Sophia Cooke (b. 27 February 1814, Hilsborough, Norfolk, England - d. 14 September 1895, Singapore) was an Anglican missionary-teacher who made significant contributions to the Chinese Girls' School (now known as St. Margaret's School). She was also founder of the Sailors' Rest at Neil Road and the Singapore branch of the Young Women Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.). Cooke organised weekly worship services in Chinese and these eventually led to the establishment of the first Anglican and Presbyterian Chinese churches in Singapore. She passed away in Singapore on 14 September 1895 after a period of prolonged illness. Sophia Road, where the Chinese Girls' School (CGS) was once located, was named after her.
Entering the Mission Field
Entering the Mission Field
Cooke studied in Bury St. Edmunds, England and received her education in music, French and Latin. She worked as a governess for twenty years, during which time she displayed a strong interest in mission work. The turning point of her life came when she was governess at the Archdeacon Hones's home. On one particular occasion, the Reverend G. T. W. Hough had visited the Archdeacon to share about the work of the Church Missionary Society. Cooke learnt about the needs in the East and decided to enter the mission field. She presented herself as a candidate to the Church Missionary Society in London and was accepted as an agent of the Society for Promoting Female Education in India and the East. Her assignment was to head the Chinese Girls' School in Singapore.
Heading the Chinese Girls' School
Heading the Chinese Girls' School
Cooke departed from England on 10 March 1853 and arrived in Singapore on 29 July 1853. For the next 42 years, she was to make CGS her life's work. In the early days, the school served as a boarding house for poor, abandoned or abused Chinese girls. It was not uncommon then for needy Chinese families to sell their daughters into servitude or slavery. Some of these girls were rescued by the police and placed under the care and protection of the school. For others, their families had voluntarily sent them there to gain a free education.
During her term as superintendent, Cooke ensured that the girls received a sound education consisting of Bible studies, History, Geography, and needlework, amongst others. She also instilled in the students a strong work ethic and the value of Christian service. Older girls were tasked to care for the younger ones, and students often accompanied Cooke on her hospital visits, bearing bouquets of flowers, texts and pillows made by hand. Under her term, the school moved to its new premises at Sophia Hill in 1861 and the first Chinese ragged school was formed on 6 March 1865.
Many of the CGS students later went on to become Christians and married Christian men from China. Thus the evangelistic work started by Cooke continued through her students in China. Cooke did such excellent work with the school that she became synonymous with it. The school was commonly known as Miss Cooke's School.
Other Missionary and Social Concerns
During her term as superintendent, Cooke ensured that the girls received a sound education consisting of Bible studies, History, Geography, and needlework, amongst others. She also instilled in the students a strong work ethic and the value of Christian service. Older girls were tasked to care for the younger ones, and students often accompanied Cooke on her hospital visits, bearing bouquets of flowers, texts and pillows made by hand. Under her term, the school moved to its new premises at Sophia Hill in 1861 and the first Chinese ragged school was formed on 6 March 1865.
Many of the CGS students later went on to become Christians and married Christian men from China. Thus the evangelistic work started by Cooke continued through her students in China. Cooke did such excellent work with the school that she became synonymous with it. The school was commonly known as Miss Cooke's School.
Other Missionary and Social Concerns
In 1857, Cooke and a few other ladies formed the Ladies Bible and Tract Society. They met every month and published a quarterly magazine called The Christian in Singapore. The society was later absorbed into the newly-formed Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1875, Cooke started the Singapore branch of Y.W.C.A. The establishment was the outcome of monthly meetings which Cooke organised for women. Most of the members were former students of CGS. The ladies had Bible readings, discussions about home life, and visits were also made to the needy and the sick in hospitals. Apart from Chinese women, Cooke also involved European and Eurasian ladies in her work.
Though Cooke worked mainly amongst women, the needs of men were not neglected. She noticed that the Chinese men had no place to worship so she began weekly worship services for the Chinese in 1857. This spurred the Anglicans and Presbyterians to do the same.
She also had a special concern for the sailors, soldiers and policemen in the settlement. She was one of the people who founded the Sailors' Rest in 1882 where the destitute or ill sailors were clothed and fed. Bible classes were also regularly held for sailors, soldiers and policemen.
Cooke also took great interest in the sick. She made regular visits to the general, military and leper hospitals, spreading cheer to the patients by bringing them flowers, food, toys. She also encouraged them with kind words, read the Bible to them and sang hymns.
Death
Cooke fell ill on 26 August 1895. She never recovered from her illness and died peacefully, in the presence of her students, on 14 September 1895. Her passing was mourned by many in Singapore.
Timeline
Though Cooke worked mainly amongst women, the needs of men were not neglected. She noticed that the Chinese men had no place to worship so she began weekly worship services for the Chinese in 1857. This spurred the Anglicans and Presbyterians to do the same.
She also had a special concern for the sailors, soldiers and policemen in the settlement. She was one of the people who founded the Sailors' Rest in 1882 where the destitute or ill sailors were clothed and fed. Bible classes were also regularly held for sailors, soldiers and policemen.
Cooke also took great interest in the sick. She made regular visits to the general, military and leper hospitals, spreading cheer to the patients by bringing them flowers, food, toys. She also encouraged them with kind words, read the Bible to them and sang hymns.
Death
Cooke fell ill on 26 August 1895. She never recovered from her illness and died peacefully, in the presence of her students, on 14 September 1895. Her passing was mourned by many in Singapore.
Timeline
27 Feb 1814 : Cooke was born in Hilsborough, Norfolk, England.
10 Mar 1853 : Cooke departed from England for Singapore.
29 Jul 1853 : Cooke arrived in Singapore.
1857 : The Ladies Bible and Tract Society was formed.
1857 : The Ladies Bible and Tract Society was formed.
1857 : Cooke began weekly worship services for the Chinese.
1861 : The Chinese Girls School moved to its new premises at Sophia Hill.
6 Mar 1865 : The first Chinese ragged school in Singapore was formed.
1875 : The Singapore branch of the Y.W.C.A was established
1882 : The Sailors Rest was founded
26 Aug 1895 : Cooke fell ill
14 Sep 1895 : Cooke passed away
Author
Gracie Lee
References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore (p. 581). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)
Death of Miss Cooke [Microfilm: NL 337]. (1895, September 14). The Straits Times, p. 2.
Griffiths, V. (2004). Not less than everything (p. 26-29). Oxford, U.K.; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Monarch Books.
(Call no.: 266.00951 GRI)
Hunt, R. A. (1998). Cooke, Sophia. In Anderson, G. H. (Ed.) Biographical dictionary of Christian missions (p. 150). New York; [Great Britain]: Macmillan Reference USA.
(Call no.: R q266.00922 BIO)
The late Miss Cooke [Microfilm: NL 3157]. (1895, September 14). The Singapore Free Press, p. 2.
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, pp. 460-461). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
Sng, B. E. K. (2003). In His good time: The story of the church in Singapore, 1819-2002 (pp. 62-68). Singapore: Bible Society of Singapore: Graduates' Christian Fellowship.
(Call no.: RSING 280.4095957 SNG)
Walker, E. A. (1899). Sophia Cooke; or, forty-two years' work in Singapore [Microfilm: NL11273]. London: E. Stock.
(Call no.: RRARE 287.10924 WAL)
Yeow, G. L. (2001). Cooke, Sophia. In Sunquist, S., Wu, D. C. & Chew, J. H. C. (Eds.). A dictionary of Asian Christianity (p. 215). Grand Rapids, MI.: W.B. Eerdmans.
(Call no.: RSING q275.003 DIC)
Author
Gracie Lee
References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore (p. 581). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)
Death of Miss Cooke [Microfilm: NL 337]. (1895, September 14). The Straits Times, p. 2.
Griffiths, V. (2004). Not less than everything (p. 26-29). Oxford, U.K.; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Monarch Books.
(Call no.: 266.00951 GRI)
Hunt, R. A. (1998). Cooke, Sophia. In Anderson, G. H. (Ed.) Biographical dictionary of Christian missions (p. 150). New York; [Great Britain]: Macmillan Reference USA.
(Call no.: R q266.00922 BIO)
The late Miss Cooke [Microfilm: NL 3157]. (1895, September 14). The Singapore Free Press, p. 2.
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, pp. 460-461). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
Sng, B. E. K. (2003). In His good time: The story of the church in Singapore, 1819-2002 (pp. 62-68). Singapore: Bible Society of Singapore: Graduates' Christian Fellowship.
(Call no.: RSING 280.4095957 SNG)
Walker, E. A. (1899). Sophia Cooke; or, forty-two years' work in Singapore [Microfilm: NL11273]. London: E. Stock.
(Call no.: RRARE 287.10924 WAL)
Yeow, G. L. (2001). Cooke, Sophia. In Sunquist, S., Wu, D. C. & Chew, J. H. C. (Eds.). A dictionary of Asian Christianity (p. 215). Grand Rapids, MI.: W.B. Eerdmans.
(Call no.: RSING q275.003 DIC)
The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
