Samuel Synge

Samuel Synge (March 15, 1867 – January 10, 1951) was an Irish medical missionary and priest known both for his medical and evangelical work in Southern China. Born near Dublin, Ireland, Synge was born into an upper-middle class Protestant family and the elder brother of the playwright and poet John Millington Synge. He went to Trinity College Dublin, first for divinity and later in medicine. After graduating, he combined his two passions through medical missionary service with the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Synge spent nearly two decades in Fuhning, Foochow (modern-day Xiapu, Fujian).^[1] Along with his wife, Dr. Mary Harmar Synge, also a medical missionary, their work there consisted of extensive inpatient and outpatient medical work in separate men’s and women’s hospitals in an early time of China’s history that predated even formal medical and nursing schools in the nation. After leaving China in 1914, he spent his later years in Ireland and remained active in religious life until his death in 1951.

Samuel Synge was born on March 15, 1867 to an upper-middle class protestant family in Newtown Little, Rathfarnham, Dublin, Ireland.As one of 8 children, he was an elder brother to playwright and poet John Millington Synge. When Samuel was five years old, his father died and the family left Newtown for Orwell Park, Rathgar.^[2] His childhood was otherwise stable and comfortable.

Samuel Synge first attended Mr Harrick's Classical and English School in Dublin as a boy with his younger brother J.M Synge.^[3][4] When he was 15, he attended Aravon School, a private an Anglican preparatory school in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland.^[5][6] After primary schooling, Synge enrolled at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a B.A. in Divinity in 1891. He then pursued medical studies, completing his MB, B.Ch, BAO (Bachelors of medicine, Bachelors of surgery, Bachelor of the Obstetric) degrees in 1895, graduating with second-class honors. Following his academic training, he undertook clinical work at the Royal National Eye and Ear Infirmary in Dublin, where he was introduced to the world of medical missions.^[7]

Synge joined the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Fukien Mission as a missionary under the Dublin University branch of the CMS. He sailed for China in 1896 with his soon to be wife, Mary Harmar, and was stationed in Fuhning, a prefecture that no longer exists but encompasses modern-day Xiapu area in Fujian Province.^[8] At the time, the region faced significant medical shortages and political unrest in the final decades of the Qing dynasty. The original mission hospital at Xiapu, opened by Dr. Birdwood Van Someren Taylor in 1883, was succeeded by Dr. Synge when he arrived. Reverend Marcus Mackenzie joined and assisted him the following year.^[9] It was a large hospital with a separate men's and women's hospital, with Dr. Mary Synge as the chief M.O of the women's hospital.^[10][11] Outside of the hospital, the couple also traveled to treat patients throughout the South China region.^[12] In 1904, Synge briefly returned to England, completing his M.D. and M.A.O. degrees.^[7]

In 1904, the hospitals also went through major rebuilding, as the conditions had become cramped and uncleanly. The old hospital was tore down and expanded into a two story building.^[13] Dr. Mary Synge helped reconstruct the women’s hospital and Mackenzie supervised the construction of the men's hospital surgical block.^[11] Notably, the hospital also doubled as a medical school for native Chinese students, where a 5 year training course would earn them qualifications and licenses to practice as a physician.^[14] Mrs. Synge also taught Chinese women students to become nurses.^[15] Their work preceded the development of modern Chinese medical and nursing schools, and they made deliberate efforts to train local Chinese assistants and students so that the hospitals could operate independently.

Similar to many other medical missionaries of the time, Synge’s work reflected the CMS ideal to "preach and heal," integrating religious instruction with clinical service.^[7] Not only did he help train native Chinese students in medicine, but was also spread Christianity through fliers, text‑cards, and conversations with both inpatients and outpatients.^[16] When the hospital was rebuilt, they also expanded the chapel to ensure patients had enough space to pray and attend service.^[14] He learned Chinese and appeared to acquire functional fluency, enabling him to communicate with patients and engage local cultural practices.^[17] His writings reveal both ethnographic observations and missionary perspectives, including reflections on Chinese religious beliefs, Buddhist monastic life, and the social challenges facing early twentieth‑century Fujian.^[18] Particularly, this revolves around the Opium issue that was widespread at this time in China, resulting from the Opium Wars.^[19] One of his solutions was Christianity, as he viewed opium addiction as a vice that could be combatted with by religion.^[20]

Synge married Mary Harmar in Fuhning on April 5,1897 at the British Episcopal Church.^[21] A trained physician and CMS missionary, she worked extensively in the women’s hospital alongside husband. Together, they had two children–. They also raised four cats in China named Aristotle, Penelope, Andalusia and a mother cat.^[22]

For Edith, he wrote “Letters to My Daughter”, which was a combination of letters and memories of Synge's late brother, the playwright J.M Synge. John later became an international rugby player.^[23]

The Synges retired from missionary work in 1914, completing 18 years of service to CMS. After leaving China, the Synges returned to England.^[24] Synge focused heavily on his religious passions, later he was appointed rector of the parish of Derralossory Church in County Wicklow. In 1939, his wife passed away. He spent the remainder of his life close to where he was born and raised, dying on January 10, 1951 in a Dublin nursing home at the age of 83.^[7]

Synge's legacy endures even now through the missionary hospital that Synge and his wife led and transformed, now operating as Xiapu County Hospital.^[25][26] It is now the most advanced hospital in Xiapu county, a huge evolution from the hospital that Synge arrived to in 1896. Through rebuilding efforts, staff training, and the establishment of clinical systems, Synge and his colleagues laid the foundations for the hospital’s future development. In 2022, it was relocated from its historic location, but continues to serve the people of Southern China just as it did a century ago.^[27]