The place on which it stands today was named “Mwingoni” after a tree called “Mwingo” under which the locals communed with their ancestors of yore, giving sacrifices and pouring libations to their fore fathers.
Rev Wray stayed and worked with the local community for three decades before he went back to England.
Bible translation
On the other hand Rev Wray is remembered for pioneering the translation of the Holy Bible to Kitaita as well as initiating the translation of the gospel according to St Mark to Kisagalla.
He also authored the English-Sagalla dictionary, which is available in the museum.
Wray is also credited with the introduction of formal education in Taita-Taveta but he also encountered passive resistance from the locals since some of them are said to have demanded payments before they could attend classes.
“The work of these pioneer missionaries was not in vain as most grandfathers and mothers of prominent Taita Christians passed through these early missionaries” says Taita-Taveta ACK Bishop Mr Samson Mwaluda.
