Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky and his wife

Today the Episcopal Church remembers the Bishop of Shanghai, Samuel Schereschewsky. Born in 1831 and consecrated a bishop in 1877, he is primarily remembered for his work in translating the Bible and parts of the Prayer Book into Mandarin. He also translate the Bible and other works into Wenli and Mongolian. He developed Parkinson's in 1833 and resigned as Bishop. He did not, however, quit his work as a translator. For the next 20 years or so, he continued his work typing with just one finger. Amazing!


What is not mentioned in the short bio found in Holy Women, Holy Men, is the name of his wife. It only says that he was buried beside her in Tokyo and that she supported him constantly during his labors and illness. Imagine what that support must have looked like. Getting him up, cleaned, fed, and dressed each day; getting him into that chair where he worked for 20 years; even changing the ribbon and paper in the typewriter. While his mind and solitary finger worked on the word of the Lord, her mind and body worked to keep that vessel going.


Though the church sites do not name her, this energetic woman was named Susan Mary Waring. She also arrived in China as a missionary and they were engaged to be married only two weeks after they met!


As we celebrate the one's whose names are remembered, let us never forget that they lived often in some kind of community and many saints are not remembered. The work of Samuel Isaac Joseph Schereschewsky relied heavily on the love, support and hard work of Mrs. Susan Mary Waring Schereschewsky.