Calendar graphic
GOSPEL DAYS
Celebrating a turning point in Islands' history
MARCH
Penrhyn Gospel Day , 13th
        JUNE
        Mangaia Gospel Day, 15th        
                JULY
                Atiu Gospel Day, 20th
                Mitiaro Gospel Day, 21st
                Rarotonga Gospel Day, 25th

                        



                
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AUGUST
Rakahanga Gospel Day, 15th
        OCTOBER
        
National Gospel Day, 26th
        Aitutaki Gospel Day, 27th
                   
DECEMBER
                    Pukapuka Gospel Day, 8th
Cook Islanders are very religious...but who says religion can't be fun?!  Gospel days are public holidays for celebrating the arrival of Christianity.   Events are organised by the Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) and the churches themselves compete against each other to put on the best show.   Islanders dress up, stage elaborate dramas or "nuku", sing, dance, play music and generally have a great time. 
Rarotonga nuku
Nuku participants
Rev. John Williams (copyright NLA)
THE MISSIONARY WHO CHANGED HISTORY
The London born clergyman, the Rev. John Williams was responsible for bringing Christianity to the Islands.   He volunteered for service with the London Missionary Society in 1816 when he was just 20.   He was ordained in September of that year, married in October and sailed for the South Seas in November.   It was five years later - after working in Tahiti - that Williams, his wife and some native Tahitian evangelists arrived off Aitutaki.  According to another LMS missionary, Bernard Thorogood in his 1960 book "Not Quite Paradise", Island chiefs came across in canoes "..clad chiefly in tattoo marks and waving their spears".   It was 1823 before the Islanders finally rejected their idols and Williams returned to Aitutaki for the opening of the first Christian church.  
Right:: "The Rev John Williams on board ship with native implements, in the South Sea Islands" by Henry Anelay, 1838.
From the pictures collection of the National Library of Australia (nla.pic-an6621835).  Reproduced with permission. 
The September 11th attack on the twin towers in New York and war in the Middle East were among the re-enacted  "dramas" of a previous gospel day on Rarotonga.   The participating churches wanted people to think about the battle between good and evil in the world.
Nuku video
RAROTONGA GOSPEL DAY ON VIDEO
 Click here  to watch a 5 minute film about gospel day on the capital island, created by the daily newspaper, Cook Islands News.
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Gospel Day - MidE
Gospel Day - Towers
2008
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