Victoria Mannett

Victoria Mannett grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where she came under the Christian influence of the local Anglican church. After studying mathematics at a prestigious private college, she taught high school math for several years. She became intensely interested in the needs of China in her twenties, being greatly challenged by the letters and example of the Nellie and Topsy Saunders, sisters who served as missionaries in Sichuan. During 1909 and 1910, she studied at St. Hilda’s Missionary Training Home in Melbourne, where she was introduced to Chinese history and culture.

She was aware of the history of violence in West China, but she left for that country in December of 1910. After arriving in Chengdu (then called Chengtu), Sichuan Province, she traveled onward to Mienchow, where she stayed at the CMS Girls’ Boarding School while she began intensive study of the local dialect of Mandarin. She also assisted at the school.

In October of 1911, all foreigners were ordered to leave the city, which was threatened by bandits and troops rebelling against the newly established Republic of China. After a harrowing journey, they stayed first in Shanghai, and then in nearby Ningbo, where they stayed until the conditions in Sichuan had settled enough for them to return, in October of 1912.

After completing the prescribed language study course, she began to teach full-time at the Girls’ School. Bandits continued to be a menace in the smaller cities. Her friend Mary Armfield’s town was taken by them, but they did not harm foreigners. Later, the rebels also entered Mienchow and were gathering outside the school. By negotiating with the leader, Victoria was successfully able to protect the girls and missionaries from harm.

From April to September of 1916, she was on furlough in Australia, where she assured her concerned family and friends that she had been safe.

When she returned to Mienchow at the end of 1916, the political situation had gotten worse. The school was temporarily taken over by a revolutionary in 1817. Sometimes bandit gangs targeted Christians and churches. As principal of the Girls’ School, Victoria did all she could to advance the level of education for girls and women, and she saw considerable success. Nonetheless, she sensed that she should resign her position when she went on furlough again in 1923. 

When she returned to Sichuan in March of 1925, she was invited to join the faculty of Arts in West China Union University, which also had a Women’s College. Meanwhile, anti-foreign sentiment had been rising, making life riskier for missionaries. Despite the unrest, she taught courses in Education, Science, and Scripture. In 1926, the situation in Sichuan had become so unstable that the British consul ordered British subjects to evacuate to Shanghai. On the recommendation of Bishop Mowll, she returned to Australia again on furlough.

She returned to Chengdu in 1928. By this time, three different armies were vying for control of the city and the province. One of them took over the college, forcing Victoria and her students to take cover under tables while the fighting raged. The constant stress of the danger and increasing duties took at heavy toll on her, leading to another furlough in 1934.

Not long after arriving back in Chengdu in November of 1934, they were again ordered to evacuate to a safer location until conditions stabilized. Then, when the Japanese invaded China in 1937, an influx of refugees from eastern and northern China made that city an intellectual hub for several years. By this time, however, her friend Mary’s health had deteriorated so much that she was ordered home for medical treatment, and Victoria was assigned to be her caretaker.

The ongoing war against Japan prevented her and many other missionaries from working in China. Victoria became a vital member of the home team of the mission.

She died in 1958 after a lifetime of faithful service. Her pioneering work in women’s education in Sichuan left a legacy of strong schools. She was also remembered with great affection by her Chinese students and coworkers.

G. Wright Doyle