LOVEDALE, a mission station in the Victoria East division of the Cape province, South Africa. It lies 1,720 ft. above the sea on the banks of the Tyumie (Chumie) tributary of the Keiskama river, some 2 m. N. of Alice, a town 88 m. N.W. by rail of East London. The station was founded in 1824 by the Glasgow Missionary Society and was named after Dr. John Love, one of the leading members of, and at the time secretary to, the society.
Until 1841 the missionaries devoted themselves almost entirely to evangelistic work; in that year the Lovedale Missionary Insti tute was founded by the Rev. W. Govan, who, save for brief intervals, continued at its head until 1870. He was then suc ceeded by the Rev. James Stewart (1831-1905), who had joined the mission in 1867, having previously (1861-63), and partly in company with David Livingstone, explored the Zambezi regions. To Stewart, who remained at the head of the institute till his death, is due the existing organization at Lovedale. The institute, in addition to its purely church work—in which no sectarian tests are allowed—provides for the education of natives of both sexes in nearly all branches of learning (Stewart discontinued the teaching of Greek and Latin, adopting English as the classic) ; it also takes European scholars, no colour distinction being allowed in any department of the work. The institute gives technical
training in many subjects and maintains various industries, in cluding such diverse enterprises as farming and printing-works. It also maintains a hospital. The school buildings rival in accom modation and completeness those of the schools in large English cities. The educational and industrial methods initiated at Love dale have been widely adopted by other missionary bodies. Love dale is now a branch of the work of the United Free Church of Scotland.
See R Young, African Wastes Reclaimed and Illustrated in the Story of the Lovedale Mission (1902) ; J. Stewart, Lovedale, Past and Present (1884), and Dawn in the Dark Continent (1903) ; J. Wells, Stewart of Lovedale (1908).