Biographical entry: Besley, Arthur A. (1884 - 1974)
- Born
- 1884
- Died
- 1974
Details
Arthur A. Besley was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1884. He was the first New Zealand-born Methodist minister appointed to the Solomon Islands. He took over Bilua Station on Vella Lavella from Rev. Reginald Nicholson (q.v.) in 1921 and remained there until 1934. He married Sister Constance Olds whom he met at the mission. He learnt the Bilua language and did extensive translation work. For six years he edited the New Zealand Methodist Mission's children's paper, Lotu. After retiring from the Methodist Mission in the Solomon Islands he held ministries in Morrinsville, Greymouth and Tauranga in New Zealand. He was supernumerary from 1950 and died in 1974. (PAMBU catalogue)