Francis John “Frank” Harpur (1860-1947) was a leading Irish Protestant, doctor, medical missionary, and minister for the Church Missionary Society. Harpur was admired for his near 40 years of active service through missions predominantly in Northeastern Africa. Throughout his time on his missions, Harpur made several lasting contributions with regard to accessibility, establishment, and administration of medicine in the form of dispensaries and hospitals. Harpur mainly headed a medical mission in Old Cairo but also initiated missions in Arabia, Sawakin, Omdurman, Khartoum, and along the Nile.
Francis John Harpur | |
|---|---|
 Dr. Frank Harpur in Menouf (1920) | |
| Born | 1861 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 11 January 1947 (aged 86) Armagh, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Bildung | Trinity College Dublin 1885 (MBBch) |
Early Life and Education
Harpur was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1861.[1] He was raised as an Anglican Christian in Ireland by his father Thomas Bernard Harpur and his mother Jane Law.[2] Harpur attended primary school at Galway Grammar School. In 1883, Harpur graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA). Harpur continued his education at Trinity College Dublin with work at L.M. Rotunda teaching hospital. He achieved his MBBCh in 1885.[3]
Personal Life
Harpur married his wife Edith Constance Fitzgerald on September 10th, 1885 in the small town in Ireland called Mountmellick.[4] Harpur was accepted as a medical missionary by the Church Missionary Society on March 17th, 1885.[3] Harpur was joined by his wife on many of his missions, including his first missions in Egypt. Fitzgerald acted as an aide and assistant for Harpur’s medical services and was an active leader in the locally established churches. Her work in the church consisted of leading musical prayer and teaching hymns.
Harpur had one son: Nour. Harpur adopted his son Nour Aly (who became Nour Harpur) in 1889 during Harpur’s mission to Sawakin. Nour was a young Sudanese orphan boy whose parents died from starvation. Harpur took in and cared for Nour for many years. Eventually, Nour disappeared from the Harpur family and it is rumored he was taken by the people of Cairo to be converted back to Islam from Christianity.[5]
Missionary Work
Work in Arabia
Dr. Frank Harpur began his work as a medical missionary through a mission in Arabia. In 1885 Harpur began aiding mission leaders, providing insight and support, and administering medicine in the city of Hodeida, which is now more commonly known as Al Hudaydah, the fourth largest city in Yemen. One year later in 1886, Harpur carried out similar responsibilities in Aden, Yemen.[5]
Old Cairo Mission
Dr. Frank Harpur began to establish his most prominent medical work upon his arrival to Old Cairo in 1889. With the help of Reverend Llewellyn Gwynne, Harpur established hospitals and clinics in Egypt[6]. Cities and villages in which Harpur traveled included Shubra, El Salheya, and Benha. Harpur’s work consisted of orchestrating medical support clinics, aiding government dispensaries, and teaching lessons of Christianity and the Bible to local residents. Throughout his time on the mission, Harpur observed a successful increase in hospital and dispensary attendance, which indicates improved capacity for medical attention and a healthier society.[7]
Dr. Frank Harpur’s work was seen as highly Evangelical. Harpur was the president of the building committee dedicated to constructing the church in Old Cairo. He was commonly known as a “zealous man of god” who spread his passion as an Evangelist. Harpur had pride for his wife Edith who played harmonium in the church and taught the community hymns. Harpur gave daily Bible lessons to his son Nour and provided various communities with printed copies of prayer in the local language. In addition, Harpur conducted evangelistic meetings for young men in Old Cairo.[5]
In 1892, Harpur was compelled to resign from his missionary duties on account of his wife’s health. On March 1st, 1892, he traveled to England with Mrs. Harpur to support her recovery, and returned to Egypt in October 1993 to resume charge of the medical mission in Old Cairo.[5] Between 1893 and 1900, Harpur traveled to and from England. His work during this period consisted of the construction of schools and medical clinics. He established, with Reverend Llewellyn Gwynne, mission stations and schools in North Sudan at Omdurman in 1899 and Khartoum in 1900.[8]
Nile Itinerancy Mission
In 1904, Harpur initiated and led the Nile Itinernancy Mission. His desire to conduct this mission stemmed from the greater need for medical care outside of Old Cairo, particularly in smaller, less developed villages along the Nile.[5]
Harpur bought a sailboat, known in Egypt as a dahabiya. Harpur equipped the dahabiya with medical supplies and tents. Harpur sailed along the Nile to various villages, setting up tent hospitals and providing medical help. Once on land, Harpur would travel to neighboring communities by donkey in order to treat as many patients as possible. He treated patients for endemic diseases, eye disease, and other medical issues. Additionally, Harpur led Bible classes in the evenings. Uniquely, Harpur was not subsidized by governments to build and run his hospitals on the Nile, and they were supported by his Christian staff.[5]
One of Harpur’s tent hospitals has a lasting impact today. During his journey along the Nile, Harpur provided medical care in along a small canal named near the village of El Bagour in the Province of Monufia. There, Sheikh Bassiouni el Saidi pleaded to Harpur to open a permanent hospital.[9] In 1910, Harpur agreed and established the first hospital in Menouf. The hospital is now known as the Harpur Memorial Hospital. It operates successfully and has recently celebrated its 110th Anniversary.[10]
Overview of Medical Missions
Harpur’s missions created a tangible impact for many communities in Northeastern Africa. Prior to Harpur’s work in Egypt and on the Nile, there were 300 square meters of medical centers and four staff members. Harpur grew the availability of medical care to over 30,000 square meters of hospitals and clinics with over 100 staff members. One of Harpur’s greatest feats came when he introduced medicine to combat, Enclostama, a small worm that feeds on the blood of the patients.[5]
Scottish artist Erskine Nicol, who briefly lived in Old Cairo spoke very highly of Harpur. Nicol appreciated not only Harpur’s medical assistance but also his dedication to his practice. Nicol said Harpur is a man that spoke from the heart and put his patients before himself.[5]
Death and Legacy
Harpur died on January 11th, 1947 in Armagh, Northern Ireland at the age of 86[11]. He is remembered through his successful endeavors and passion to improve global health. He was admired for his leadership and desire to spread healthcare where it was lacking, rather than just supporting current missions. Harpur is also survived through Harpur Memorial Hospital., which supports many patients today. Even with grave troubles in life, such as his wife’s sickness and death, Harpur remained resolute and dedicated to his work. Harpur persevered as an evangelist, physician, and surgeon to spread knowledge and care. He laid the foundation for future missionaries that built upon his creations and left a lasting effect on local and global health. Harpur was able to create healthier and more informed societies that would benefit from his advice and establishments for many years.
References
- ^ "Ancestry Library Edition". ancestrylibrary.proquest.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ "Ancestry Library Edition". ancestrylibrary.proquest.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ a b Marlborough, Adam (1804–1894). "Church Missionary Society Periodicals Register of Missionaries". Retrieved 2022-12-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ "Ancestry Library Edition". ancestrylibrary.proquest.com. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Thornton, Douglas (18 December 2022). "THE DIOCESE OF EGYPT – HISTORY" (PDF).
- ^ "A Brief History of the Diocese of Egypt | jmeca.org.uk". www.jmeca.org.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ "Medical Mission Quarterly: Cairo Medical Mission". Church Missionary Society Periodicals. January 1895. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ "CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY ARCHIVE Section IV: Africa Missions Part 7: Sudan, 1905-1949". www.ampltd.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ Harpur Memorial Hospital in Menouf, Egypt, retrieved 2022-12-18
- ^ admin (2020-09-24). "The Episcopal/Anglican church celebrates the 110th feast of Harpur Memorial Hospital in Menouf". The Diocese of Egypt. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ Hill, Richard Leslie (1967). A biographical dictionary of the Sudan. Internet Archive. London, Cass.