39 Facts About Fred Goodwill

Fred Goodwill was a British Methodist missionary stationed in Bangalore, British India, between 1899 and 1924, serving as the superintendent of the Wesleyan Tamil Mission, Bangalore, and Kolar Gold Fields.

Fred Goodwill is acknowledged for working for the cause of education of native women in the Bangalore Cantonment.

Fred Goodwill was a scholar of the Tamil Language, and was fluent in Canarese and Telagu.

Fred Goodwill is acknowledged as an authority on Tamil Shaiva Literature, with authors quoting from his research.

Fred Goodwill was a keen photographer and documented life in British India, especially life around the Bangalore Cantonment, with hundreds of photos.

Fred Goodwill's photos are not only of churches and schools, but of ordinary people in India, with subjects such as butchers, tradesmen, travelling minstrels, friars, cooks, dhobhis, worshippers, and temples, monuments, etc.

Fred Goodwill's pictures have recently evoked lot of interest in social media groups interested in Bangalore and Indian history.

Fred Goodwill seemed to have a good start with his early education at the local Helperby school where he taught other students.

The family was deeply religious, and Fred Goodwill had a genuine interest in working as a missionary.

In those days it was not uncommon for the youngest son to take up religious work as it was seen as being a respectable profession which provided a steady income, but there is no suggestion that this was the reason why Fred Goodwill joined the ministry.

Fred Goodwill met Alice Haynes, his future wife, presumably during his time at Handsworth.

Alice lived at Old Hill and was a Primitive Methodist while Fred Goodwill was a Wesleyan Methodist.

Fred Goodwill was a gifted linguist, and was said to speak any language like a native after just six months practice.

Fred Goodwill could speak, read and write fluently in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.

Fred Goodwill loved the people and culture of India, and was actively involved in photography of Indian landscapes, buildings, common Indians, etc.

Fred Goodwill authored articles and academic papers on South Indian History, Indian Religions and Tamil Literature which were published in Journals.

Fred Goodwill seems to have been part of group of photography enthusiasts and could have traveled in groups taking pictures of life in India.

Fred Goodwill researched for the Mystic Society and wrote for its quarterly journal, the early history of Kolar Gold Fields, Mysore, Bangalore and South India in general.

Bangalore had had a Wesleyan Girls school since 1851, and Fred Goodwill built on its foundations and improved the school to a great extent.

In 1906, Fred Goodwill began to assist the principal of the school Ms.

Fred Goodwill was keen to stress to importance of education of girls irrespective of any caste barriers in the Bangalore Cantonment.

Fred Goodwill once wrote in "preparing girls for future work we remember that we are preparing workers to hasten the time when foreign missionaries will be a thing of the past".

Fred Goodwill's name is associated with books on Tamil Literature published around that period in British India, and Fred Goodwill authored many academic articles on Tamil Literature, which were published in Journals.

Research done by Fred Goodwill is quoted by works of later authors of Dravidian culture, Shaiva Siddhanta and Ancient Tamil literature, along with that of George Uglow Pope.

Fred Goodwill's name carries respect and honour at the Wesley Tamil Church at Haines Road, Fraser Town Bangalore and at the Goodwills School.

The address talks about Fred Goodwill being the District Commissioner for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, further thanking him for his contribution for the cause of girl's education by providing for boarding and High School.

Fred Goodwill returned to a very different England, with the social order having undergo many changes.

Fred Goodwill was offered work in Cornwall, which he refused in favour of working in the Black Country.

Fred Goodwill read Old English and Middle English fluently, and these skills were self-taught.

Fred Goodwill continued to keep reading the bible in Tamil and sing Tamil and Canarese hymns.

Fred Goodwill was a keen reader of books, and as he grew older he could no longer go to the library, and his daughter Bessie would bring the books for him.

Fred Goodwill listened to classical music and was a good singer.

Fred Goodwill continued to write articulate letters to friends and neighbours, which show his varied interests.

Fred Goodwill continued preaching even in his nineties and in one of his letters talks about a service he took at Darlington Street and further talks about Synod meeting, where he is the Precentor.

Fred Goodwill used to end his letters with Warmly yours.

Fred Goodwill's son named Fred became an army chaplain and then a vicar, and pre-deceased his father.

When he was 90 his house keeper retired, and Fred Goodwill went on to live with his daughter Bessie and her husband John at their farm in Shropshire.

Fred Goodwill missed his independence, but kept himself busy walking around the farm.

Fred Goodwill died in 1969, after breaking his arm in a fall.