor and the royal family.

A school was opened for the children of foreigners, and a mission to the sailors at Kronstadt[1] (the harbour used by the navy about ten km from St. Petersburg) was established.

He was so successful in creating funds and friends for the London Missionary Society, that he was requested to remain at home, and for eight years he visited almost every place in the United Kingdom, advocating the claims of the foreign missions.

On 9 January 1823 he married Sarah,[2] daughter of James and Isabella Notman, a native of St. Petersburg, by whom he had five children.