Piula Theological College
Encyclopedia
Piula Theological College is a Methodist training institution in Samoa
. It was established in 1868 in Lufilufi
on the north coast of Upolu
island after its initial beginnings in 1859 at Satupa'itea
on the south coast of Savai'i
island. The Methodist Mission in Samoa purchased the land at the Methodist leaning district and later named their training center Piula Theological College. The name Piula is a transliteration
of the biblical name Beulah which means married (to the Lord).
In Samoa, the Methodist religion is referred to as Lotu Tonga through the early initial contact with converts and the church's mission in Tonga
during the early 19th century.
The decision to set up the training institution came about from an annual church meeting held on Manono Island
, a stronghold of the church at the time, on 21 September 1859.
A key figure during the early years of the Methodist church in Samoa was the Rev George Brown
who lived in Samoa for 14 years, between 1860 and 1874, and worked with his wife Lydia at the mission in Satupa'itea
on Savai'i
island. Brown learned the Samoan language
and regarded the Samoan people as his friends. Like many other missionaries to the Pacific, Brown recorded his experience in Samoa in journals which include significant historical information about the Methodist church and Samoan history and culture.
The college includes the recently renovated historic Piula chapel, large open grounds and Samoan fale
. At the front of the chapel are steps leading down to the sea where Fatumea, the oval Piula Cave Pool
is situated, a popular swimming hole for locals and visitors.
A guiding principle to all college activity has been the notion that Piula should be, as near as possible, a Christian village. Students are taught how to take part in a proper manner in Samoan custom and society.
island, the college is 26 km east along the northern coastal road from the capital Apia. Entry into the college is through a blue and yellow painted stone wall beside the main island road.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. It was established in 1868 in Lufilufi
Lufilufi
Lufilufi is a historical village situated on the north coast of Upolu island in Samoa. The village is part of the electoral constituency Anoamaa East which is within the larger political district of Atua....
on the north coast of Upolu
Upolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
island after its initial beginnings in 1859 at Satupa'itea
Satupa'itea
Satupa'itea is a large village district with four sub-villages on the south east coast of Savai'i Island in Samoa.In the country's modern political divisions, Satupa'itea is also a Political District , one of 11 in the country, which now includes the traditional area of Salega.-Satupa'itea village...
on the south coast of Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
island. The Methodist Mission in Samoa purchased the land at the Methodist leaning district and later named their training center Piula Theological College. The name Piula is a transliteration
Transliteration
Transliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
of the biblical name Beulah which means married (to the Lord).
In Samoa, the Methodist religion is referred to as Lotu Tonga through the early initial contact with converts and the church's mission in Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
during the early 19th century.
The decision to set up the training institution came about from an annual church meeting held on Manono Island
Manono Island
Manono is an island of Samoa, situated in the Apolima Strait between the main islands of Savai'i and Upolu, 3.4 km WNW off Lefatu Cape, the westernmost point of Upolu....
, a stronghold of the church at the time, on 21 September 1859.
A key figure during the early years of the Methodist church in Samoa was the Rev George Brown
George Brown (missionary)
George Brown was an English Methodist missionary and ethnographer.- Early life and education :George Brown was born at Barnard Castle, Durham, England, the son of George Brown, barrister, and his wife Elizabeth, née Dixon, sister of the wife of Rev. Thomas Buddle, missionary in New Zealand...
who lived in Samoa for 14 years, between 1860 and 1874, and worked with his wife Lydia at the mission in Satupa'itea
Satupa'itea
Satupa'itea is a large village district with four sub-villages on the south east coast of Savai'i Island in Samoa.In the country's modern political divisions, Satupa'itea is also a Political District , one of 11 in the country, which now includes the traditional area of Salega.-Satupa'itea village...
on Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
island. Brown learned the Samoan language
Samoan language
Samoan Samoan Samoan (Gagana Sāmoa, is the language of the Samoan Islands, comprising the independent country of Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa. It is an official language—alongside English—in both jurisdictions. Samoan, a Polynesian language, is the first language for most...
and regarded the Samoan people as his friends. Like many other missionaries to the Pacific, Brown recorded his experience in Samoa in journals which include significant historical information about the Methodist church and Samoan history and culture.
The college includes the recently renovated historic Piula chapel, large open grounds and Samoan fale
Architecture of Samoa
The architecture of Samoa is characterised by openness, with the design mirroring the culture and life of the Samoan people who inhabit the Samoa Islands. Architectural concepts are incorporated into Samoan proverbs, oratory and metaphors, as well as linking to other art forms in Samoa, such as...
. At the front of the chapel are steps leading down to the sea where Fatumea, the oval Piula Cave Pool
Piula Cave Pool
Piula Cave Pool is a natural freshwater pool by the sea beneath the historic Methodist Chapel at Piula on the north coast of Upolu island in Samoa. It is situated at Lufilufi in the political district of Atua, 26km east from the capital Apia, along the scenic coastal road...
is situated, a popular swimming hole for locals and visitors.
College
The theological college offers a four year course leading to a Diploma in Theological Studies with the possibility of going on to secure a Bachelor of Divinity degree. The training prepares people for Ministry in the Samoa Methodist Church. Some of the students are married and the wives undertake courses to prepare them for the role they will play as minister's wives.A guiding principle to all college activity has been the notion that Piula should be, as near as possible, a Christian village. Students are taught how to take part in a proper manner in Samoan custom and society.
Location
Situated on UpoluUpolu
Upolu is an island in Samoa, formed by a massive basaltic shield volcano which rises from the seafloor of the western Pacific Ocean. The island is long, in area, and is the second largest in geographic area as well as the most populated of the Samoan Islands. Upolu is situated to the east of...
island, the college is 26 km east along the northern coastal road from the capital Apia. Entry into the college is through a blue and yellow painted stone wall beside the main island road.
See also
- Religion in SamoaReligion in SamoaReligion in Samoa encompasses a range of groups, but nearly 100% of the population of Samoa is Christian. The 2001 Census revealed the following distribution of Christian groups: Congregational Christian, 34.8 percent; Roman Catholic, 19.6 percent; Methodist, 15 percent; the Church of Jesus Christ...
- Architecture of SamoaArchitecture of SamoaThe architecture of Samoa is characterised by openness, with the design mirroring the culture and life of the Samoan people who inhabit the Samoa Islands. Architectural concepts are incorporated into Samoan proverbs, oratory and metaphors, as well as linking to other art forms in Samoa, such as...
- History of SamoaHistory of Samoa-Myths:According to legend, Samoa shares the common Polynesian ancestor of Tagaloa; according to many legends, Samoa was Tagaloa's first creation...
- German SamoaGerman SamoaGerman Samoa was a German protectorate from 1900 to 1914, consisting of the islands of Upolu, Savai'i, Apolima and Manono, now wholly within the independent state Samoa, formerly Western Samoa...