FROM praying for Queen Victoria and refusing to include the name of Ratu Seru Cakobau in their state prayers, to flying the Union Jack flag in front of the Anglican church against much opposition from residents of Levuka; the Reverend William Floyd was one of the interesting figures of Levuka history.
However, this little parson would play an important history of our cessation to Great Britain. Reverend Floyd if one must know built the first Anglican church in Levuka after he came to the island in 1870.
The present church was consecrated in 1904.
It’s stained-glass windows commemorate the early Levuka residents.
His is a story that is warped in politics and controversy as he wove himself around the complexities of Fijian life while trying to establish the Anglican Faith in Fiji.
Before the 19th century, Fijian religion included various forms of animism and divination.
Contact from the early 19th century with European Christian missionaries, especially of the Methodist denomination, saw the conversion of dominant chiefs and thus also the people they controlled.
Tales of the new Christian religion were slowly making an impact among the i-Taukei people, but they had yet to grasp the religion.
One anecdote told to us was of a chief in an outer island who got converted, and when a Christian priest came to meet him, the chief directed his people to prepare a cannibal feast for their visitor.
Such was the shock on the priest’s face when he was met with the human delicacy.
According to a memorial paper titled the “Pacific Irishman, William Floyd came to Levuka from the steamer, Auckland, on Tuesday, November 15, 1870.
News of his projected arrival had already reached old Levuka, and the Wesleyan missionaries interest were piqued.
Floyd was faced with opposition immediately on his arrival but he was determined to play his role.
However, he came at a time when there were power struggles among the settlers and chiefs.
Fiji was in danger of falling into the hands of powerful characters who had their own vested interest. Below is an extract from the books ‘History of Fiji’ and the ‘Pacific Irishman’ by The Venerable C. W. Whonsbon-Aston (the Archdeacon Emeritus) of Reverend Floyd’s role on the whole political saga Derrick, in his “History of Fiji” (p.196), says, “With the rapid increase of the foreign population the need for government became more urgent.
A leading article in the ‘Fiji Times’ of 15th January 1870, compared the creditable manner in which the natives governed themselves with the lack of control among the Europeans; ‘It is not the natives we want the Government for, but ourselves,’ the article affirmed; and it went on to urge the need of protection for homes and families.
In its next issue, the paper suggested that a committee is set up to recommend a suitable form of government.
A meeting was held as arranged and was largely attended.
Though the meeting agreed that some form of Government was necessary, there was a difference of opinion about who should be the native head of the administration.
The planters of Lau, who were principally German with business interests in Tonga, wanted Ma’afu; the men of Western Fiji preferred Cakobau.
On this question, and on the manner in which revenue should be handled, no agreement was reached; and after appointing a committee to draft a constitution, to be submitted to delegates, the meeting broke up.”
“That meeting was on the 14th April 1870, when everything from the planters’ angle seemed happy enough, but the sudden fall of France and the subsequent fall in cotton values spread dismay among the settlers generally.
Many of the planters were men of education, some from the Forces, men of character, faced with bankruptcy in the midst of chaos.
Concern for so many from Australia prompted politicians in Australia to urge the United Kingdom to annex the Group, but it was certain that the United Kingdom had no interest in the matter.”
“With dramatic suddenness, a coup d’etat was launched, led by ex-Lieutenant George Austin Woods, the newly arrived marine
surveyor. On June 5th, 1871, Cakobau was proclaimed King of Fiji at a ceremony in Levuka. (It is interesting to note that the Premier and Minister of Finance, Mr Sydney C. Burt, was the mover of the motion that established the Church Committee of which he was a member).”
“It had been a well-kept secret. Floyd was au courant with what was happening, had been invited to sit on the dais for the occasion, but refused. He was in full sympathy with the cause, knew the King very well, but felt that, as a newcomer and with strained relations with his Wesleyan brethren, it would be unwise for him to be fully committed at the time. He was able to do a greater service for the King and the realm later.”
“Woods, never a very popular person, took umbrage at Floyd’s decision and from then began a mild persecution, threatening
Floyd with a charge of treason, because he flew the Union Jack in the churchyard while the main Sunday services were on, and
vilest of all, he prayed for Queen Victoria, as he used the State Prayers in the Book of Common Prayer. Floyd retorted that he certainly prayed for Queen Victoria, his Queen, as he did also for King Cakobau, who certainly needed praying to be saved from some of his advisors. Floyd was equally adamant about having nothing to do with the settlers’ secret society, the Ku Klux Klan, which he felt was made up of people more anxious to obtain their own ends than to seek the progress of the country.”
“The country went through a period of instability, with Ma’afu, with powerful allies, ready at any time to seize the leadership. Burt was dismissed and, later, Woods. The one man who could save the realm was John Thurston, but entreaties made to him to join the Government and Cabinet were turned down. He was satisfied to remain on his Taveuni plantation. At last, in desperation, King Cakobau had them charter a brigantine to send the only man, he felt, whose persuasive eloquence could successfully woo Thurston– William Floyd, who went to Taveuni with the Speaker of the House, Mr. Butters, and a Privy Councillor, with the endorsement of both Cakobau and Ma’afu. Thurston, at last, agreed to come. The little Anglican parson had saved Fiji in the hour of its greatest need.”
“Thurston, though at one time very much against Cession, became Colonial Secretary under British administration, later to
be the fourth Governor. The Australians, worried about the repayment of their debentures, made fresh overtures to the British
Government.”
“Eventually, on March 20th, 1874, King Cakobau, after consulting the other chiefs, announced that he was willing to cede the
island group to Queen Victoria. Cession Day, October 10th, 1874, was a wet, blustery, cold day, with driving rain, letting up just sufficiently to allow for the ceremony of accepting the Cession by Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of New South Wales. Commodore Goodenough, one of the Commissioners concerned, went to church on a Sunday, where, he records, Floyd preached from the text “Behold, how good and joyful it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps.133).”
This little-known priest would later pass away on October 9, 1909. His body was carried to a headland above the sea at Levuka.
The gravesite would later be called Draiba Cemetery.
- History being the subject it is, a group’s version of events may not be the same as that held by another group. When publishing one account, it is not our intention to cause division or to disrespect other oral traditions. Those with a different version can contact us so we can publish your account of history too – Editor
