Catalogued
Upon the Methodist Union of 1932, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) and the foreign missions of the United Methodist Church and the Primitive Methodist Church merged to form the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS). The formation of the United Methodist Church in 1907 had already brought together the foreign mission activities of the Methodist New Connexion, the Bible Christians and the United Methodist Free Churches. The MMS retained the general administrative structure of the WMMS, so the records of the WMMS and MMS form a continuous sequence. From 1973 the Methodist Church Overseas Division (MCOD) assumed responsibility for overseas work, being coterminous with the MMS. Following further restructuring in 1996, the MMS was formally wound up in 2013.
Wesleyan missions "among the heathen" began in 1786, when Thomas Coke, destined for Nova Scotia, was driven off course by a storm and landed at Antigua in the British West Indies. There he developed a successful mission of both slaves and landowners. Within a few years almost every British colony in the West Indies had been reached. Under Coke's instigation, a mission to West Africa was undertaken in 1811 and successfully established at Sierra Leone (the first scheme for the establishment of a mission to West Africa, devised by Coke in 1769, had proved a failure). In December 1813 Coke left England with six fellow Methodist missionaries to establish missions in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] (although Coke died on route) and subsequently elsewhere in the Indian sub-continent.
The Methodist Conference of 1804 established a 'Standing Committee of Finance and Advice' to act as an executive through which the Conference would control its foreign affairs, under the General Superintendence of Coke. However, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) originated with the District Auxiliaries - the first of which was founded in Leeds on 6th October 1813 - formed spontaneously for the support of overseas missionary work, without the sanction of Conference. By 1818, the proposals put forward by the District Auxiliaries were approved by Conference and embodied in a general missionary society. Meanwhile, following Coke's death in 1814, the London Committee of Finance and Advice was renamed the 'Executive Committee', and in 1815 an additional 'Committee of Examination and Finance' was established to conduct the detailed examination of missionary receipts and disbursements. In 1817 the new Committee mooted the formation of a permanent constitution for the missionary department, and in 1818 the Laws and Regulations of the General Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (the joint work of Richard Watson and Jabez Bunting) were accepted by Conference and the WMMS was fully constituted. The new society embraced the Auxiliary Districts and Circuit Missionary Societies that had already been formed.
Despite its name the WMMS was not a self-regulated 'Society', but rather the Methodist Church 'mobilised for foreign missionary service'. The Conference appointed a new Executive Committee, which in the intervals between the annual Conference was given superintendence of the collection and disbursement of funds from subscribing members and the management of foreign missions. The President of Conference acted as Chairman of the Committee, which included 48 members with equal numbers of ministers and laymen. It met monthly. The Committee included three Secretaries, ordained ministers whose job it was to receive correspondence from the field, and to draw up plans for the stationing of missionaries to be submitted to the Committee and ratified by Conference. By 1834 it was usual to have four Secretaries. In emergencies the Committee was empowered to fill vacancies and recall missionaries for disciplinary proceedings. The Conference was the ultimate judge in these matters.
Abroad, the Conference and Executive Committee exercised control through the District Synod and District Chairman (General Superintendent). Missionaries from each District were required to meet in an annual Synod. Synod Minutes were sent home. By 1903 the functions of the Synod had been limited to the supervision of ministers and Circuits in the District, and 'Local Committees' had been established as the agents of the Executive Committee in the administration of funds. Local Committees comprised the missionaries of the district in addition to local 'gentlemen'. They met annually, received official letters of instruction from home and returned minutes of the meeting and letters reviewing the year's work. The District Chairman was responsible for the general welfare of the District and the progress of work in all Circuits. When the Local Committee was in session, its powers were paramount. In the intervals between its sessions, the District Chairman exercised these powers.
The first mission in Europe began in France in 1791. Subsequently, missions were established in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Malta. Missionary work was also undertaken in the Channel Islands, Ireland, Gibraltar, Egypt and the Levant. The French Methodist Conference was established in 1852.
Missions in Canada were established in the 1780s in the Hudson Bay Territory, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island and Newfoundland. The Canadian Methodist Missionary Society was established in 1824 and Canada gained its own independent Conference in 1854. After nearly a century of mission in the Caribbean and Americas the West Indies Conference (excluding the Bahamas and Honduras) was established in 1885 but, as a result of financial problems, it rejoined the the British Conference in 1903.
Work in West Africa had begun in 1811 with Coke's mission to Sierra Leone. A second station was opened on the River Gambia in 1821, and on the Gold Coast [Ghana] in 1834. The first missionary to arrive in South Africa was John McKenny, followed by Barnabas Shaw who established a station at Namaqualand in 1816. The South African Conference was established in 1882, and assumed care of mission work in South Africa (with the exception of the Transvaal and Swaziland which did not join the South African Conference until 1932). The first Wesleyan Methodist missionary work in Rhodesia began in Mashonaland [Zimbabwe] in 1891, followed by Matabeleland [Zimbabwe] in 1895 and then Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] in 1913.
Work in Australia began in 1818 when Rev. Samuel Leigh arrived in Sydney to found a mission for convicts in New South Wales. Work began in Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] in 1821, Victoria in 1838 and Queensland in 1850. The Australasian Methodist Missionary Society was organised as an auxiliary in 1822, and in 1855 as an independent society under an independent Conference. Missionaries were sent to New Zealand in 1822, a mission was established in the Friendly Islands [Tonga] in 1826 and in 1835, after some initial difficulties and false starts, in Fiji.
In China the first mission to be established was in Canton [Guangzhou] in 1851. In 1860 a new station was established at Fatshan [Foshan], and in 1862 a mission for Central China was established at Hankou [Wuhan], where the first medical missionary was appointed. By the early C20th missionary work had spread to, amongst other places, Wuchang [Wuhan], Hanyang [Wuhan], Suichou [Suizhou], Wusueh, Hunan and Changsha. In 1906 there were three districts: Hunan, Canton and Wuchang.
After the establishment in 1814 of missions on the island of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] the first Wesleyan Methodist mission in India was founded at Madras [Chennai] in 1817, albeit initially under the supervision of the Tamil District on Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Further missions were founded in Southern India but missionary work did not reach Northern India until 1860. By 1903 work was underway in eight districts including Madras, Negapatam, Hyderabad, Mysore, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bombay. Methodists in the MMS districts of Southern India joined The Church of South India (a union of a number of Protestant churches) on its inception in 1947, but their brethren in Northern India did not create a similar union (The Church of North India) until 1970. A mission to Burma [Mynamar] began in 1887 in Mandalay.
In 1858 the Ladies Committee for the Amelioration of the Condition of Women in Heathen Countries, Female Education, etc, was founded as an auxiliary to the WMMS, although managed independently. By 1932 the Women's Department had sent female missionaries to work alongside their male colleagues in most of the WMMS mission fields.
On 20th September 1932, in the Royal Albert Hall, London, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the United Methodist Church and the Primitive Methodist Church united to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain. As a result, the missionary societies of the three Churches merged to form the MMS. Thus in 1932, the foreign missions of the MMS encompassed all of the regions where the individual societies previously worked. These included the West Indies (comprising the ex-WMMS districts of Bahamas, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Barbados and Trinidad, and British Guyana); Latin Europe (comprising the ex-WMMS districts of France, Italy, Spain and Portugal); West Africa (comprising the ex-WMMS districts of Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Gold Coast, Western Nigeria and French West Africa, the ex-UMMS work both in the Colony and in the Protectorate among the Mendes, and the ex-PMMS districts of Fernando Po and eastern Nigeria); Ceylon (ex-WMMS districts); South India (comprising the ex-WMMS districts of Madras, Trichinopoly, Hyderabad and Mysore); North India (comprising the ex-WMMS districts of Bengal, Lucknow and Benares, and Bombay and Punjab); China (comprising the ex-WMMS districts of South China, Hupeh and Hunan, ex-UMMS districts of Hopei and Shantung, Yunnan, Ningpo and Wenchow); Kenya (ex-UMMS district); Burma (ex-WMMS district), and Southern and Northern Rhodesia (ex-WMMS work in both Southern and Northern Rhodesia, and ex-PMMS work in Northern Rhodesia only).
All Methodists were deemed to be members of the MMS. Its headquarters were based in London (firstly at 24 Bishopsgate and then, from March 1940, 25 Marylebone Road) and it was governed by a General Missionary Committee, which acted on the authority of the Methodist Conference. The administration of foreign missions retained the general structure of that used by the WMMS (which formed the largest group in the union of 1932). Foreign districts were administered in much the same way as home districts, with District Synods and a District Chairman (Superintendent) representing the authority of the General Committee and ultimately the Conference, in the field. The work of women missionaries in the MMS was represented by the 'Women's Work' department.
The General Committee included several General Secretaries, ordained ministers who were responsible for official correspondence with the missionaries. These positions evolved into 'Area Secretaries', each taking responsibility for a different area of overseas work, i.e. Africa, Americas & Caribbean, Asia & Pacific and Europe. In the administrative restructuring of 1973, all departments of the Methodist Church became known as divisions, with the Methodist Church Overseas Division (MCOD) assuming responsibility for overseas work. It underlined the fact that the MMS was never an independent Society, but the Methodist Church itself engaged in mission overseas. In 1996, further large-scale administrative restructuring removed these divisions and the Church became a single connexional team (World Church Office). The position of Area Secretary is preserved in the overseas work of the present day Methodist Church, now known as Partnership Co-ordinators within the World Church Relationships team.
The nature of the relationship between the Methodist Church of Great Britain and churches overseas has also evolved, from a paternal role to one of equal partnership. Many of the former overseas 'districts' have become autonomous Methodist Churches in their own right, with their own Conference, Synod, and President (known by various titles). The World Methodist Council exists to provide a forum to promote co-operation and common purpose amongst Methodist peoples worldwide.
Further reading:
Methodist Missionary Society, 'Our Missions Overseas - Past and Present. The First Annual Report of the Methodist Missionary Society, 1932' (MMS, 1932).
G Findlay & W W Holdsworth, 'The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society' (Epworth Press, 1921-1924).
Birtwhistle, N Allen, 'Methodist Missions' in volume 3 of 'A History of the Methodist Church in Great Britain' (Epworth Press, 1983).
Pritchard, John R, 'Methodists and their Missionary Societies 1760-1900' (Ashgate Methodist Studies, 2013).
Pritchard, John R, 'Methodists and their Missionary Societies 1900-1996' (Ashgate Methodist Studies, 2013).
The collection records the work of the Methodist Missionary Society (from the Methodist Union of 1932), and the work of the different missionary societies prior to 1932 (including the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, Primitive Methodist Missionary Society and the missionary societies of the churches that formed the United Methodist Church). It covers overseas missionary work in Europe, North America, West Indies [Caribbean and Americas], Africa, India, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], China, Burma [Mynamar] and Australasia. The papers have been divided into Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society / Methodist Missionary Society (which form a continuous series), Women's Work (representing the work of Wesleyan women missionaries before 1932, and the work of all women in the Methodist Missionary Society after 1932), the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, the United Methodist Missionary Society and its constituent Churches - the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society, the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and the United Methodist Free Church Foreign Missions. The contents of the collection predominately date from the start of the nineteenth century until 1950.
The main series for the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society includes material from the home organisation in London, which directed overseas missionary affairs, including committee minutes and papers, candidates' papers (1829-1869) finance papers (1817-1945) Home (1803-1896) and outgoing correspondence (from 1816). However, the bulk of the material comprises Synod minutes and correspondence sent to London from the overseas districts including Europe, North America, West Indies [Caribbean and Americas], West Africa, Central Africa, South Africa, Kenya, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], Southern India, Northern India, Burma [Mynamar], China & South East Asia, and Australasia/South Seas. Special series include biographical material of missionaries from all Methodist denominations (including Thomas Birch Freeman, David Hill, Samuel Pollard, Edwin Smith and John Thomas); missionary ships' logs and papers; small artificial collections (e.g. Anti-slavery papers); and a miscellaneous assortment of notes, typescripts, unpublished articles and histories. There are approximately 2500 photographs, which cover India, Burma [Mynamar], Ceylon [Sri Lanka], Australasia, Africa, China and the West Indies [Caribbean and Americas].
The Women's Work collection includes minutes (from 1858), reports (from 1923), financial papers (from 1898) and correspondence from overseas districts (from 1906). The Primitive Methodist Missionary Society collection likewise includes minutes (1863-1933), reports (1894-1916) and home (1894-1933) and incoming correspondence (1892-1934). The United Methodist Missionary Society collection consists of the minutes of the Foreign Missions Committee (1908-1933) and one South West China Minute Book (1905-1932), the home minutes of the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society (1844-1908), the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society (1861-1873, 1882-1891 & 1903-1909), and the United Methodist Free Church Foreign Missions (1869-1883 & 1900-1908). See appropriate sub-fond entries for further information.
Material up until 1945 has been arranged and listed separately from the later deposit of material for 1945-1950, although this later deposit does include a few records dating from prior to 1945. The style of arrangement is consistent throughout. Papers of the Methodist Missionary Society form a continuous series with the papers of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. They have been arranged with the 'Home' material first, followed by material coming into London from the overseas missionary districts. Overseas material has been divided in to the following geographical regions: North America, West Indies [Caribbean and Americas], Europe, West Africa, South Africa, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], Southern India, Northern India, Australasia/South Seas, China & South East Asia, Kenya, Burma [Mynamar] and Central Africa (principally Rhodesia). Material in each region is arranged by type of record (i.e. Synod minutes followed by correspondence, followed by photographs). Synod minutes have been arranged chronologically. Correspondence has been sub-divided by district and then usually arranged chronologically. Special series (including Biographical papers, Ships Papers and Notes and Transcripts) have been arranged at the end of this section.
Women's Work and papers of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, United Methodist Missionary Society, Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society, Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and United Methodist Free Church Foreign Missions, have been arranged separately.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. In most instances only photographic material, Special Series papers and Home minutes are currently available for beyond 1950.
Restrictions Apply
Deposited on permanent loan by the Methodist Church of Great Britain from 1978 onwards.
A number of the regional photographs can be viewed on the Internet Mission Photography Archive website - http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/p15799coll123.
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Copyright mostly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes.
SOAS holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,500 books and pamphlets. The Library includes annual reports, periodicals and lists of missionaries for the Methodist Missionary Society, and the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, United Methodist Church and its member churches. Furthermore, magazines for each society are available and of particular note with regard to the Wesleyans and the MMS are: Wesleyan Missionary Notices (1816-1904), Work and Workers in the Mission Field (1892-1904), The Foreign Field (1904-1931) and The Kingdom Overseas (1933-1969). The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
Microfiche copies of the minutes of Conference for the (Wesleyan) Methodist Church (1744-1976) and the Primitive Methodist Church (1819-1932) are also available.
A guide, based in part on Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society', is available in the SCRR (see also 'Document' field above). More detailed lists for some parts of the collection are also available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
The minutes of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society including those of the General Committee, Secretaries' (later Officers') Meetings, Home Organisation Committee and Sectional Committees (principally Finance, General Purposes, Eastern and Western).
Home incoming correspondence is extant from 1802 to 1896. Most of this correspondence originated from societies in the Home districts. The outgoing correspondence (both Home and Overseas) is extant from 1816 to 1914 and is arranged partly by area then by date. Further Home correspondence - arranged by place, individual or subject file - exists from 1928 and includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence. A small amount of correspondence (1806-1905) with government departments (particularly Downing Street and the Colonial Office) is also available. Finally, a number of printed circulars originating from Mission House have survived, albeit sporadically, for between 1821 and 1904.
Visual material (1859-c1968) comprises images of missionaries and other mission staff as well as scripts for glass lantern slide lectures. Some of these scripts have b/w photographs attached.
A small amount of candidates' papers (including correspondence and notes) exist but only for the 1820s-1860s.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. Some of the minutes listed are only available by arrangement with the archivist. Only photographic material is currently available for beyond 1950.
Restrictions Apply
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes.
Handlists to the visual material and some of the correspondence (notably Home incoming correspondence, 1803-1896) are available in SCRR.
Catalogued
Minutes of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society including the General Committee and its predecessors, Finance committees, Secretaries' (later Officers') Meetings, Home Organisation Committee, General Purposes Committee, Candidates committees, Sectional committees, Medical committees and boards, committees overseeing specific areas as well as odd hoc committees and sub-committees created by the General Committee.
Some minute books of the General Committee include minutes of other committees, as well as sub-committees, including Finance (later with General Purposes), Reference (later re-named Consultation), Home Organisation, committees overseeing specific areas and a number of ad hoc committees.
Some of these minutes are only available for consultation on microfiche. Data Protection declaration forms need to be completed and signed when consulting certain committee minutes. A very small number of minutes are currently closed under Data Protection legislation.
Restrictions Apply
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Catalogued
In 1798 the Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church appointed the Rev Dr Thomas Coke to act as its agent with regard to its missions in the West Indies (expanded to foreign missions a year later). Funds to support mission work were to be collected from all of the Wesleyan Methodist congregations in Great Britain and to be in part managed through a Committee of Finance in London. With missionary work expanding (notably in the Caribbean and North America) the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of1804 established a 'Committee of Finance and Advice' for its missions consisting of all of its preachers stationed in London and with Coke being its first President. Coke was also appointed General Superintendent of Missions. The committee was tasked with reading all communications from missionaries and managing finances, with the secretary to produce an annual financial account and Coke an account of the 'spiritual state' of the missions.
By 1806 the committee had the authority to appoint candidates (a few years later candidates had to be also approved by Conference) and to task each district (initially in the West Indies only) to provide annual reports detailing finances, the state of chapels and other property, the number of preachers required and where they should be stationed, the state of religion in their district and the character and behaviour of their preachers.
After the established of Methodist missionary societies in Leeds and elsewhere in Yorkshire in 1813 Conference recommended the establishment of such societies in each district within Great Britain and created a General Missionary Committee to oversee its missions. By 1815 the increasing workload forced that year's Conference to institute an annual committee of review - 'A Committee of Examination and Finance' - and for the General Missionary Committee, now the Executive Committee, to gain an additional treasurer. In 1817 a 'Plan of a General Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society' was proposed and the following year the 'Laws and Regulations of the General Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society' were adopted by Conference placing the supervision of their missions under the auspices of a General Committee of Management. This committee continued as the principle committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society - although many short and long term committees and sub-committees contributed to its work - and, upon Methodist unification in September 1932, became the General Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society until it was superseded by the Central Committee on 30 September 1970.
The contents of the minutes vary, as well as the amount of business conducted, as the number of missions increase and other committees are created. However, the following information is amongst the most common to be found: appointment, transfer and removal of missionaries; organisation and supervision of districts and missions; receiving and commenting on reports sent from districts; recording and control of expenditure; grants awarded to missions and individuals (including widows and orphans); grants to other Christian organisations; setting level for stipends and allowances for staff; agreeing purchases and sales of land and property; considering reports, recommendations, etc, made by subordinate committees; approving and distributing publications; reacting to issues raised by missionaries in their letters; directives on missionaries' conduct, attire, health, etc; advice and rulings on theological matters; statistical information on districts and missions (e.g. number of worshippers/staff/property); legacies and donations; receiving presentations from missionaries on furlough or returning from deputations; noting (and sometimes commenting) on the retirement or death of missionary staff.
The minute books also include minutes of some of the sub-committees. Of particular note is the inclusion of the minutes of the sub-committee of Reference (later Consultation) from 1829 to about 1885, the sub-committee of Finance (later Finance & General Purposes) from 1884 until 1912, Home Organisation Committee from 1895 until 1912, regional sub-committees (particularly between 1899 and 1912) as well as abstracts or extracts of the minutes of the meetings of the Ladies' (later Women's) Auxiliary Committee from 1884 until 1929, abstracts from the Army and Navy Committee from 1898 to 1913 and copies of the minutes of the Medical Advisory Board from 1911 until 1916.
After the reorganisation of the committee structure of the WMMS in 1912 separate minute books were created for 'Sectional' and other committees. Thus from October 1912 the minutes books contain only the signed minutes of the General Committee (with some enclosed information on other committees, etc) and the sequential paragraph minute numbering system is begun for each matter brought before the committee (a system generally used by all subservient committees as well). From March 1916 the minutes are typed (except between 29 September 1920 and 24 June 1942 when they are printed), with any corrections made by hand. Indices often cover more than one minute book during this period until October 1955 when there is an index at the front of each volume.
Some minutes are only available for consultation on microfiche. Data Protection declaration forms need to be completed and signed when consulting some of these minutes.
Restrictions Apply
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
The Rough minute book sequence (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 2-3) includes the secretaries' draft minutes for the General Committee including minutes not extant here from September 1880 until the end of 1883. From September 1881 the minutes are signed (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3).
Catalogued
Bound volume
Volume labelled 'Missionary Committee Minute Book No. 1'. Contents being:
Front of volume details boundaries of [Wesleyan Methodist] London Districts and which 'Members of the Committee appointed to Collect' revenue presumably from congregations, etc.
Pages 1-3: 'The regulations, accounts, &c &c of the Committee of Finance for the support of the Methodist Missions in the West Indies, formed in London for the benefits of the said Missions, April 9th 1798'. Lists the members of the Committee present, the appointment of Mr Gidley as secretary and the arrangements for the Committee's meetings.
Pages 5-6: Unsigned minutes of the 'Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice' as formed by the [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference in London 1804. Appoints officers and their responsibilities, defines the business of the Committee (raising of funds, writing of accounts and reports).
Pages 7-28: Unsigned minutes of the 'Finance and Advice' Committee, 14 August 1804-5 September 1806.
Page 29: Note explaining missing minutes - "Mr W[illia]m Jenkins, late Secretary, has acknowledged his having written the two following years' Minutes of the Missionary Committee Meetings in London; but being, by him misplaced, cannot be inserted on this, and the following Pages, 'till he finds them".
Pages 30-54: [blank].
Pages 55-56: Regulations for the management of missions as stipulated at the Bristol [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference of 1808.
Pages 57-170: Unsigned minutes of 'the Missionary Committee', 17 September 1808-13 July 1814. Includes extracts from [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference.
Pages 171-180: [blank].
Pages 181-184: Resolutions relating to missions made at the [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference at Bristol, July 1814.
Pages 184-307: Signed 'Minutes of the Committee for managing the Methodist Missions' 2 September 1814-10 August 1816.
Index at rear of volume.
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Copies of the minutes of the 'Committee for managing the Methodist Missions' are within 'Minutes of the Executive Missionary Committee and Copies of Letters on Missionary Business, Begun September 2nd 1814. By James Buckley, Secretary' (MMS/Home/Minutes/FBN 1).
Catalogued
Bound volume
A special meeting held on 22 January 1819 established the terms of reference for the General Committee.
The terms of reference included that they should meet at least twice a month, stipulated the order of their business, the responsibilities of the secretaries (especially with regard to correspondence), quorum for meetings (7 for general committees, 3 for sub-committees) and the creation of the following four sub-committees: Finance, Outfit, Reference and House.
The Finance sub-committee was responsible for reviewing expenditure and was expected to report to the Committee at least once per month.
The Outfit sub-committee was responsible for the purchase of clothing, etc, for missionaries and to arrange their travel out to missions.
The Reference sub-committee was held in 'extraordinary' circumstances to draw up official documentation for the Committee which was outside of its normal business.
The House sub-committee was responsible for 'miscellaneous processes'.
Volume labelled ''Missionary Committee Minute Book No. 2' with contents as follows:
Frontispiece states 'Minutes of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee. Begun August 15 1816'.
Special meeting of the Committee on 22 January 1819 (pp 189-195) draws up bye-laws for the General Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and creates four sub-committees: Finance, Outfit, Reference and House.
Incudes the annual meeting, held in July, of the 'Committee of Examination and Finance'.
Minutes unsigned. Index at rear of volume.
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Catalogued
Bound volume
Unsigned minutes of the General Committee [Missionary Committe Minute Book 3]. Index at front of volume.
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Catalogued
Bound volume
Volume labelled 'Missionary Committee Minute Book 4' comprising unsigned minutes of meetings of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the following special meetings of the Committee:
10 June 1822 on the state of the Irish Missions;
15 November 1823 on the new mission to Delago Bay, South Africa;
15 February 1828 on the state of the income and expenditure of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society.
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Catalogued
Bound volume
Index to 'Missionary Committee Minute Book 4'.
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Catalogued
Bound volume
Unsigned minutes of the General Committee [Missionary Committee Minute Book 5]. Additionally, this minute book contains the minutes of the sub-committee of Reference and the following special meetings of the General Committee:
Special meeting (11 May 1832) on the visit of a deputation from the Jamaica District regarding 'increased hostility manifested against the Missions';
Special meeting (22 May 1833) re clauses in the bill amending the Act of Toleration with regard to the Colonies;
Special meeting (6 December 1833) re union of British and Canadian conferences;
Special meeting (20 June 1834) re renumeration from the Colonial Secretary for the destruction of chapels in Jamaica;
Joint meeting (10 December 1834) with the London members of various committees overseeing funds (e.g. the Theological Institution, Chapel Fund).
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Catalogued
Bound volume
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Catalogued
Bound volume
Unsigned minutes of the General Committee [Missionary Committee Minute Book 6]. Additionally, this minute book contains the minutes of the sub-committee of Reference and other sub-committees as well as special meetings of the General Committee including:
Anniversary sub-committee 1840-1843;
Building sub-committee 1838-1842;
Gambia mission sub-committee 1839;
Spanish Affairs sub-committee 1840-1843;
West Indies Schools sub-committee 1841-1844;
Special meeting (5 July 1839) on missions in Canada;
Special meeting (16 April 1841) on Stockholm chapel;
Special meeting (21 September 1842) on state of Sierra Leone mission;
Special meeting (27 March 1843) with Rev Arthur Tiedman of the London Missionary Society on problems in Tahiti;
Special meeting (8 January 1844) on mission expenditure;
Special meeting (22 October 1845) re additional missionary for Sierra Leone.
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Bound volume
Volume labelled 'General Minute Book 7' containing unsigned minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the minutes of the sub-committee of Reference and other sub-committees as well as special meetings of the General Committee including:
Irish mission sub-committee 1860;
Parish Chapel sub-committee 1861;
'Tonguese Translation of the Scriptures' sub-committee 1860;
Special meeting (2 November 1853) re arrangements with Australian Methodist Church over missions in South Seas;
Special meeting (20 April 1854) re Rev R Young's report on his deputation to New Zealand;
Special meeting (17 November 1859) re findings of deputation on the 'state and arrangement' of missions in Ireland;
Special meeting (28 September 1864) re South African affairs.
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Catalogued
Index to 'General Minute Book 7'.
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Catalogued
Bound volume
Volume labelled 'General Minute Book 8' containing unsigned minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the minutes of the sub-committee of Reference & Consultation and other sub-committees as well as special meetings of the General Committee including:
Arrangement of Anniversary sub-committee 1869-1880;
Building sub-committee 1868;
Brussels chapel sub-committee 1876;
French affairs sub-committee 1877;
Germany affairs sub-committee 1877;
Italy Affairs & Rome subcommittee 1874-1876;
'Native Agency in West Indies' sub-committee 1873-1874;
New juvenile publication sub-committee 1878;
Reorganisation of branch societies in circuits to increase funds for WMMS 1869;
Sale of Mission House sub-committee 1873-1876;
Special meeting (21 December 1867) re proposal to raise £10,000 by 'Young Men of Methodism';
Special meeting (1 November 1877) on Western Africa;
Special meetings (1878-1879) on South African affairs;
Special meeting (18 October 1878) re Mr Osborne's proposed visit to West Indies;
Special meeting (9 July 1879) re reduction in expenditure of grants to districts;
Special meetings (September-October 1879) on West Indies affairs.
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Pages 562 to 690 are blank in this volume. Perhaps they were intended for the minutes of the General Committee from July 1880 through to the end of 1883 which are only extant in 'Rough Minute Book No. 7' (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3).
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No. 8' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the signed minutes of the sub-committee of Consultation, sub-committee of Finance (from September 1884 Finance & General Purposes) and other sub-committees as well as special meetings of the General Committee including:
Allen Library sub-committee 1885;
Anniversary sub-committee 1884-1887;
Borries Trust sub-committee 1885-1886;
Committee on the Secretariat 1884;
Publications sub-committee 1885;
Recall of Sir Charles Warren sub-committee 1885;
Sale of Mission House sub-committee 1887;
Special meeting (6 December 1887) on sale of Centenary Hall.
Front of volume has copy correspondence, dated December 1883, between the WMMS and Downing Street regarding the death and injury of members of ethnic groups in the Transvaal (particularly the Molopo District) in South Africa - many of whom are members of the WMMS - inflicted by some Boers. Also been damage to property. States those in the area have been 'faithful friends to the British Nation' and should receive the protection of the 'English Nation'. Other enclosures include circular letters and printed material (e.g. revised rules and regulations for WMMS 1884 and 'Revised Scheme of Constitution of West Indian Conference' in 1884), fiscal statements as well as notes and abstracts of the minutes of the meetings of the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee.
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minutes Jan[ua]r[y] 9 1884'
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minute Book No. 8'. Although an alphabetical index has some index entries as topics (e.g. 'Deaths' being a list of all the names of missionary personnel who have died).
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No. 9' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the signed minutes of the sub-committee of Finance & General Purposes and other sub-committees as well as special meetings of the General Committee including:
Bombay Mission sub-committee 1890;
House Accommodation sub-committee 1889;
Investments sub-committee 1888;
Joint sub-committee of the Trustees of the Missionary Committee on Centenary Hall 1890
Transfer of Ministers and Probationers sub-committee 1888-1890;
Special meeting (8 February 1889) on lay agents;
Special meetings (June 1889) on missionary stipends;
Special meetings (1890) on the 'Methodist Times' controversy re Banagalore;
Special meeting (3 June 1891) on the 'Qualification of a Secretary'.
Enclosures include: abstracts of the minutes of the meetings of the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee; printed material (e.g. on Conference, reports, etc); fiscal statements; and at the front of the volume 'The Missionary Secretariat' being a printed statement on the history and role of that office.
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minute Book No 9 from Sept 1888 to July 1892'. Although an alphabetical index has some index entries as topics (e.g. 'Deaths' being a list of all the names of missionary personnel who have died).
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 10' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the signed minutes of the sub-committee of Finance & General Purposes, Home Organisation (from 1895) and other sub-committees including:
Australian Affairs sub-committee 1892;
Centenary Hall sub-committee 1897;
Deaconess Question sub-committee 1896;
Organising Secretary sub-committee 1895
Richmond Estate sub-committee 1892-1895;
Rouen Affairs sub-committee 1894.
Enclosures include: abstracts of the minutes of the meetings of the Ladies' Auxiliary Committee; printed material (e.g. on Conference, reports, circular letters, etc); fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minute Book No 10'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 11' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the signed minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee and Home Organisation Committtee as well as sub-committees including:
Spanish Affairs sub-committee 1898;
West Indian Affairs sub-committee 1899;
Joint sub-committee on Centenary Hall 1897;
Special meeting (13 Jan 1899) on Rev Hartzell and Umtali;
Special meeting of Finance & General Purposes Committee (1 June 1899) re report of French Evangelistic Committee.
Enclosures include: abstracts of the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Committee; printed material (e.g. on Conference); fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minute Book No 11'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 12' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the signed minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee and Home Organisation Committtee as well as sub-committees including:
New Premises sub-committee 1900;
Students' Medical Training sub-committee 1899;
West African sub-committee 1901;
West Indies Affairs sub-committee 1902.
Enclosures include: extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Committee; printed material (e.g. on Conference, circular letters, reports, etc); fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minute Book No 12'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 13' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains the signed minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee and Home Organisation Committtee as well as sub-committees including:
China sub-committee 1903-1904;
Europe & South Africa sub-committee 1903-1904;
India & Ceylon sub-committee 1903-1904;
Medical sub-committee 1903-1904;
West Indies & West Africa sub-committee 1903-1904.
Enclosures include: extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Committee (later Board); printed material (e.g. reports); fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Index No 13'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 14' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains some signed minutes and some 'presented' minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee (in October 1905 separated as Finance Committee and General Purposes Committee) and Home Organisation Committtee as well as sub-committees including:
China sub-committee 1904-1906;
Europe & South Africa sub-committee 1904-1906;
India & Ceylon sub-committee 1904-1906;
Magazine sub-committee 1905;
Medical sub-committee 1905-1906;
Publications sub-committee 1905-1906;
Qualifications of Lay Candidates sub-committee 1905-1906;
Richmond College sub-committee 1905;
West Indies & West Africa sub-committee 1904-1906:
Special Home Organisation meeting (6 December 1904) re missionary finances in the circuits.
Enclosures include: extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Board; printed material (e.g. reports); fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Index No 14'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 15' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains mainly signed minutes - with a few unsigned 'presented' minutes - of the Finance Committee and Home Organisation Committtee as well as sub-committees including:
Ceylon & India sub-committee 1907-1908;
China sub-committee 1907-1908;
Europe & South Africa sub-committee 1907-1908;
Medical sub-committee 1907-1908;
Publications sub-committee 1907-1908;
Qualifications of Lay Candidates sub-committee 1907-1908;
West Indies & West Africa sub-committee 1907-1908:
Special meeting (12 June 1908) on Secretariat
Enclosures include: extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Board; fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Index to Minute Book No 15'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 16' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains signed minutes - with a few unsigned 'presented' minutes - of the Finance Committee and Home Organisation Committtee as well as sub-committees including:
Ceylon & India sub-committee 1909-1911
China sub-committee 1909-1911;
Europe & South Africa sub-committee 1909-1911;
Future Management Committee 1911;
Medical sub-committee 1909-1910;
Qualifications of Lay Candidates sub-committee 1909-1911;
West Indies & West Africa sub-committee 1909-1911.
Enclosures include: extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Board; fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'Index Minute Book No 16'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 17' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. Additionally, this minute book contains signed minutes of the Finance Committee and Home Organisation Committtee (until 1913) as well as sub-committees including:
Ceylon & India sub-committee 1911-1912;
China sub-committee 1911-1912;
Europe & South Africa sub-committee 1911-1912;
Qualifications of Lay Candidates sub-committee 1912;
West Indies & West Africa sub-committee 1911-1912.
Enclosures include: copies of the minutes of the Medical Advisory Board; extracts from the minutes of the meetings of the Women's Auxiliary Committee; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Board; lists of committee members; fiscal statements; printed material (e.g. reports).
A Data Protection declaration form must be completed and signed when consulting these minutes.
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Volume labelled 'Index Minute Book No 17'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book No 18' containing signed minutes of the General Committee. System of paragraph numbers is introduced whereby each item before the committee is assigned a sequential number (this volume being 1-423).
Enclosures include: 'Scheme for Future Management of the West Indies' (June 1915) and 'Proposed resolutions on the report of visit to West Africa'.
Rear of volume has the papers presented to each meeting including copies of the minutes of the Medical Board; extracts from the Women's Auxiliary minutes; extracts from the minutes of the Army & Navy Board; lists of committee members; fiscal statements.
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Much of volume not used.
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Volume labelled 'No 19 Minute Book Mar-Dec 1916' containing signed typed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 424 to 1030.
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Volume labelled ''No 20 Minute Book 1917' containing signed typed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 1031 to 1646.
Enclosures include: extracts from the Women's Auxiliary minutes; lists of committee members; fiscal statements; 'Suggestions for Special War Economies in the publication of the Annual Report for 1916'.
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Although entitled 'Index Minute Book 18' actually also includes index to all of minute book 19 and part of minute book 20.
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Volume labelled 'No 21 Minute Book 1918' containing signed typed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 1647-2195.
Enclosures include: extracts from and notes on the Women's Auxiliary committee minutes.
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Volume labelled 'No 22 Minute Book 1919' containing signed typed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 2196-2787.
Enclosures include: notes on Women's Auxiliary committee minutes; fiscal statements.
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Volume labelled 'No 23 Minute Book 1920-1921' containing signed typed and printed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 2788-3993
Enclosures include: notes on Women's Auxiliary committee minutes; fiscal statements; 'Mass Movements Commission Report, Haidarabad [Hyderabad, India]'.
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Volume labelled 'No 24 Minute Book 1922-23-24' containing signed printed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 3994-6162.
Enclosures include: notes on Women's Auxiliary committee minutes; extracts from the minutes of the Finance Committee; fiscal statements; memorandum on the West African Literature Society, October 1922
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Volume labelled 'No 25 Minute Book 1925-1929' containing signed printed minutes of the General Committee. Paragraphs 6163-10227.
Enclosures include: notes on Women's Auxiliary committee minutes; extracts from the minutes of the Finance Committee; fiscal statements; booklet entitled 'The Proposed Union of the WMMS & WA'; 'Copy of the Covenant between the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and the Evangelical Missionary Society of Basel [Switzerland], 11 November 1925'.
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Volume labelled 'General Committee Min[ute] Book Index from September 1917 to Dec 1925' and being the index to minute books 20 (part only), 21-24 and 25 (part only).
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Volume labelled 'No 26 Minute Book 1930-33' containing signed printed minutes of the General Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society from 29 January 1930 to 27 September 1932. Signed printed minutes of the Wesleyan Methodist Continuing Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society from 26 October 1932-22 February 1933. Paragraphs 10228-12828. With extracts from the minutes of the Finance Committee, Sectional committees and Officers' meetings.
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Volume labelled 'General Committee Index of Minutes from Jan 1st 1926 to 1932' being an index to part of minute book 25 and part of minute book 26.
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Volume labelled 'No 27 General Committee' containing printed and typed signed minutes of the General Committee, with recommendations made to said committee by Officers' meetings and Sectional committees.
Enclosures include: appointment and duties of Chairmen of Districts; appointment and duties of Committees' Representatives; fiscal statements.
Enclosures at rear of volume: 'Ministerial Service in the West Indies' (2 versions: 1933 & 1934); 'A Bill to constitute and incorporate The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes and vest in them the properties formerly vested in The Trustees for Wesleyan Methodist Church Purposes (Registered) or in The Trustees for United Methodist Church Purposes and for other purposes' (8 July 1938); 'Draft of the Trust Deed referred to in the Methodist Church Bill session 1938-39', 1938.
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Volume labelled 'Index to General Committee Minutes from Oct 1932 and Sectional Committee minutes (Eastern, Western, Finance and General Purposes) from Sept 1933'. From 1939 Emergency Committee also indexed. Front of volume has guide to the arrangement of this index (alphabetically, principally by place and function). Each entry has a paragraph number preceded by a lettercode indicating where minute appears (e.g. E for Eastern Committee minutes).
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Volume labelled 'MMS General Committee Current Minute Book' [Minute book 28] containing signed typed minutes (with presented papers) of the General Committee. Paragraphs 3830-5604.
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Transferred from Methodist Church House by Mike King, Team Leader, World Church Office, on 16 May 2006
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Volume labelled 'Index - C'tee Minutes from Jan 1943'. Front of volume has guide to the arrangement of this index (alphabetically, principally by place and function). Each entry has a paragraph number preceded by a lettercode indicating where minute appears (e.g. E for Eastern Committee minutes).
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Volume labelled 'MMS General Committee' [Book No 29] and containing signed typed minutes (with presented papers) of the General Committee. Paragraph numbers relative to volume. Includes an address given by Rev D B Childe to said committee on 25 June 1958 regarding their missions in Asia. Index at front of volume.
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Volume labelled 'Methodist Missionary Society General Committee' [Book No 30] and containing signed typed minutes (with presented papers) of the General Committee. Paragraph numbers relative to volume. Index at front of volume.
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Volume labelled 'General Committee' [Book No 31] containing signed typed minutes (with presented papers) of the General Committee. Paragraph numbers relative to volume. Index at front of volume.
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Volume labelled 'General Committee' [Minute Book No 32] containing signed typed minutes (with presented papers) of the General Committee. Paragraph numbers relative to volume. Index at front of volume.
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Last minute book of the General Committee. Replaced by the Central Committee on 30 September 1970.
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Draft minutes of the General Committee (including special meetings), the Finance sub-committee, the Reference sub-committee and other sub-committees of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. These minutes would have been written during the meeting and are therefore written hastily - frequently with corrections, crossing outs, annotations and abbreviations.
Includes minutes of the General Committee and the Finance sub-committee from September 1881 (minutes for these two committees from July 1880 until the end of 1883 are not extant anywhere else).
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees. Partial index at rear of volume.
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), Ship committee, sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees.
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), Ship committee, sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees. Partial index at front of volume.
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees.
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees.
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees.
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Draft minutes of the meetings of the General Committee of Management (including special meetings), sub-committee of Finance, sub-committee of Reference as well as other sub-committees.
From 22 September 1881 the minutes of the General Committee and the Finance sub-committee are signed and there are a number of enclosures including notes on the minutes of the meetings of the Ladies Auxiliary Committee, fiscal statements, circular letters and printed reports.
[Note: there are no extant minutes elsewhere for the General Committee from 15 September 1880 to the end of December 1883 or the Finance sub-committee from 22 October 1880 to 4 January 1884].
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Minutes of various committees relating to the financial administration of (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society including the Finance Sub-Committee, the Finance Committee and the Joint Finance and General Purposes Committee. Minutes date from 1825 to 1880, 1912-1923 and 1953-1964.
Some of these minutes are only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Minutes of the Finance Sub-committee from 22 October 1880 until January 1884 are only extant in 'Rough Minute Book No. 7' (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3).
Minutes of the Finance Committee for 1884 are within the minute book of the General Committee for 1884 to 1888 (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3). The minutes of the Finance and General Purpose Committee from 1884 to 1905 are also within the minute books of the General Commiitee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3-5; MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Boxes 1220-1221) as are the minutes of the re-established Finance Committee from September 1905 until the autumn of 1912 (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Boxes 1221 &1331-1333).
Minutes of finance committees from 1923 until 1952 are contained with the Sectional Commitee minutes (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1380-1383).
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A special meeting held on 22 January 1819 established the terms of reference for the General Committee and in the process established four sub-committees: Finance, Outfit, Reference and House. The Finance sub-committee (later often referred to as just the Finance Committee) was responsible for examining and arranging all pecuniary accounts, both with regard to receipts and expenditure, and to formulate regulations for the payment of bills, etc. It was initially required to report to the General Committee at least once per month.
In September 1884 it was replaced by the Finance and General Purposes Committee and in the process dealt with more general administrative matters as well. In 1905 the committees were split and operated separately and, as part of the restructuring of the committees (as well as the general administration) of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1912, the Finance Committee's role was more succinctly redefined as where 'financial proposals shall be referred before they are decided by the General Committee'. In September 1931 the Finance Committee once again merged with the General Purposes Committee.
The contents of the minutes vary, as does the amount of business conducted, but generally speaking the minutes are briefer from the 1860s to 1880. The sub-committee of Finance (sometimes referred to as simply the Committee of Finance) minutes often contain the following information: examining accounts filed by districts and often commenting on or questioning their expenditure; reviewing administrative spending; building projects; purchase or sale of land, buildings, etc; examination and paying of bills and accounts from tradesman, companies, etc; allowances for missionaries; scrutinising purchases made by missionaries; corresponding with missionaries regarding their expenditure; appeals from missionaries for additional financial support; grants to widows, orphans, supernumeraries and employees in ill-health.
A previous arrangement of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive had placed the minutes from 1825 until 1880 under Special Series. As a sub-committee of the General Committee of Management of the WMMS they clearly belong within the minutes series of the Home and General sub-sub-collection. Microfiche references, however, remain unchanged.
Some of these minutes are only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Unsigned minutes. Index at rear of volume
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The first volume of the minutes of the Sub-committee of Finance, presumably dating from January 1819 until December 1825, is not extant.
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Unsigned minutes.
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Pages 274 to 494 are blank in this volume. Perhaps they were intended for the minutes of the Sub-committee of Finance from 22 October 1880 until 4 January 1884 which are only extant in 'Rough Minute Book No. 7' (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3).
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Signed minutes of the newly reformed Finance Committee. Paragraph numbers used.
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This item had been wrongly identified as part of the Women's Work financial records in Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society'.
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Signed minutes of the Finance Committee. Paragraph numbers used.
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The Joint Finance Committee (later renamed Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee and sometimes simply referred to as the Finance and General Purposes Committee) was formed from representatives of the then Finance & General Purposes Committee and the Women's Work Advisory and Finance Committee. The committee was created by the General Committee on 24 June 1942 and initially met annually but later this expanded to twice a year. At one meeting the Committee would review the Methodist Missionary Society's accounts for the year whilst at their other meeting they would consider the proposed budget for the coming year. Also includes information on the General Fund, members of committees and obituaries of relevant personnel. In March 1964 it was replaced by the reformed General Purposes Committee.
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Earlier minutes of this committee can be found amongst the Sectional Committee minutes (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1382-1383).
The subsequent minutes of the General Purposes Committee are available to 1970 (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1376).
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Signed typed minutes of the Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee, with some presented papers attached. Index at front of volume.
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With the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 three secretaries were appointed. Each secretary had to be a minister and was required to reside in London. Their duties, to be organised between themselves, included reading and replying to correspondence, keeping track of expenditure and producing an annual plan for the stationing of missionaries (which would then be presented to Conference for approval). As the number of missions and missionaries increased an additional secretary was appointed, subsequently with specific responsibilities being assigned to each secretary. In 1906 the Secretaries' Meetings become known as the Officers' Meetings.
By 1912 these arrangements required greater formality. The secretaries were given specific area responsibilities and joint duties (as assigned to individuals by the General Purposes Committee). Each secretary was given equal status although one of them would be selected by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (upon recommendation by the General Committee) to chair the Officers' Meetings for the year. The specific area responsibilities were: Home, Lay, Youth & West Africa; South Africa & the 'Western Hemisphere'; China & Europe; India & Ceylon. Each secretary was expected to visit part of their area every four years and to introduce business for their area to each General Committee meeting. Responsibilities shared between secretaries included arranging meetings, drafting budgets and representation on other committees. The Officers' Meetings (usually held for a day at least once a week) were attended by the four secretaries along with the two honorary lay treasurers of the WMMS. They were charged with keeping minutes of their meetings where they would present before their colleagues all recent work regarding each secretary's area. The Officers' Meetings did not formally report to the General Committee but their views were often solicited by it, and the preparation of their work could potentially influence it.
A review of sectional committees in 1928 lead to the business of the Officers' Meetings not being directly passed to the General Committee but, in the first instance, to the most appropriate sectional committee. Furthermore, joint meetings with the officers of the Women's Auxiliary were discontinued by September of 1929 when the Officers' Meetings formally comprised the officers of the WMMS and its Women's Auxiliary.
Initially entries are for an event or task on a given day but this quickly develops into brief summaries of the Secretaries' Meetings (although lapsing occasionally back to the initial format). The minutes up to 1912 are often written very informally with little consistency of structure, simply outlining the work to be undertaken by the secretaries (e.g. meetings to attend, letters to be composed, etc), matters resolved and some recommendations made to committees (usually the General Committee). However, these minutes do, on occasion, discuss in more detail matters occupying the secretaries' time. With the restructuring of 1912 the minutes become more structured, expansive and directly connected to the work of the General Committee (from the summer of 1928 the sectional committees), occasionally being more detailed in their minutes then the committees whom they support.
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There is no indication that any minutes were written before 1837: if they were they are not extant.
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Minutes of the WMMS Secretaries. Towards the rear of this volume the following has been added: 'Synoptical Table' of anniversary arrangements 1870-1876; names of the London circuit members of the General Committee of Management of the WMMS 1853-1863; list of speakers at Bible Society meetings [183]7-1874.
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Volume labelled 'Secretaries Minute Book Private'. Minutes of the WMMS Secretaries. Gaps in minutes, notably 1892 to 1896 and 1898 to June 1905. By January 1906 has become 'Officers Meetings'.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Officers' Meeting No 1'. Minutes of the WMMS Officers' Meetings. Paragraph numbers used.
Insert at front of volume taken from the Wesleyan Methodist Minutes of Conference of 1912 detailing the restructing of the management of the WMMS and its committees.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Officers' Meeting No 2'. Minutes of the WMMS Officers' Meetings. Paragraph numbers used.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Officers' Meeting No 3'. Typed minutes of the WMMS Officers' Meetings. Paragraph numbers used.
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Officers' Meeting No 4'. Typed minutes of the WMMS Officers' Meetings (including minutes of joint meetings with the officers of the Women's Auxiliary). Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the WMMS Officers' Meetings (including minutes of joint meetings with the officers of the Women's Auxiliary). Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the WMMS Officers' Meetings (including minutes of joint meetings with the officers of the Women's Auxiliary). Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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LM, June 2013
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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Typed minutes of the MMS Officers' Meetings. Index at front of volume which is arranged alphabetically by place name or subject. Paragraph numbers used.
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The Home Organisation Committee was formed in 1895 to promote the work of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Great Britain through publications, events, summer schools, lectures, etc, and to assist in fund raising activities. It was also the body that had oversight on the internal administration of the Society.
At a meeting of the Home Organisation Committee on 3 October 1946 it was agreed that four sub-committees should be created to assist the committee with its work. The four sub-committees created were Education, Literature, Visual Aids and Business. The latter of these coordinated the work of the other three sub-committees.
Minutes of the Home Organisation Committee and two of its sub-committees: Education and Literature. These minutes sometimes include copies of the minutes of the Visual Aids Sub-committee. The minutes of the Home Organisation Committee also briefly summarise the work of its sub-committees.
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The earliest minutes (dating from 1895) for the Home Organisation Committee are contained within the minute books of the General Committee. After the reorganisation of the management of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1912 the Home Organisation Committee was tasked with keeping its own minute books.
Minutes primarily recording the promotion of (Wesleyan) Methodist missionary work in Great Britain but also the administration of the Home Organisation Department itself. Matters discussed (some through the work of sub-committees) include: planning and production of publications, films, lantern lectures, etc; 'Foreign Field' and 'Kingdom Overseas' (and to a lesser extent 'HOD magazine' and 'At Home and Abroad') circulation numbers as well as publications costs, revenue raised, etc; promotion of missionary work through events, exhibitions, summer schools, 'May Meetings', etc; raising revenue, particularly through collection boxes; Mission House library (including acquisitions); budgets and revenue spent; brief entries on some staff appointments and departures; promoting missionary work to young people and children (notably through the Juvenile Missionary Association); reporting of missionary deputations overseas; attracting missionary candidates.
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Minutes of the Home Organisation Committee from 1895 until the autumn of 1912 are contained within the minute books of the General Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 4-5; MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Boxes 1220-1221 & 1331-1333).
The monthly magazine (from 1915 until 1976) of the Home Organisation Department - originally entitled 'The H.O.D. magazine: a monthly message from the Mission House to helpers at the home base' - is available within the Methodist Missionary Society Library (MMSL MG088).
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Home Organisation No 1' containing signed minutes of the WMMS Home Organisation Committee. Enclosures include: fiscal statements and reports.
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Signed typed minutes of the WMMS Home Organisation Committee, with copies of the minutes of the Missionary Council and a few joint meetings with the Finance committtee. The minutes were filed with the earliest at the rear of the volume and the most recent at the front.
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The minutes were filed with the earliest at the rear of the volume and the most recent at the front. The minutes dating from 8 February 1923 to 3 November 1932 are copies of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Home Organisation Committee. Minutes dating from December 1932 are of the Methodist Missionary Society Home Organisation Committee and are signed.
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Signed minutes of the MMS Home Organisation Committee. The minutes were filed with the earliest at the rear of the volume and the most recent at the front. Paragraph numbers used from May 1949.
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Signed minutes of the MMS Home Organisation Committee. Paragraph numbers relative to volume. Index at front of volume.
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At a meeting of the Home Organisation Committee on 3 October 1946 it was agreed that four sub-committees should be created to assist with the committee in its work. The Education Sub-committee was tasked with providing educational resources, events, etc, for the Methodist Community and publications for them and others on missionary work. It first met on 18 October 1946.
Minutes, with some agendas and presented papers, of the Education Sub-committee of the Home Organisation.
Matters discussed include: books, leaflets, posters, etc, planned and produced; Cargate Press publications; promotional events such as May Meetings, summer schools, conferences, etc; Helpers' Union publications; audio-visual material; encouraging promotion of missionary work in circuits and districts in Great Britain; youth work; liaising with similar Christian organisations.
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Typed minutes (mostly signed) of the Education Sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee, with agendas and presented papers.
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Signed typed minutes of the Education Sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee, with agendas and presented papers.
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Signed typed minutes of the Education Sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee, with agendas and presented papers.
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Signed typed minutes of the Education Sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee, with agendas and presented papers. With index at the front of the volume.
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At a meeting of the Home Organisation Committee on 3 October 1946 it was agreed that four sub-committees should be created to assist with the committee in its work. The Literature Sub-committee was tasked with oversight of all of the publications produced by the Home Department and first met on 18 October 1946.
Minutes, agendas and presented papers of the Literature Sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee.
Matters discussed include: possible publications; publications produced by other Christian organisations as well as liaising with them regarding co-operative work; publications for both adults and children. The latter include formats and genres such as plays, leaflets, handbooks, hymn sheets and books on a wide range of topics including Methodist missions, areas & peoples of mission regions, individual missions, missionary institutions, medical literature, JMA literature, moral and spiritual guidance as well as periodicals (particularly HOD magazine).
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Original file labelled 'HOD Literature Committee' and 'MMS Literature Sub-committee'. Signed typed minutes of the Literature Sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee, often including the reports of the Secretary. Volume has earliest minutes at back with most recent at front where there is also a handwritten index.
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The General Purposes Committee was formed in September 1905 when it was separated from the Finance & General Purposes Committee (which had been in existence since September 1884). In 1912, as part of the restructuring of the committees (as well as the general administration) of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society the General Purposes Committee gained the additional responsibilities of the former Staffing Committee. The committee's responsibilities in 1912 included: nominations for, and general arrangements of, all Sectional Committees, the General Committee and the Missionary Council; arrangements for visitations to mission fields; oversight of office and warehouse staff; furlough regulations and arrangements; allocation of duties of Secretaries; arrangements for presentation of business in Wesleyan Methodist Conference.
In 1931 the General Purposes Committee merged with the Finance Committee. The Joint Finance and General Purposes Committee (combined meetings of the Finance & General Purposes Committee with the Women's Work Advisory and Finance Committee) met from 1948 until 1964.
In March 1964 the General Purposes Committee was established as a single entity again with the responsibility 'to discuss major items of general policy in the [Methodist Missionary] Society as a whole' and to meet at least twice a year. Its terms of reference included: examination of budget proposals of the Officers to the General Committee; examination of business proposals for Methodist Conference; matters of Connexional Inter-departmental relationships; education in world affairs of the Home Church; balance of MMS activities, particularly emerging inter-denominational matters; major structural changes; inter-relationships of General Fund & Women's Work activity; appointment of working groups as required.
Minutes, from 1912 until 1931 and then from 1963 to 1970, of the General Purposes Committee. Matters discussed include:
the salary and pension arrangements of administrative staff; nominations to committees and lists of committee members; changes to responsibilities of Secretaries; agreeing schedule of visitations to mission fields and individuals to undertake said visitations; appointments and promotion within the administrative staff; reorganisation of administrative working areas.
From October 1964, when the committee assumes further responsibilities, the following matters are additionally discussed: budgets; Society's income and expenditure; General Fund; missionary training; procedures for selecting candidates; reports from working parties; responsibilities of Officers.
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The minutes of the Finance and General Purpose Committee from 1884 to 1905 are within the minute books of the General Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 3-5; MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Boxes 1220-1221) as are those extant minutes of the General Purposes Committee from September 1905 until the autumn of 1912 (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Boxes 1221 &1331-1333).
In October 1931 the General Purposes Committee merged with the Finance Committee and the minutes of that committee are amongst the minute books of the Sectional Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1380-1383). The minutes of the Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee from April 1948 to September 1952 are also within the minute books of the Sectional Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1382-1383) with a single volume from April 1953 to March 1964 also available (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1375).
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Volume labelled 'Minute Book Gen. Purposes No.1' and contains the signed minutes (a few of which are typed) of the General Purposes Committee. Paragraph numbers used.
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Spine labelled 'General Purposes Committee General Fund'. Note at front states has replaced Joint Finance and General Purposes Committee. Index at front of volume.
Copies of typed minutes of the General Purposes Committee General Fund for 17 May 1963 and 12 June 1963.
Signed typed minutes of the General Purposes Committee from 1 October 1964 until 9 September 1970, with some presented papers attached.
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As part of the restructuring of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society committees in 1912 the Eastern Committee was created to oversee missions in Asia, principally replacing the previous committees for Ceylon & India and China. Its recommendations were passed onto the General Committee.
Minutes of the Eastern Committee, from 1912 to 1923 and from 1953 to 1956, recording its supervisory work over missions in China, Burma, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and India (including areas now in Pakistan). Matters brought before the committee include: appointments of missionary staff; transfers of missionaries within mission fields and between institutions; furloughs; arrangement of visitations to mission fields; grants to individuals and for projects; sale and purchase of land and property; allowances; maintenance of property; new building projects; purchase of equipment for institutions; fitness for duty of missionary staff; recording deaths of missionary staff; formation of new churches (e.g. Church of South India); election of individuals to local committees.
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The minutes for the Eastern Committee from April 1923 to December 1952 form part of the Sectional Committee minute books MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1380-1383)
Minutes of regional committees before 1912 are available (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1384) and within the minutes of the General Committee.
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Labelled 'Minute Book Eastern No 1'. Signed minutes of the Eastern Committee. Order of business of each meeting conducted for each district or mission in turn. Paragraph numbers partially used.
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Labelled 'Minute Book Eastern No 2'. Signed minutes of the Eastern Committee. Order of business of each meeting conducted for each district or mission in turn. Paragraph numbers used.
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Volume labelled on spine 'Eastern Committee'. Signed typed minutes of the Eastern Committee, with some presented papers included. Paragraph numbers used.
These minutes were kept by the Methodist Missionary Society in the same volume as the minutes of the Western Committee for Jan 1953 to June 1956.
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As part of the restructuring of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society committees in 1912 the Western Committee was created to oversee missions in the Western Hemisphere, principally replacing the previous committees for Europe & South Africa and the West Indies & West Africa. Its recommendations were passed onto the General Committee.
Minutes of the Western Committee, from 1912 to 1923 and from 1953 to 1956, recording its supervisory work over missions in the Caribbean and Americas (principally the former British West Indies), West Africa, Europe and Southern Africa (principally the Transvaal & Swaziland and Rhodesia (both Zimbabwe and Zambia)). In the 1932 the former United Methodist mission of Kenya was added. Matters brought before the committee include: appointments of missionary staff; transfers of missionaries within mission fields and between institutions; furloughs; arrangement of visitations to mission fields; allowances; grants to individuals and for projects; sale and purchase of land and property; maintenance of property; new building projects; purchase of equipment for institutions; fitness for duty of missionary staff; recording deaths of missionary staff; election of individuals to local committees.
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The minutes for the Western Committee from April 1923 to November 1952 form part of the Sectional Committee minutes MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1380-1383).
Minutes of regional committees before 1912 are available (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1384) and within the minutes of the General Committee.
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Labelled 'Minute Book Western No 1'. Signed minutes of the Western Committee. Order of business for each meeting conducted for each district or mission in turn. Paragraph numbers partially used.
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Labelled 'Minute Book Western No 2'. Signed minutes of the Western Committee. Order of business for each meeting conducted for each district or mission in turn. Paragraph numbers used.
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Volume is labelled on spine 'Eastern Committee'. Signed typed minutes of the Western Committee, with some presented papers included. Paragraph numbers used.
These minutes were kept by the Methodist Missionary Society in the same volume as the minutes of the Eastern Committee for Jan 1953 to June 1956.
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As part of the restructuring of the committees (as well as the general administration) of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1912 a number of sectional committees were either reformed or created. These sectional committees comprised: Candidates; Eastern; Finance; Home Organisation; General Purposes; Literature; Medical; and Western. Each was charged with keeping their own minute books but from April 1923 the minutes of the Eastern Committee, Western Committee and Finance Committee were filed together, with in October 1931 the newly merged Finance & General Purposes Committee being added. The remaining sectional committees continued to keep their own minutes.
At Methodist Union in 1932 the sectional committees were defined as Candidates; Eastern, Finance & General Purposes; Home Organisation; Medical Board; and Western. The proportion of members from each former missionary society was agreed for each committee and transitional committees, where appropriate, met for each former missionary society into 1933 (although they were not allowed to engage in any new work without the explicit permission of the General Committee).
At the start of the Second World War an Emergency Committee took over the functions of some of the sectional committees and in 1948 a Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee was added to the sectional committees (it being an amalgamation of the Finance & General Purposes Committee with the Women's Work Finance & Advisory Committee). In 1953 the practice of individual committees keeping their own minute books was returned to.
Signed minutes of the Eastern (1923-1952), Western (1923-1952), Finance (1923-1931), Finance & General Purposes (1931-1950), Joint Finance and General Purposes (1942-1952), and Emergency committees (October 1939 to July 1942).
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Indicies for the minutes in these volumes dating from 1932 to 1950 are amongst the General Committee minutes and indicies (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1341 & 1344).
For other minutes relating to these sectional commitees see the sub-series entries for: Minutes relating to Finance Committees; Eastern Committee minutes; Western Committee minutes; and General Purposes Committe minutes.
Catalogued
Volume labelled 'WMMS Minutes of Sectional Committees (Eastern, Western, Finance & General Purposes)'. Volume divided into three sections:
1) Signed typed minutes of the Eastern Committee from 12 April 1923 to 15 September 1932. Paragraph numbers used.
2) Signed typed minutes of the Western Committee from 18th April 1923 to 16 September 1932. Paragraph numbers used.
3) Minutes of Finance committees. Signed typed minutes of the Finance Committee (with some joint meetings with Western and Eastern as well) from 19 April 1923 to 24 September 1931. Paragraph numbers used. Replaced by Finance & General Purposes Committee - signed typed minutes from 20 October 1931 to 26 April 1932. Paragraph numbers used.
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Preceeding minutes for the Eastern Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1377), Western Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1378) and General Purposes Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1376) are available.
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The Emergency Committee first met on 28 September 1939 as a direct result of the outbreak of the Second World War. It temporarily replaced the Finance & General Purposes, Eastern and Western committees, whilst it was left to the discretion of the WMMS Officers as to when the Home Organisation Committee should meet. Until March 1940 the Emergency Committee directly undertook the work of the Eastern Committee and Western Committee and until September 1941 the work of the Finance & General Purposes Committee (although some joint meetings with said committees continued on until July 1942). The Emergency Committee's work concentrated on the appointment of officers, financial matters and the movement of missionaries.
Volume labelled 'Minutes of Sectional Committees (Eastern, Western, Emergency and Finance and General Purposes). Volume divided into four sections:
1) Signed typed minutes of the Eastern Committee from 15 February 1933 until 22 May 1940. Paragraph numbers used. No meetings held between September 1939 and March 1940.
2) Signed typed minutes of the Western Committee from 23 March 1933 to 23 May 1940. Paragraph numbers used. No meetings held between September 1939 and March 1940.
3) Signed typed minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee (with some joint meetings with Western and Eastern as well) from 17 November 1932 to 24 May 1939. Paragraph numbers used.
4) Signed typed minutes of the Emergency Committee from 18 October 1939 to 18 April 1940. Paragraph numbers used.
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The first meeting of the Emergency Committee (28 September 1939) is detailed within the Minute Book of the General Committee for 1932 to 1946 (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1342).
This minute book is indexed with the General Committee minutes of the same period (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1341).
Catalogued
The Joint Finance Committee (later renamed Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee) comprised representatives from the Finance & General Purposes Committee and the Women's Work Advisory and Finance Committee. The committee was formed by the General Committee on 24 June 1942 and initially met annually but later this expanded to twice a year. At one meeting the Committee would review the Methodist Missionary Society's accounts for the year whilst at their other meeting they would consider the proposed budget for the coming year.
Volume labelled 'Minute Book Sectional Committees'. Volume divided into five sections:
1) Signed typed minutes of the Eastern Committee from 27 November 1940 to 15 December 1948. Paragraph numbers used.
2) Signed typed minutes of the Western Committee from 28 November 1940 to 16 December 1948. Paragraph numbers used.
3) Signed typed minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee from 17 September 1941 to 18 April 1947. Paragraph number used.
4) Signed typed minutes of the Joint Finance Committee (renamed Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee on 18 April 1948) from 22 September 1942 to 13 October 1948. Paragraph numbers used.
5) Signed typed minutes of the Emergency Committee from 3 October 1940 to 22 July 1942. Paragraph number used.
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This minute book is indexed with the General Committee minutes of the same period (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1341 & Box 1344).
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Volume divided into four sections:
1) Signed typed minutes of the Eastern Committee from 9 January 1949 to 10 December 1952. Paragraph numbers used.
2) Signed typed minutes of the Western Committee from 20 January 1949 to 20 November 1952. Paragraph numbers used.
3) Unsigned typed minutes of the Finance & General Purposes Committee from 8 March 1949 to 4 April 1950. Paragraph number used.
4) Signed typed minutes of the Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee from 12 April 1949 to 25 September 1952. Paragraph numbers used.
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Most of this minute book is indexed with the General Committee minutes of the same period (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1341 & Box 1344).
Proceeding minutes for the Eastern Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1379), Western Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1379) and Joint Finance & General Purposes Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1375) are available.
Catalogued
At the inception of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 its 'Laws and Regulations' gave clear guidance for the process of the selection of missionaries. Lay candidates for ordained missionary work had to be recommended by the Superintendent of their home circuit and approved by the annual district meeting or, where this was not possible, by three superintendents of neighbouring circuits. These candidates would then go before a special committee at Wesleyan Methodist Conference or, where more expedient, before the 'Preachers of the London District', where they would be examined on their opinions of missionary work and their qualifications. Ministers who wished to undertake overseas work would need only to be examined by one of the two committees above. Those successful would be placed on the 'List of Received Missionaries' and placed in overseas missions at the discretion of the General Committee. If the list became exhausted and there was a 'pressing necessity' for missionaries the 'Preachers of the London District' could act directly on behalf of Conference to select appropriate individuals.
In 1905 the Qualification of Lay Candidates' Committee was formed and in May 1906 the process required for examining candidates to be lay missionaries was clarified. Two letters (one being from a minister) were required regarding the character, Christian usefulness and missionary spirit of the candidate; a statement from the candidate on his or her 'religious experience and belief, experience in Christian work, and missionary call'; to provide a book list of theological and general reading. Candidates would then have to sit a paper on scripture and Christian doctrine and have any professional skills assessed accordingly. All candidates would then be expected to attend an interview.
As part of the restructuring of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's committees in 1912 a Candidates' Committee was created. In part it assumed the duties of the Qualification of Lay Candidates' Committee and it administered the recruitment of ministerial and lay missionary staff. Other duties included arranging specialised training for specific mission fields, suggestions for appointment of lay staff and the allocation of ministers to missions.
In September 1968 the Candidates' Committee was replaced by the Overseas Service Committee.
Minutes of candidates committees from 1829 to 1841 and 1912 to 1968. There are also some minutes of the Committee of Discipline from to 1843 to 1864
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Minutes of the Qualification of Lay Candidates Committee, from 1906 until 1912, can be found amongst the minutes of the General Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1221, 1331-1333).
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Bound volume
Information on candidates usually includes: name; age; involvement with Methodist Church; status (health, marital, financial), whether accepted or not accepted. Sometimes mentions current occupation and quality of preaching.
Disciplinary cases include: theological dissent; marrying without permission; breach of promise; sexual misconduct; immoral conduct; involvement with political or 'temporal affairs'; intoxication; financial irregularities; travelling without Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's consent or contrary to its wishes. Committee of Discipline also reviews cases of retirement on the grounds of ill-health.
Labelled 'Minutes of Examination Vol 2'. Corrected typed version of index inserted at front.
Pages 1-128: Unsigned minutes of the meetings 'of the Preachers of the London Districts for the Examination of Missionary Candidates' from 9 September 1829 until 9 July 1841. Examination of missionary (and occasionally assistant missionary) candidates. Includes a few disciplinary cases, usually having been referred by missionary districts, and often brief in detail.
Pages 129-135: Blank.
Pages 136-256: Unsigned minutes of the meetings of the Committee of Discipline from 11 July 1843 until 15 April 1864.
Rear of volume has index. Between index entries are minutes of the Committee for Discipline from 22 April until 4 August 1864, and a meeting of 8 August 1862.
A previous arrangement of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive had placed this minute book under Special Series. As a committee involved with the management of the WMMS it more appropriately belongs within the minutes series of the Home and General sub-sub-collection. Microfiche references, however, remain unchanged.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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No earlier volume is known to be extant.
Some additional candidate material for the 1840s, mainly in the form of examination books, is available on the same microfiche.
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The committee considered candidates for all forms of missionary work (including evangelism, medical, educational) in overseas missions. It also discussed training, relationship to other committees as well as amalgamating their work with the Women's Auxiliary Candidates' Committee. Amongst the earliest minutes here missionary transfers and resignations are sometimes recorded.
Volume labelled 'Minute Book Miscellaneous No 1' containing the signed minutes (typed from July 1923) of the Candidates' Committee. Includes minutes of the special committee on Work in Europe (1917-1919) and copies of the minutes of the French Executive (1919-1930).
Enclosures include: regulations of the Candidates' Committee (c1913); questions asked regarding state of European missions (principally France) towards end of World War One; condition of church at Rue Du Temple, Calais, France (1925).
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The committee considered candidates for all forms of missionary work (including evangelism, medical, educational) in overseas missions. It also occasionally discussed training (including short courses at SOAS) and usually records the death or resignation of committee members. Between September 1939 and November 1940 the committee did not sit and its functions were in part assumed by the Emergency Committee and the sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee.
Volume labelled 'Minute Book Candidates Committee' and containing the signed typed minutes of the Candidates' Committee of the MMS. Includes summaries of the minutes of the Emergency Committee and the sub-committee of the Home Organisation Committee, September 1939 to November 1940, considering candidates; minutes of the meetings of the Joint Candidates' Committee between 1944 and 1946; and the minutes of the Emergency Candidates' Committee in 1946 and 1947.
Enclosure at rear of volume entitled 'The Content of Missionary Training and the Future of St Andrew's College' 20 May [19]63.
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The committee considered candidates for all forms of missionary work (including evangelism, medical, educational) in overseas missions, although the level of information on individual candidates is often brief. It also discusses policy on missionary recruitment, selection and training.
Volume labelled 'Methodist Missionary Society Candidates Committee' and containing that committee's signed typed minutes from 19 September 1963 until its last meeting on 21 May 1968 [after which it was replaced by the Overseas Service Committee]. From 1966 the minutes include lists of students training at Kingsmead and there is discussion on a proposed Centre for Training in Christian Mission.
Enclosures include a number of papers on training at Selly Oak, particularly St Andrew's College.
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The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society realised at the start of the twentieth century that its medical missionary work was behind that of other missionary organisations and that it was its duty to improve such work. Therefore in 1902 it established a Medical Fund, with the slogan 'Save Life', to raise funds to improve upon its medical missionary work. At the same time it realised that it needed to manage existing medical missions better and to spend newly raised funds effectively and so it created, in 1903, the Medical Sub-committee to oversee this work. Said sub-committee then recommended the establishment of a Medical Advisory Board to provide professional medical advice with regard to medical missions and to evaluate the health of its employees and prospective employees (as well as their partners or intended partners) more systematically. The Board first met on 9th March 1904.
By 1912 there was a strong desire from those involved in the medical committees that there should be a Medical Secretary whose duties should be organising medical mission work including arranging meetings and raising funds for the Medical Fund. The post was approved and it was agreed that it was 'absolutely necessary' that the Medical Secretary be a 'qualified member of the medical profession'. Additionally, in 1913 a Medical Department was created to support the secretary, committee and board. In 1915 the Medical Secretary's duties were clarified as: convening the meetings of the Medical Advisory Board and Medical Missionary Committee; responsibility for correspondence relating to professional medical matters; responsibility, in conjunction with the relevant secretary, for correspondence on medical matters in missions; to organise all administrative and promotional paperwork relating to medical missions.
Minutes of the Medical (Advisory) Board and committees supervising medical missionary work.
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The Medical Advisory Board was formed in 1904 and comprised members from the medical profession; most of whom were also members of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. In March 1913; as a result of the rearrangement in the administration of the WMMS and a restructuring of its committees; the now renamed Medical Board had its duties defined by the General Committee as: oversight of the newly created Medical Department; to give advice and make recommendations to the General Committee on all matters pertaining to professional medical matters (including medical buildings and equipment); management of medical work; professional suitability of all medical mission personnel and to supervise health of all missionaries (whether candidates; serving in the field or on furlough); the Board was to be notified of the death or retirement of all medical personnel.
The principal work of the Board was to assess the health of missionary personnel and prospective missionary personnel (and their wives or 'brides to be') as to their fitness to serve overseas. This was not usually done directly by members of the board but medical professionals (including relevant specialists in tropical medicine, etc) around Britain. Equally important was the Board's duty to ensure that medical missionaries had the appropriate qualifications for the roles they were to undertake in the mission field.
The earliest minutes of the Medical Advisory Board rarely mention the specific health problems of individuals and frequently anonymise them by case numbers. However, the minutes increasingly identify individuals and mention their health problems to the extent that by the latter half of the 1910s they not only identify individuals but their medical problems and even discuss treatment (occasionally in detail).
Other matters discussed by the Board include: training; medical supplies and equipment; building of or alterations to medical institutions; advice on preventive health measures (including vaccination); noting of death or resignation of medical missionaries; promotion of medical missions (especially to medical professionals, including students); inter-action with other medical missionary organisations.
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Signed minutes of the Medical Advisory Board. At rear of volume specimen form attached entitled 'Recommendations of Medical Advisory Board regarding Medical Examination of Candidates and Missionaries'.
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Signed minutes of the Medical Board. Towards rear of volume is a brief list of candidates, their addresses and whether they 'sailed'.
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Signed minutes of the Medical Board. Last few minutes are typed.
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In 1902 the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society established a Medical Fund, with the slogan 'Save Life', to raise funds to improve upon its medical missionary work. At the same they realised that they needed to improve the management of existing medical missions and to spend newly raised funds more effectively and so it created, in 1903, the Medical Sub-committee to oversee this work.
In March 1913, as a result of the rearrangement in the administration of the WMMS and a restructuring of its committees, the Medical Missions Committee was charged with the responsibility of raising funds for supporting medical work overseas and its administration. Half of its members were to be chosen from the Medical Board whilst the remaining half from non-medical members of the General Committee.
Minutes of committees focusing on the administration and promotion of medical missionary work within the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.
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The Sub-committee's remit was defined as to provide advice to the General Committee and the Women's Auxiliary on all medical matters affecting general mission work and all matters regarding medical missions; examine and report on the qualifications and suitability of all candidates for medical mission work; prepare annual statistical reports; and promote the work of medical missions and to raise funds for them.
Signed minutes of the Medical Sub-committee. Matters discussed or recorded include: maintaining a register of medical students interested in medical missionary work; promoting medical missionary work (through literature, meetings, etc), particularly to students; appointment of medical missionary staff; furloughs; grants to individuals and to institutions; training; statistical information on medical institutions; budgets and expenditure; liaising with the Medical Advisory Board.
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The formative minutes of this sub-committee only appear within the minute book of the General Committee for 1903 (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1220), where copies of the minutes here can also be found.
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The Medical Missions Committee, which succeeded the Medical Sub-committee, was tasked with overseeing medical mission work; ascertaining any special needs of specific missions and to develop an 'authorised medical policy'; consider hospital reports, plans and proposals touching upon medical mission work and make recommendations, in conjunction with the Medical Board, to the General Committee; publicise medical mission work and raise funds for them. Further clarification was given in 1913 that this committee's focus was on administration and fund raising whilst the Medical Board's focus was on the professional medical. From 1916 officers from the Women's Auxiliary sat on the committee.
Volume labelled 'Minute Book Medical No. 1' comprising:
Pages 1-97: Signed minutes of the Medical Missions Committee from 30 March 1915 until 11 June 1928 (the last few being typed). Paragraph numbers used. Matters discussed or recorded include: expenditure and budgets; the Medical Fund; grants to individuals and institutions (for training, equipment, etc); appointments, transfers and resignations of medical missionary staff; noting deaths of medical missionary staff; supply of medical equipment; re-acting to medical emergencies; training (particularly scholarships); noting of staff unable to work due to ill-health; furloughs; building projects; promoting medical missions and facilitating staff recruitment; liaising with other medical missionary organisations.
Pages 98-119: Notes on candidates (varying in detail but often containing information on medical history) and lists of medical missionary candidates, c1949-c1952.
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Almost half of the volume is blank.
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Minutes of (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society Literature committees pertaining to publications for their overseas missions, particularly in Africa.
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Signed typed minutes of the the West African Literature Committee, the African Literature Committee and the Western Literature Committee.
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The West African Literature Committee first met on 21 November 1922 to consider how best to serve the Wesleyan Methodist community in West Africa (particularly within its Gold Coast District). Its view was that the level of religious teaching was not satisfactory and a significant factor in this was a lack of Christian literature. After the Rev W T Balmer's visit to West Africa to assess how to meet these needs a number of changes were put in place, including to the management of the book stores. Furthermore, Atlantis Press was established in 1923 initially with the remit to supply English language material for evangelical work. Later Atlantis Press expanded its remit to produce literature in indigenous languages as well.
By the summer of 1937 the committee was renamed the Africa Literature Committee. After Methodist Union in 1932 the combined missions of the newly formed Methodist Missionary Society extended significantly beyond West Africa. The committee's work therefore had to encompass the former missions of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missions in Rhodesia (mainly in what is now Zambia as opposed to the Wesleyan missions mainly in what is now Zimbabwe) and the former missions of the United Methodist Missionary Society in Kenya.
In June 1948 the General Committee decided the committee should also take responsibility for literature produced for its West Indian districts and the now renamed Western Literature Committee first met on 1 July 1949. This committee continued until it merged with the Overseas Literature Sub-committee of the General Committee to form the Overseas Literature Committee in June 1953.
Volume labelled 'West African Literature Committee Minute Book'. Contains the signed typed minutes of the following committees: West African Literature Committee, 22 November 1922-6 July 1936, African Literature Committee, 8 July 1937-18 June 1948 and Western Literature Committee, 1 July 1949-29 May 1953.
These literature committees discuss similar matters including: commissioning and publishing literature, including works on language (such as primers, grammar and readers), theology, hymnals, local history, geography, 'folk' tales, prominent figures, spiritual and moral guidance; visits to missions, districts, etc, to assess educational needs; decisions on what languages to publish in; lists of new publications; sales of publications; oversight of book rooms and depots.
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At a meeting of the General Committee on 25 June 1953 it was agreed that its recently formed Overseas Literature Sub-committee should be merged with the Western Literature Committee to form the Overseas Literature Committee. Its constitution stating that it was 'to be responsible for encouraging the production and distribution of Christian Literature for the Overseas Church' and 'in particular, to advise the Officers on the Literature Allocation in the Budget and to authorise grants from the Literature Funds.' The work of the committee was reviewed by the Rev T A Beetham in March 1961 when he categorised the committee's literature output as either by 'Methodist for Methodists' or inconjunction with other agencies and he made a series of recommendations relating to these.
Matters discussed by the committee include: review of literature available in districts; budgets and expenditure; grants for publications; noting new publications; sales figures for Atlantis press publications; visits to districts; distribution of publications; work of Africa Literature Secretary; liaising with other Christian publishers; noting retirement or death of associated personnel.
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Volume is labelled on spine 'Overseas Literature'. Signed typed minutes, with presented papers attached, from 26 November 1953 until 13 May 1971. Paragraph numbers used. With loose papers relating to a meeting of 25th Novembr 1971 regarding the future of the Overseas Literature Committee, 1971-1972.
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For many years the General Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society had formed ad hoc sub-committees or held special meetings to manage specific issues relating to one of their missionary districts or the region it formed part of. In 1900 they decided to form an India Sub-committee to initially manage all missionary matters in India (including areas now in Pakistan), Sri Lanka and Burma. The success of this sub-committee lead to the creation of further sub-committees and by the autumn of 1903 the following sub-committees were in place: India & Ceylon; China; Europe & South Africa; West Indies and West Africa. In 1912, as part of the restructuring of the committees (as well as the general administration) of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, these sub-committees ceased meeting. The work of the sub-committees for China, India & Ceylon were assumed by the Eastern Committee whilst the work of the sub-committees for Europe & South Africa and West Indies & West Africa were assumed by the Western Committee.
Unfortunately most of the minute books of the regional sub-committees are no longer extant. What is available are the minutes for the India and Ceylon Sub-committee from 1900 to 1912 and the minute book of the West Indies and West Africa Sub-committee, 1907 to 1912.
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For other - mainly earlier and more adhoc - minutes relating to regions, districts or individual missions please consult the minutes of the General Committee. Many of the minutes of the sub-committees, including some of those available here, are contained with the minute books of the General Committee.
Later regional minutes, under the auspices of the Eastern Committee and the Western Committee, are also available (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1377-1383).
Catalogued
The India Sub-committee was created in 1900 and renamed the India and Ceylon Sub-committee in October 1903. Its area of jurisdiction comprised India (including areas now in Pakistan), Sri Lanka and Burma. Prior to the creation of this sub-committee a number of ad-hoc committees had been created by the General Committee to assist with the management of missions in the Indian sub-continent. In 1912 the Eastern Committee assumed the reponsibilities of the India and Ceylon Sub-committee.
Matters discussed by the committee include: reviewing the needs of each district; budgets and expenditure; purchasing and selling of land and property; grants to individuals, events and projects; equipment purchases; availability, stationing and transferring of missionary personnel; furloughs; gifts and legacies; grants to individuals and projects; allowances; salaries of 'native ministers' in India and Ceylon [Sri Lanka]; liaising with other missionary organisations.
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Many of the minutes of this committee from 1900 onwards have been written up into the minute books of the General Committee.
In 1912 the Eastern Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1377, 1379-1383) assumed the reponsibilities of the India and Ceylon Sub-committee.
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Volume labelled 'Indian sub-committee'. Signed minutes of the India Sub-committee (from 6 October 1903 the India and Ceylon Sub-committee).
Enclosures: [Rev A W] Newboult's criticism of misions in India, 1900; 'Memorandum on the Subject of Native Ministers' Salaries, etc', 1901; lists of grants.
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Minutes (some signed) of the India and Ceylon Sub-committee from 21 Jun 1905 to 10 Nov 1908, with extracts from other committee minutes (e.g. General) up to 24 Feb 1909 relating to its work.
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Unsigned minutes of the India and Ceylon Sub-committee from 16 March 1909 to 20 June 1912, with extracts from other committee minutes (e.g. General) up to 25 Sept 1912 relating to its work.
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The West Indies and West Africa Sub-committee was created in 1903. Prior to the creation of this sub-committee a number of ad-hoc committees had been created by the General Committee to assist with the management of missions in West Africa and the Caribbean & Americas. Moreover, mission work in the West Indies districts (with the exception of the Bahamas and Honduras) between 1885 and 1903 had been the responsibility of the independent West Indies Conference. Much of the sub-committee's initial business relates to the return of those districts to the British Conference. In 1912 the Western Committee assumed the reponsibilities of the West Indies and West Africa Sub-committee.
Matters discussed include: reviewing the needs of each district; purchasing and selling of land and property; availability, stationing and transferring of missionary personnel; furloughs; gifts and legacies; grants to individuals and projects; impact of districts in West Indies Conference re-joining British Conference.
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Volume one, presumably dating from 1903 to the summer of 1907, is not extant.
Many of the minutes of this committee from 1903 onwards have been written up into the minute books of the General Committee.
In 1912 the Western Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/Box 1378-1383) assumed the reponsibilities of the West Indies and West African Sub-committee.
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Volume labelled 'West Indies & West Africa Sub-com 2'. Unsigned minutes of the West Indies & West Africa Sub-committee. Minutes arranged geographically, usually with missions in the West Indies first followed by those in West Africa.
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At the foundation of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 it was established that discipline and pastoral matters would remain ultimately the responsibility of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. However, the society was permitted in urgent cases to recall a missionary for their behaviour to be reviewed by the Committee of Discipline and, if found wanting, the individual could be suspended. Only Conference could dismiss an ordained minister.
In practice misconduct in the mission field was a matter for the district synod under the supervision of the Superintendent (later Chairman) who had the power to impose sanctions, in an emergency even suspension, until a hearing could be arranged. In most instances, all disciplinary matters would have to be referred to the Committee of Discipline in London (which answered to Conference) for confirmation or revision.
The committee was originally composed of preachers from the London Districts (the same group of individuals who sat on the Candidates Committee). However, by 1885 this had become unwieldy and the composition of the committee was reformed to comprise ministerial officers and members of the 'Missionary Committee' [General Committee of WMMS] with the addition of three ministers from each of the London Districts (who were to be appointed annually by Wesleyan Methodist Conference). At the Conference of 1918 the committee was renamed the Pastoral Committee, to reflect that its remit did not just include matters of discipline but also broader issues of welfare.
Minutes of the Committee of Discipline and then the Pastoral Committee.
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Minutes of the Committee of Discipline from 11 July 1843 until 4 August 1864, as well as some disciplinary cases amongst the minutes 'of the Preachers of the London Districts for the Examination of Missionary Candidates', are available (MMS/Special Series/Candidates Papers/FBN 43).
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Minutes record disciplinary cases against missionary personnel brought before both committees, often having been referred to by overseas districts. Also they review missionaries' health and their ability to work, probation periods and occasionally the status of supernumeraries. Resignations of missionary personnel are recorded as well.
Discipline cases include: theological disagreement or dissent; fiscal irregularities; neglect of duty; immoral behaviour; misadministration of overseas districts and/or their institutions; insubordination; travelling without Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's consent or contrary to its wishes; sexual misconduct; marrying without permission; breach of promise.
Unsigned minutes of the Committee of Discipline from 14 September 1865 until 17 May 1919 and then mainly unsigned minutes (a few typed) of the Pastoral Committee from 24 June 1919 until 12 November 1928. Index at front of volume.
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Minutes record disciplinary cases, often referred by overseas districts, against missionary personnel and matters of a pastoral nature (e.g. requests to marry, district chairmen seeking advice on matters of procedure, etc). Minutes also review missionaries' health and their ability to work, probation periods, the status of supernumeraries and transfers of missionary personnel from or to other Christian organisations. Minutes periodically provide lists of the names of those on probation, on trial, entering full connexion, becoming supernumeraries and receiving dispensations to perform the sacrament.
Discipline cases include: fiscal irregularities; neglect of duty; immoral behaviour; misadministration of overseas districts and/or their institutions; insubordination; marrying without permission; breach of promise.
Handwritten (then typed) minutes (mostly unsigned) of the Pastoral Committee, dated 24 April [19]29 to 25 July 1950. With index at front of volume.
Enclosure: envelope at rear of volume labelled 'Names of Chinese Ministers of the seven China Districts appearing in the Minutes of Conference during Connexional year 1951-1952 after which the Stations of the seven China Districts were taken out of the Minutes and at MMS request the names of these ministers were recorded in the Journal of Conference.' Contains four typed pages of names, with covering note dated 25 July 1952.
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Minutes relating to Wesleyan Methodist missionary districts in London formed to support and promote the work of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.
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Sent to [Methodist] Mission House, August 1979, by Rev T H Bryant, minister in the Newmarket circuit
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Committees and sub-committees created by the General Committee and tasked with addressing specific issues or events.
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The sub-committee was created by the General Committee to consider the proposed scheme for the transfer of authority of the missions of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in South Africa to their Methodist counterpart there.
Minute book labelled 'Minutes of the sub-committee on South African Conference'. Minutes (many signed) dating from 6 October 1881 until 9 June 1882.
Enclosures: brief notes on transfer of authority to South African Methodist Church, 1880s; agenda for sub-committee meeting on 5 October 1881; extracts from proclamation creating Australian Conference (in 1854), 1880s; table of grants to South Africa between 1876 and 1883; copy of minute of General Committee, 28 September 1887, on South African grants.
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Amongst the personal papers of John Kilner are reports, correspondence, etc, relating to his deputation of 1880 and 1881 to South Africa (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/South Africa/FBN 11) regarding the creation of a South Africa Conference.
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This sub-committee was formed by the General Committee to oversee the transfer from the West Indies Conference to their British counterpart of districts in the then British West Indies. The West Indies Conference had become independent of the British Conference in 1885 but returned to them in 1903 (with the exception of the Bahamas and Honduras districts which had never left the British Conference).
Signed minutes of the West Indies Sub-committee. Minutes record the financial problems of the West Indies Conference and make recommendations on how the districts and their staff should be transferred to the British Conference. At the rear of the volume is a report by the sub-committee on the problems faced by the West Indies Conference in early 1902 and how they could be addressed. From the middle to the rear of this volume there is a pencil index which does not relate to the contents of this volume. This index is arranged alphabetically by place (including areas outside the Caribbean and Americas).
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The first meeting, on 23 January 1902, of this sub-committee is recorded in the minutes of the General Committee (MMS/Home & General/Minutes/FBN 5)
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In June 1907 the General Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society invited the Rev John Telford and the Rev Henry Haigh to 'undertake the preparation of the Centenary History of the Society; also Rev W C Bourne to collect material for the same'. Two years later the Centenary Committee was charged with not only overseeing the production of said history (which they duly tasked to the Rev Dr G G Findlay) but also the whole commemoration of the establishment of the first Methodist missionary societies in Yorkshire in 1813.
In December 1909 the committee agreed on a complex structure. At the top was the Grand Committee which would meet twice a year and report directly to the General Committee of the WMMS whilst the Executive Committee would carry the main administrative burden of the project and report to both the Grand [Centenary] Committee and the General Committee of the WMMS. Below the Executive Committee a number of sub-committees were created and expected to report to it. The Home Campaign Sub-committee organised the work of the 'Centenary Movement' in districts and circuits in Great Britain whilst the Foreign Campaign Sub-committee did the same in overseas missions. The Literature Sub-committee oversaw all literature produced by the 'Centenary Movement' and the Finance Sub-committee reviewed all expenditure as well as recommending how funds raised could be spent.
The organised events of the 'Centenary Movement' culminated with celebrations in London between the 4th and 7th October 1913 held at Westminster Central Hall, Wesley's Chapel and the Royal Albert Hall. A number of publications were also produced through the committee including a few on the centenary itself as well as the missions in India, China and West Africa. Findlay managed to produce a brief history but the planned centenary history was not published until after his death in November 1919. His work was completed by W W Holdsworth and 'The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society' was published by Epworth Press in five volumes between 1921 and 1924.
Volume labelled 'Centenary Minute Book'. Signed minutes of the Centenary (Executive) Committee, with typed inserts of agendas and summaries of expenditure. Includes minutes of Literature Sub-committee and Home Campaign Sub-committee. Index at rear of volume.
Matters discussed include: formation of committee structure; authorship and then progress of centenary history; publications on the centenary and missionary work; promotion of 'Centenary Movement' in Great Britain and overseas; liaising with other Methodist organisations; use of 'Centenary Fund'; organising promotional events, summer schools and related literature; celebrations around the country and particularly those in London during October 1913.
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At the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of 1911 it was concluded that a review of the management of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society was needed. The remit of the committee was 'the whole question of the Management of the Society, including the consideration of the internal organisation and methods of administration of the Mission House'. The President of Conference stipulated three main areas:
review of the internal organisation and management of the WMMS; the relationship of the WMMS to the mission field; and the relationship to the Church at Home (i.e. Wesleyan Methodist Church in Great Britain). At conference the following year a report was submitted and adopted which included redefining the responsibilities of the secretaries of the WMMS and formalising its committee structure.
Minutes recording proposed changes to the administration and management of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Includes final report presented to the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of 1912. 'Index' (acually contents page) at front of volume.
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The General Committee of the Temperance and Social Welfare Department of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Church at a meeting of 27 September [1923] invited the co-operation of the 'Foreign Missionary Society' [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society] so that 'the attention of the Church should be called to the evils of alcoholism amongst native peoples'. The resulting Overseas Joint Temperance Committee comprised members from the WMMS and the Temperance Department, with the later addition of a representative from the WMMS Women's Auxiliary. The committee began its work by sending a questionnaire to each mission field to ascertain the extent of alcohol related problems, what action the local Church was taking, what action the local authorities were taking and also the situation amongst British and European settlers.
Signed typed minutes of the Overseas Joint Temperance Committee. Minutes principally concentrate on the issue of alcoholic consumption in mission areas and how to promote temperance through literature, legislation, campaigns, etc, and notes alcohol issues in specific countries. Other social welfare issues discussed include the trade in opium, gambling, greyhound racing in China and cinematic films.
Front of volume has lists of committee members between 1934 to 1938 and an incomplete handwritten index.
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Comprising incoming correspondence from Great Britain & Ireland; Outgoing correspondence; home correspondence; correspondence with British Government departments and officials; printed circulars produced by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and the Wesleyan Methodist Church; correspondence of the Chairman of the Officers' meetings.
Some of these minutes are only available for consultation on microfiche. Data Protection declaration forms need to be completed and signed when consulting some correspondence files.
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Correspondence by the secretary of the Mission Committee, James Buckley, with his copies of unsigned minutes.
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The front of the volume has 'Resolutions of the Conference held at Bristol, July 28&c, relating to the Missions'.
Pages 1-21: Copies of the signed 'Minutes of the Committee for managing the Methodist Missions', 2 September 1814-18 July 1815.
Pages 22-60: 'Letters on Missionary Business from Sept 6th 1814 till July 30th 1815'. A 'small portion' of the letters written by James Buckley, secretary to the Committee, dating from September 1814 until February 1815. In most instances the letters have been transcribed.
Pages 61-92: Copies of the signed 'Minutes of the Committee for Managing the Methodist Missions', 6 September 1815-10 August 1816.
Pages 93-256: 'Letters written on the Missionary Account During the 2nd year of my being Secretary to the Missions, commencing at the Conference held at Manchester in the latter end of July and beginning of August 1815'. Copies of letters written by James Buckley, secretary to the Committee, from 30 August 1815 until 23 August 1816. Vary in detail from simply recording date and name of recipient up to full transcriptions of letters. Each letter was assigned a number (in sequence).
Pages 257-258: [blank].
Pages 259-530: Copies of letters written by James Buckley, secretary to the Committee, from 19 September 1816 until 26 September 1819. Vary in detail from simply recording date and name of recipient up to full transcriptions of letters. Each letter was assigned a number (in sequence).
The rear of the volume has an alphabetical index to the recipients of letters with accompanying dates.
Also, volume contains an insert entitled 'All the Minutes of the Missionary Committee on America (U.S. and British) down to July 10 1817' being extracts from missionary committee minutes relating to North America from 3 September 1804 until 10 July 1817.
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Signed minutes for the period of this volume are within 'Missionary Committee Minute Book No. 1' (MMS/WMMS/Home/Minutes/FBN 1).
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This series comprises nineteenth century correspondence, principally written in Great Britain and Ireland, and sent to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and its officials. Letters are written predominately by missionaries & ministers (occasionally their spouses), officers of the WMMS, members of the General Committee of Management, supporters of the Society, representatives of other Christian organisations, representatives of Government and, on occasion, letters from critics of the Society and its work. A small number of letters come from overseas organisations and, very infrequently, mission staff or supporters overseas.
The correspondence itself mainly reflects work in Great Britain and Ireland to support the work of the overseas mission. The range of subject matter is quite extensive but includes legacies; advice of counsel; preparations of missionaries; fundraising; policy formation and disagreements; promoting missionary work in the UK; availability of candidates and missionaries (including the status of their health); furloughs; social reform; finance; liaising and inter-acting with other Christian organisations (mainly in Great Britain). Some printed material (mostly circular letters, pamphlets, etc) is included. There is also a small amount of correspondence relating to the early nineteenth century missions in Wales and more correspondence for a longer period relating to missionary work in Ireland.
Correspondence dating to before the WMMS was formed has generally been sent to members of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice usually at New Chapel (now Wesley's Chapel) City Road, London, but sometimes to one of the London chapels of the ministers on the said committee. Some correspondence (mainly subscriptions) for this period has been sent to Joseph Butterworth (bookseller, Methodist and brother-in-law of Dr Adam Clarke) in Fleet Street, London. A significant amount of the letters for the first ten years of correspondence was written by the Rev Dr Thomas Coke, General Superintendent of the Missions, or was for his consideration. From 1818 correspondence (where addresses are extant) has been mostly sent to the Mission House at 77 Hatton Gardens, London, and then from 1841 to the Centenary Hall and Mission House at Bishopsgate, London.
The amount of correspondence varies from year to year but from the 1840s to the mid-1860s it peaks at 300 to 500 letters per annum. There are, however, some noticeable gaps in the correspondence as well as some suspiciously lean periods, particularly between the 1870s and 1890s. Furthermore, letters written up to the start of the 1840s were at one time bound into ledgers and then seemingly disbound without great care. As a result some letters have been damaged by this and information has been lost. Similarly, for much of the 1840s many postage stamps have been removed from letters causing damage and sometimes the loss of information.
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Letters written by missionaries whilst serving overseas will be found, when extant, amongst the relevant regional correspondence.
A handlist recording the name, place of writing and date of each letter by file is available in the Special Collections Reading Room. Brief biographical information on a number of the correspondents who were Methodists can be found within the Dictionary of Methodism (
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1) Letter from Owen Davies, Wrexham [Denbighshire], to Rev Doct[or] [Thomas] Coke, Sunderland [Northumbria], 16 Oct[ober] 1802. Details growth of Methodism in North Wales - new societies formed, chapels opened, large congregation and crowds for preachers. Six preachers now covering the six counties of North Wales as well as Cheshire and Shropshire. Police have prevented some outdoor events. He plans to leave Wrexham and live more centrally in area. Drawn £50 for extra work.
2) Letter from Owen Davies, Carnarvon [Caernarfon, Gwynedd], to Rev Doct[o]r [Thomas] Coke, New Chapel, City Road, London, 9 May 1803. Asks Coke to visit for a few days and preach in North Wales when he is travelling to Ireland. Recently visited Anglesea [Anglesey] and after some time in Carnarvon will be visiting Denbighshire. Discusses a possible convert from Calvinism.
3) Letter from A Moseley, Scarboro [Scarborough, Yorkshire], to Mr Jos[eph] Butterworth, Fleet Street, London, 7 Feb[ruary] 1804. Collected £50 from local subscriptions. Suggests names of donors should be published. Gives summary of how much collected in Scarborough Circuit.
4) Letter from Peter Sowerby, Liverpool [Lancashire], to Revd D[octo]r Tho[mas] Coke, City Road, London, 15 Sept[embe]r 1803. Includes account 'of sundries paid by Peter Sowerby for the Outfitt of Messr Hallet & Taylor for Venerable to Barbadoes'.
5) Letter from S[ear]g[an]t W Wright, Colds[trea]m G[uar]ds, Widford Camp near Chelmsford [Essex], to Mr W[illia]m Myles, Southwark, Surrey, 30 Sep[tembe]r 1803. Discusses his spiritual comfort in this time of 'fiery trials' as his Methodist beliefs are bringing him into conflict with his officers and some enlisted men in the army. Lists some of the problems he has encountered.
6) Letter from W G Horner, Kingswood [Gloucestershire], to Mr Bradford, Plymouth Dock [Devon], 15 Nov[ember] 1803. Horner describes preparations in the Bristol area in case of invasion by [Napoleon] Bonaparte. Poor harvest. Gossip re mutual friends. Lackington's reconversion. Horner transcribes a letter, 25 Oct[ober] 1803, from J Lackington at Alveston, Gloucestershire, to Mr Pawson, where Lackington describes his and his wife's conversion.
7) Letter from Peter Sowerby [Liverpool, Lancashire], to Mr Geo[rge] Whitfield, City Road, London, ?1 Nov[ember] 1803. Includes account of 'Sundries Paid By Mr Peter Sowerby for missionaries on acc[oun]t Dr Coke'.
8) Letter from J Kingston, Nottingham, to Mr Jos[e]p[h] Butterworth, Fleet Street, London, 21 No[vembe]r 1803. Offers advice for Mr Hopewell on what preparations he should make prior to departing for missionary service in the West Indies and what he should expect once he arrives. Includes advice on behaviour aboard ship, health, politics, interaction with people and methods of evangelising. Note: this letter was probably written after item 9.
9) Letter from J Kingston, Nottingham, to Mr Jos[e]p[h] Butterworth, Fleet Street, London, 21 No[embe]r 1803. Gives advice on preparations for missionary work in the West Indies including clothing and books to take. Praises Coke but suggests donations, etc, should be more widely publicised. Alludes to recent events in Jamaica, St Vincents and Grenada and distances them from Methodism. Note: this letter was probably written before item 8.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London or to Joseph Butterworth in Fleet Street, London.
About half of the letters are written by Rev Dr Thomas Coke whilst other letters are for his attention. Other correspondents include George Higfield and Joseph Butterworth. With accounts for Welsh missions.
Item 23 is a printed letter, dated 13 April 1804, by Joseph Butterworth entitled 'Some account of the Missions to North Wales, to the Catholics in Ireland and to the Negroes in the West Indies, Established by the Society, Late in Connection with the Rev John Wesley.'
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
Nearly two-thirds of the letters are written by Rev Dr Thomas Coke whilst other letters are for his attention. Other correspondents include George Highfield and Owen Davies. With accounts for Welsh missions.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
About a quarter of the letters are written by Rev Dr Thomas Coke whilst other letters are for his attention. Other correspondents include Owen Davies, Jonathan Crowther, John Brownell and John Anderson. With accounts for Welsh missions.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
About a third of the letters are written by Rev Dr Thomas Coke whilst other letters are for his attention. Other correspondents include William Dowson, Issac Bradnack and William Harrison. With accounts for Welsh missions.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
About a quarter of the letters are written by Rev Dr Thomas Coke whilst other letters are for his attention. Other correspondents include William Toase, James Etchells and Thomas Warren. With accounts for Welsh missions.
Item 12 is a draft copy of the 'Resolutions of the Committee held on 28th July 1812'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
Correspondents include George Banwell, Jabez Bunting, James Etchells and Thomas Warren. With accounts for Welsh missions.
Item 40 contains a description by George Banwell of alterations to permises in Farnham [Surrey] with details of funds raised and how spent on the chapel there.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
Correspondents include George Banwell, Owen Davies, James Etchells, Thomas Warren, William Warrener, Joseph Butterworth, Thomas Squance, Thomas Kelk and John M'Kenny. With accounts for Welsh missions.
Item 84 is a printed letter, dated 23 December 1814, in two parts. The first part states the urgent need for missionaries in France both for the population and amongst British soldiers (as well as in Gibraltar). The second part is a request for British circuits to form auxiliary missionary societies.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
Correspondents include John Hick, Owen Davies, William Sutcliffe and Robert Carver as well as copies of letters written by Rev [Thomas] Squance from the recently established mission in Point de Galle, Ceylon [Sri Lanka].
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Owen Davies, Joseph Butterworth, Robert Newstead, George Cubit, John Dace and John Pickavant.
Item 32 compises two printed circulars (one annotated) regarding a fire at the chapel in St John's, Newfoundland [Canada] and a subsequent appeal for funds.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London, or to a member of the Missionary Committee of Finance and Advice at his London chapel with the odd letter to 77 Hatton Gardens, London.
Correspondents include John Dace, Thomas Allan and Joseph Fletcher.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, with the odd letter sent to New Chapel [Wesley's Chapel], City Road, London.
Correspondents include Owen Davies, Adam Clarke, Joseph Butterworth, John Irving and John Hawtrey.
Item 73 is an extract from an undated letter by pupils from Kingswood School [Bath, Glos] who have recently formed their own juvenille Methodist missionary society.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House. Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Joseph Butterworth, George Cubit, James Archbell, Abraham Whitehouse, Joseph Ward, John Irving and Samuel Wood.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House. Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Joseph Butterworth, Abraham Whitehouse, Thomas Allan, William Wilberforce, Benjamin Carvosso, Titus Clore and Joseph Entwisle.
Item 109: regulations for the guidance of settlers during their voyage to Cape of Good Hope [South Africa] and Bathurst [Banjul, Gambia].
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Joseph Butterworth, Joseph Entwisle, William Harvard, Jonathan Crowther and Joseph Sutcliffe.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Joseph Butterworth, Abraham Whitehouse, William Harvard, William Woodis Harvey, John Irving, Thomas Marriott and William Temple.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Joseph Butterworth, William Harvard, John Kendrick, William Croscombe and Thomas Laidman Hodgson.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House. Correspondents include Joseph Butterworth, William Oke, John Irving, William Wilberforce, Samuel Healey and William Threlfall.
Item 149 is a pamphlet entitled 'Observations, Cases, and Testimonials Proving the Efficiency of Nitrous Acid, Conjoined with Opium, as an Efficacious Remedy for the Cure of Diarrhoea, Cholera Morbus, and Dysentery, in all their stages'.
Item 51 is a copy of the will of John Davy of Chulmleigh, Devon, 26 March 1818 (proved 16 May 1818) with letter from his executor John Terrell of Exeter, 20 August 1819.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House. Correspondents include Joseph Butterworth, Samuel Healey, Owen Rees and James Nankville.
Item 56 is a copy of the minutes of the British & Foreign Bible Society, 4 March 1822.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Joseph Butterworth, Adam Clarke, Joseph Fletcher, Abraham Farrar and James Nankivell.
Item 37 is 'An Address to the Managers of the Mission' from T[homas] Talboy regarding the treatment towards him by 'Brother Mortier' [John Mortier] as well as money owed to him from his time as a missionary in Demerara [Guyana].
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Thomas Allen, Adam Clarke, William Wilberforce, Titus Close and William Dowson.
Item 65 is a printed circular from J Pratt at the Church Missionary Society appealing for funds for a seminary in Islington [Middx], 15 April 1823.
Item 103 comprises two accounts of the statement by George Rose, MP, to Parliament regarding the state of Christianity amongst the slave population of the British West Indies, June 1823.
Item 125 is an enquiry regarding some recent gifts for African children, 7 July 1823.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Joseph Butterworth, John Baker and G H Rose.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Benjamin Clough and Charles Wesley.
Items 76 & 77: document with covering letter from London Missionary Society. Document entitled 'Outline of a proposed Academy for the purpose of instructing Missionaries destined to the East, in the languages of their respective stations; and of communicating to them other important Oriental knowledge, previous to their embarkation'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Joseph Butterworth, Adam Clarke, Richard Watson, John Hick and Thomas Preston.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Joseph Butterworth, Samuel Broadbent, Joseph Bott, Thomas Seaward and James Nankville.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Richard Watson, William Binning and James Nankville.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Thomas Ludlam, Lancelot Haslope and Charles Clarke.
Item 27 is an 'Extract from the third report of Mr Davies the Commissioner of legal inquiry in the West Indies printed by order of the House of Commons on the 11th Dec 1826 and numbered 36'
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Edward Nye and Henry Sanderson.
Item 86 is a 'Statement of Salvage of Goods Shipped by the Wesleyan Missionary Society on board the Columbine, Captain Tuitt, bound from London to New South Wales, Wrecked at Cape of Good Hope on 3rd March last', 21 December 1829.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Adam Clarke, William Toase, Benjamin Carvosso and Walter Lawry.
Item 70 is a copy of an indenture of apprenticeship of John Johnston of Jamaica to Edward Day of Hackney, Middlesex, Linen and Woollen Draper, 4 September 1830.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Jabez Bunting, Samuel Broadbent, Benjamin Carvosso, Donald Macpherson and George Jackson.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
1) Letter from Geo[rge] ?Manss, New York, to the Rev George Morley, 13 Dec[ember] 1827. Power of Attorney granted with regard to the late estate of Mr Fonhall. Emory involved with this but understands from M'Kenny (an executor) that debt is still being settled. Thanks him for the book by [?Richard] Watson and would like more. Methodism being received well.
2) Letter from John Emory and John Mattheas, New York, to Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Great Britain, June 1828. Praises WMMS work. Gives brief overview of Methodism in United States of America and plan to undertake missionary work in South America and Liberia.
3) Letter from J[ohn] Emory and B Waugh, New York, to Rev John Mason, City Road, London, 21 July 1828. Asks for any periodicals sent from London to be addressed to the Methodist Episcopal Church and not sent to Rev Thomas Mason.
4) Extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, New York, 12 March 1830. Request that Doctor Milnou be able to represent the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the USA at the anniversary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.
5) Letter from J[ohn] Emory, New York, to Rev George Morley, Hatton Gardens, London, 23 July 1830. Sending Baring Bros bill for the sum £1074 1s 3d being the legacy of the estate of the late Henry Foxall minus deductions for costs. Asks for receipt. Offers thanks to Mr Mason for the books by [John] Wesley recently received and asks for some additional titles. Note: some content missing as a result of damage the letter has sustained.
6) Letter from J[ohn] Emory, New York, 28 July 1830. Further information on sum being sent from Foxall legacy.
7) Letter from the Committee of Literary Convention, New York, 5 November 1831, probably to Wilbur Frisk, on 'the propriety of studying the Bible as a Classic in the Institutions of a Christian country'. Resolve that the Bible should form part of any common and liberal education, commission a report on Bible instruction and give initial thoughts on its remit. Letter then sent to Rev Richard Watson, London, by W[ilbur] Frisk, Wesleyan University [New York], 22 Aug[ust] 1932, with note asking for opinion on content of letter as he is now working on this matter.
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The main series of correspondence written from the United States of America (including letters from New York) can be found amongst MMS/North America/Correspondence/FBN 3-4.
Catalogued
Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Adam Clarke, Hakkewaquouaby, Joseph Stenson, William Goy and Robert Alder.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Thomas Farmer and Robert Alder.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Moses Rayner and John Felvus.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Jonathan Edmondson, John Keeling, Robert Alder, John Tindall and John Stevens
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Jonathan Scott and James Bromley.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, George Morley and Robert Lindoe.
Item 100 is 5 printed pamphlets prodeuced by the 'Society for Promoting Female Education in China, India, and the East'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Robert Alder, John Beecham, Lancelot Haslope and Robert Lindoe.
Item 91 is a printed appeal for donations to the Dawsonian Fund, 1 November 1836.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Benjamin Carvosso and Joseph Stinson (Canada).
Item 11 is a printed circular entitled 'To the Committee and Friends of the Baptist Missionary Society' by W Pearce and J Dyer, 19 July 1837.
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Further correspondence, written by Joseph Stinson when a missionary in Canada, is available (MMS/North America/Canada/FBN 3-7 & 10-11).
Catalogued
Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House.
Correspondents include Joseph Stinson (from Canada), Jabez Bunting and Henry Fleet.
Item 25 is a report by the missionary students at Richmond [College] on the languages they have been studying, 1838.
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Further correspondence, written by Joseph Stinson when a missionary in Canada, is available (MMS/North America/Canada/FBN 3-7 & 10-11).
Catalogued
Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House. A number of letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Jabez Bunting, John Irving and James Beatty.
Item 41 is a printed letter from the chairman of the National Society with three accompanying pamphlets.
Item 129 is an exercise book entitled 'Synopses of Lectures on Popery by the Jno. Hannah D.D. delivered at the request of the London Dist. Meeting 1839'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, otherwise known as Mission House. A few letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Robert Alder and William Swallow.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to 77 Hatton Gardens, London, but towards end of file letters being received at the new Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. Some letters incomplete.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Jabez Bunting, Elijah Hoole, Thomas Cryer, Thomas Birch Freeman and James Hartwell.
Item 131 - J Peggs's letter, 29 December 1840, is written on pamphlet entitled 'Abolition of the Pilgrim Tax in India' with printed circular entitled 'Present state of British Connexion with Juggernaught's Temple' 16 July 1839.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include James England, Moses Rayner, Elijah Toyne and John Whittingham.
Item 1 is a printed pamphlet by James Haldane Stewart entitled 'Invitation to United Prayer, for the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, on Friday, the 1st of January 1841, Being the First Day of the New Year'.
Item 76 - J Peggs's letter (4 March 1841) is written on a pamphlet entitled 'East India Slavery'.
Item 131 is a printed circular entitled 'Methodism versus Toryism' by 'A Decided Wesleyan', 24 June 1841.
Item 138 is a pamphlet entitled 'The Weavers of Spitafields and Bethnal Green. Appeal of the Committee of the Christian Society of Operative Silk Weavers'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. A few letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, David Cargill, Elijah Hoole, Thomas Cryer and Richard Reece.
Item 85 is a printed letter by Thomas Thompson, dated 6 October 1841, entitled 'To the Two Hundred and Nine Directors of the London Missionary Society'
Item 130 is an undated manuscript with no attributed author entitled 'Missions in Ireland', c1841
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. A few letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Thomas Cryer, Joseph Entwisle and Richard Williams.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. Some letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Elijah Hoole, Joseph Entwisle, W H Rule, Richard Reece and Joseph Roberts.
Item 83 is a printed sheet publicising 'Normal Training Schools: St Albans'.
Item 87 is a printed pamphlet entitled 'A donation of one hundred pounds to the Wesleyan Missions from a Nottingham Tee-totaller'.
Item 152 is a manuscript containing the resolutions of 'a meeting of the Officers and others representing the London Missionary Society, the Wesleyan Missionary Society, and the Baptist Missionary Society'.
Item 170 is a printed letter from the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, Bishopsgate, to the Secretaries of the Incorporated Society for the Propogation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. A few letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Elijah Hoole, Joseph Entwisle, W Croggan, Richard Reece and Richard Hornabrook.
Items 1 & 2 are newspaper cutting and notes, probably compiled by Rev John Beecham, relating to the Education and Factories Bill, cMarch 1843.
Item 3 is a printed petition by the Baptist Missionary Society against the cultivation of Opium in India.
Item 94 is a printed circular announcing and then reporting on a meeting of the 'General Anti-slavery Convention' by J Scobie & W Allen, 23 March 1843.
Item 104 - J Pegg's letter (30 March 1843) is written on a printed letter entitled 'British Connexion with idolatry in the island of Ceylon'.
Item 114 is a printed letter from T Smith of the Metropolitan Tradesman and Operatives' Protestant Association on the 'alarming advance of Popery'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. A few letters are incomplete.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Elijah Hoole, Thomas Fowell Buxton, Robert Newstead and John Shipman.
Item 48 - J Peggs' letter (3 October 1843) is written on a printed letter entitled 'British Connexion with idolatry in the island of Ceylon'
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Beecham, W H Rule, Josiah Bunting, Richard Alder, Edward Robinson and Walter Croggan.
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Incomplete or undated letters. Includes an undated and incomplete letter from Jos Sturge; 2 letters from J Lloyd (both undated, one incomplete); undated letter from Joseph Pilcham; list of subscribers for a monument to Tho[ma]s Fowell Buxton in Montserrat; brief queries regarding impact of mission on population of British Guiana [Guyana].
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Reece, Walter Croggan and William Boyce.
Item 87 - J Pegg's letter (6 May 1845) is written on a pamphlet by him entitled 'Tract Distribution in France, March 1845'.
Item 96 contains printed resolutions of 'a Special Meeting of the Committee of the Auxiliary Wesleyan Missionary Society for the Manchester District, Held in Manchester, in connexion with the Anniversary Services, March 26th, 1845'
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Amos, Walter Croggan, Henry Powis and Elijah Hoole.
Item 104 is a printed letter with attachment regarding the manor of Calstock in Cornwall, from John D Cook, Secretary of the Accessionable Manors' Commission, 30 September 1845.
Item 125 is the minutes of the Polynesian Missionary Ship sub-committee for 4 November 1845.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Reece, Walter Croggan and John Irving
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Reece, Walter Croggan, Elijah Hoole, George Buckley, Thomas Harris, John Weatherstone and John Irving.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. Odd letter incomplete.
Correspondents include Richard Reece, Walter Croggan, Barnard Slater, Ambrose Freeman and John Weatherstone.
Item 11 is a letter from R White of Cowes [IOW] re the ship 'John Wesley' with accounts for the cost of building said ship, 28 January 1847.
Item 48 is a printed letter stating the resolutions of the United Wesleyan Committees of Priviledges and Education on 'National Education', 18 March 1847.
Item 55 is a letter from Mr Innes of Edinburgh written on a printed circular on the Pitcairn's Islands and includes extracts from the letters of William Quintal, 23 March 1847.
Items 85 and 86 are correspondence and papers from the London Missionary Society on a proposed new mission at 'Bornou Central Africa', 5 May 1847.
Item 102 is a letter from R Harding, Bath, 4 June 1847, with a map of the Yallahs and Bethesda circuit in the parish of St David, Jamaica.
Item 113 is a letter, 16 June 1847, from J Waugh in Sligo [Ireland] with a printed obituary for Rev F Tackaberry and appeals for subscriptions to assist his family.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Reece, Walter Croggan, Elijah Hoole, John Beecham, Susanne Shipman, Richard Wrench, John Weatherstone and Thomas Butcher.
Item 47 is a printed letter from R Newton, etc, to the officers representing the [Wesleyan Methodist] missionary society in the Manchester & Bolton District, re generation of income, 4 September 1847.
Item 119 is a printed letter from G Osborn, etc, including a signed declaration by Methodist expressing 'indignation and abhorrence' at recent anonymous attacks on the 'motives and character of our Brethren', 22 October 1847.
Item 171 is a manuscript entitled 'Important public decision in Normandy on the Religious Liberty of the Wesleyan Methodists', Paris, 7 January 1847.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Barnabus Shaw, Richard Reece, William Harvard, John Gostick and George Leale.
Item 11 is a letter from R C Flockhart, Millbank Prison, London, re religious instruction for convicts on ships, 3 January 1848.
Item 72 is a a letter from J Early, Brompton, 25 April 1848, about temperance with a pamphlet entitled 'Men of London'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Jabez Bunting, William English and Thomas Jackson.
Item 11 is a letter from E Nye, Hull [Yorks], 29 July 1848, with enclosed letter from R B Lyth, Vewa, Feejee [Fiji], 29 November 1847.
Item 25 is a letter written by J Peggs, Burton-on-Trent [Staffs], 30 August 1848, which is written on a printed sheet entitled 'Petitions and Memorials against the Government Grant to Juggernaught's Temple'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Elijah Hoole, John Beecham and William Moister.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Elijah Hoole, John P Haswell, Richard Harding and Robert Alder.
Item 19 is a printed sheet entitled 'To the Wesleyan Ministers Attending the Manchester Conference' citing examples for the local press on the election of the President of Conference.
Item 44 is a letter from W Williams, Manchester, 27 August 1849, with a copy of the will of Thomas Harrison of Wandsworth Road [?Surrey], 9 August 1849.
Item 88 is a letter from W Croggan, Dublin, 14 October 1849, with a sketch entitled 'Antrim Wesley School July 26 1849'.
Item 131 is a printed letter from J Jackson and J Hannah, London, raising money for Mr Sramp and the book fund, 26 November 1849.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, Elijah Hoole and Richard Reece.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Walter Croggan, William Moister, W H Rule, William Toase and Richard Reece.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Griffiths, John Irving and Robert Alder.
Item 53 is information from S Young, Dublin, on the missions in Ireland including a list of circuits and missionaries as well as a brief report on schools, 26 February 1851.
Item 74 is a letter from T Hodgkin, London, sent on behalf of the Committee of the Aborigines Protection Society, 2 April 1851.
Item 119 is a letter from G Buck, Portland [?Dorset], which includes testimonals regarding him as a ship's captain, 30 June 1851.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Elijah Hoole, John P Haswell, William Toase, William G Campbell, George Osborn and Robert Alder.
Item 4 is a letter, 10 October 1851, from W Campbell, Cavan [Ireland], containing extracts from his journal from 3 July to 28 September 1851.
Item 104 is a letter, 28 November 1851, from W Campbell, Cavan [Ireland], containing extracts from his journal from 15 October to 8 November 1851.
Item 166 is a printed poster entitled 'Wesleyan Inquistion' which objects to charges by the Wesleyan against Mr F Grosican for 'promoting in Hull agitation in the Methodist Societies'.
Item 166a is a printed pamphlet entitled 'Declaration of Wesleyan Methodist Officers and Members on the State of the Connexion', c December 1851.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Beecham, William Fidler, Henry Knolleke and Robert Alder.
Item 44 is a letter, 20 March 1852, from W Campbell, Cavan [Ireland], containing extracts from his journal from 6 January to 18 March 1852.
Item 49 is a letter from S Young, Dublin, on the state of the mission to Ireland including statistical information, 25 March 1852.
Item 59 is a letter from P Nelson, Plymouth [Devon], 30 March 1852, with a printed pamphlet entitled 'Reminiscence of the Death-bed Scene of the Rev. Wm. J. Woodcock, December 8th, 1851', cMarch 1852.
Item 103 is a memorandum on mission property at Elephant Fountain and Wesley Vale [South Africa] by J Tindall, 17 May 1852.
Item 104 is a memorandum of mission property at, Concordiaville, Cape of Good Hope District, South Africa by R Haddy, 17 May 1852.
Item 157 comprises a printed leaflet entitled 'Missionary Conference of the Members of the Various Evangelical Missionary Societies, Established by Protestants' and 'A Brief View of the Intended Ecumenical Missionary Conference'.
Item 158 is a copy of 'The Wesleyan Times' (Vol IV, No 172) 19 January 1852.
Item 159 comprises a pamphlet entitled 'What Is It All About? A Speech, Delivered at Exeter Hall, London, on the 20th April 1852. By the Rev W L Horton' and a 'Declaration of Principles' as printed by the order of the General Wesleyan Reform Committee, 19 February 1852.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. Odd letter is incomplete.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Elijah Hoole, Joseph Entwisle, Samuel Young, George Osborn and Robert Alder.
Item 12 comprises a printed letter, declaration and resolution on the divisons in Methodism, 7 July 1852.
Item 37 is a printed letter from John Scott and John Farrar, President and Secretary of Wesleyan Methodist Conference respectively, to William Fawcett re Birmingham declaration, 31 July 1852.
Item 148 is a letter, 8 Nov 1852, from E John Bristow, with extracts from the minutes of a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Co, 5 November 1852.
Item 199 is a 'Report of Committee appointed to enquire into the state of the Missions in Ireland', 28 January 1852.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Beecham, Elijah Hoole, Joseph Entwisle, George Osborn and John Gostick.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Jabez Bunting, Elijah Hoole, Robert Alder, John Irving, George Scott, Richard Haddy, George Osborn, William Bannister and Samuel Young.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, Richard Reece, George Scott and Samuel Young.
Item 111 is a letter, 8 April 1854, from F Heeley, Birmingham [Warws], written on a printed announcement of 39th annual meeting of the WMMS for the Birmingham and Shrewsbury District on 25 April 1854.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, Richard Reece, Henry Badger, George Scott and Samuel Young.
Item 147 is a manuscript entitled 'As to the Creation and Ordering District and Affiliated Conferences by the Methodist Conference'.
Item 148 comprises a copy of 'The Wesleyan Times' (Vol VI No 292) 17 April 1854 with 9 additional items on the Neophyte Writers' Society (prospectus and letter), the Wesleyan Controversy (newspaper cuttings) and printed material relating to districts and circuits in Britain.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, William Harvard, Henry Knolleke and Samuel Young.
Item 45a is a printed booklet entitled 'A Earnest Call to Humiliation and Prayer at the Present Crisis' produced by the Council of the British Organisation of the Evangelical Alliance, 19 March 1855'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, William Arthur, John Beecham, Thomas Farmer, Peter Batchelor, Henry Venn and Jesse Pilcher.
Item 129a is a printed advertisment for 'An Address to the Members of Society in the Sheffield East Circuit' re a fourth minister, November 1855.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London. Odd letter is incomplete.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, Richard Haddy, Frederick James Jobson, John Beecham, George Osborn, Peter Batchelor, Henry Venn and Jesse Pilcher.
Item 1 is a printed report entitled 'Itinerant Methodist Preachers' Annuitant Society. Report of a Committee on its Financial Affairs'.
Item 2 is a printed 'Letter of the Rev Henry Venn to Bishop of Melbourne, on the Employment of Unpaid Lay Preachers', London, 1 January 1856.
Item 35a is a copy of 'The Wesleyan Times' (vol VIII no 387) 11 February 1856.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, William Arthur, James Calvert, James Cheesewright, Peter Batchelor, James Edney and Jesse Pilcher.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, James Calvert, Peter Batchelor, Richard Reece and Jesse Pilcher.
Item 27a is the printed resolutions of a meeting of the Wesleyan Committee of Education, 27 February 1857, to consider a 'bill to promote Education in Corporate Cities and Boroughs in England and Wales'.
Item 31 is a memorandum re dispute with Rev Deann, rector of St Martin's, ?Outwich, 4 March 1857.
Item 83 is a letter from R Tracy of Youghal [Ireland], 9 June 1857, with a copy of the will of Elizabeth Lyon of Waterford [Ireland], 12 November 1831.
Item 96a is a letter, 22 June 1857, from Dawes & Sons, London, with legal receipts from the Inland Revenue for the estate of Stephen Rulty.
Item 104 is a memorandum by William Shaw on the Indaline Station, Natal, South Africa, 30 June 1857.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, James Calvert, George Osborn, William Fidler, William Hudson and Ebenezer Jenkins.
Item 18 is a letter from J Forster, MP, 28 July 1857, which includes a letter from Thomas Birch Freeman, Cape Coast [Ghana], 1 February 1854.
Item 82 comprises printed resolutions of the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society on the impact of the Indian Mutiny, October 1857.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, James Calvert, George Osborn, Jesse Pilcher, William Shaw and Edward Robinson.
Item 138 is a printed report on visits onboard ships in the Port of London and a special fund for Emigrants and Seamen Prayerbook and Homily Society, cJune 1858
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Irving, James Calvert, George Buttle, George Barnley and Henry Hurd.
Item 46 is a 'Memorandum of an interview with Lord Stanley, by a Deputation with reference to the future policy of the Government with regard to the religious of India', 7 August 1858.
Item 76 ia printed letter from C E Eadley, Office of the Evangelical Alliance to the 'Scottish Brethren' on issues for the Liverpool Conference, 10 September 1858.
Item 130 comprises a printed agenda and draft resolution of the Evangelical Alliance annual conference, Liverpool, October 1858.
Item 137 printed letter from the President and officers of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference on the Home Mission Fund, 3 November 1858.
Item 183 is a printed address to Sir John Lawrence, from clergy, military leaders, politicans, etc on Christianity in India.
Item 184 is a printed 'Proposal for a Home for Natives of Distant Lands. For providing Christian Instruction for the Lascars, Hindus, Africans, and others, visiting or remaining in this Country'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Hudson, John Rattenbury, William Arthur, Jesse Pilcher and John Pinkney.
Item 60 is a printed leaflet entitled 'The Chinese Slave Trade' by William De La Porte, 15 March 1859.
Item 193 is the printed rules of the Cambridge Church Missionary Union.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Richard Reece, James Calvert, James Mowat, George Alton, William Arthur, George Walker and J Jackson Wray.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, John Ayliff, Theophilus Woolmer and William Shaw.
Item 2 is printed correspondence of Diocese of Durham entitled 'A Copy "of any Memorial or Letter addressed to the Ecclesiatical Commissioners for England, in respect of Local Claims from the Diocese of Durham on the Funds of the Commissioners; and of any Answer thereto"'.
Item 103 is a letter from W Shaw, Islington [Middlesex], 8 May 1860, which includes an inventory of furniture to be shipped to Algoa Bay [South Africa] for Graham's Town [Grahamstown, South Africa].
Item 167 is a letter from Caroline Legrand, Camden Town [Middlesex], which includes a printed sheet entitled 'Case of Caroline Legrand'.
Item 168 comprises 14 formulaic signed letters of acceptance of missionary service from G H Thompson, Elisha Shearns, Richard Sellors, George Scott, Luke Scott, George Robinson, Henry Parkes, C Olden, James N Manning, J C Moulton, Sam W Lawton, Henry Hornby, Josiah Hudson & W H Charlesworth. Odd letter has note added.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, William Arthur, Sarah Farmer, John Ayliff, Richard Burdsall Lyth and William Walker
Item 6 is a printed letter from the secretaries of the WMMS on a meeting of Wesley Chapel Committee re funds, Manchester, 9 July 1860.
Item 69 comprises 11 formulaic signed letters of acceptance of missionary service from George Watts, John Lamplough, John Lyth, Robert Burdon, Henry Little, S H Stott, Charles Wiles, Henry Woodhouse, John Kirby, James Berrie and John Brown, 17-21 August 1860. Odd letter has note added.
Item 212 comprises two printed notices on the wreck of the 'St Abbs', 10 July 1860.
Item 292 comprises 21 letters regarding the 'London Review' and an article entitled 'The Covenant Limes', Oct-Dec 1860.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, John Irving, Sarah Farmer, Andrew Kessen, Richard Burdsall Lyth, James Thibou and William Walker.
Item 35 is annotated printed sheet entitled 'Public Banquet to Colonel Arthur Cotton, London, 20 February 1861'.
Item 122 is a letter from Joseph Entwisle, Great Horton [Yorks], 21 June 1861, which is written on a printed sheet noting the publication of the fifth edition of his father's memoir.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Boyce, John Irving, George Osborn, Andrew Kessen and John Malvern.
Item 11 is a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the proprietors of the 'London Review', 17 January 1862.
Item 83 is a printed 'Circular' in the form of a letter from Manchester, May 1862, on changes to the 'London Review'.
Item 162 is a 'Copy of Memorial from the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of England, to the respective Bodies of the Directors of Railways, on which Excursion Trains are run on the Lord's Day', Decenber 1862.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Arthur, Mrs [H] Pearse, George Osborn, Andrew Kessen and William Stedman.
Item 19 comprises 7 letters written by A Kessen, [?Manchester], to Dr Hoole or Dr Osborn, Jan-Feb 1863.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Arthur, William & Jane Butters, Mary Mellor and George Osborn.
Item 12 is a letter from R Flew, Dorset, 22 January 1864, which is written on printed correspondence relating to the health and financial status of George Buck, ship's captain.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Shaw, William & Jane Butters, Henry Venn and John Brack.
Item 22 is a letter from P McMillian, Dublin, which includes printed and handwritten notes on proposed changes to circuits in Ireland, 13 May 1865.
Item 59 is a letter from J Maynard, Watlington [Oxon], 10 October 1865, with draft of deed for sale of the chapel at South Weston, Oxfordshire.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Shaw, William Overend Simpson and P McMillen.
Item 45 is a printed letter, March 1866, on the management of Irish missions.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Elijah Hoole, James Calvert, Joseph Kay and P McMillen
Item 1 is a proof copy of a Wesleyan Juvenile Home and Foreign Mission Association secretary's book.
Item 6 is a printed letter, London, 15 April 1867, from the President of [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference and others entitled 'Closing Public Houses on the Lord's Day'.
Item 10 is an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Committee of Management of the Wesleyan College, Belfast, 23 September 1867.
Item 27 is a printed letter from Saklvatore Ferretti re Italian Orphanage, June 1869.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Arthur, Henry Rivers, William Boyce and Benjamin Tregaskis.
Item 1 is a printed resolution on the management of New Kingswood and Wodhouse Grove School from the 1872 [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference.
Item 19 is a letter from J Fordyce, Anglo-Indian Christian Union, London, including two printed sheet on said organisation, 19 June 1874.
Item 24 is a printed 'Report of the Constitution of the Committees of Review presented to the May District Committees, 1875' with printed summary of the minutes of the May District Committees on this.
Item 28 is a letter, with printed appeal, from D Joseph of the Evangelical Mission to Israel and Hebrew Christian House of Industry, July 1876.
Item 32 is a printed 'Abstract of the Resolutions & Suggestions of the Financial District Meetings on the Recommendations Submitted to the Conference of 1876, by the Mixed Committee on Lay Representation'.
Item 33 is a printed 'Draft of an Order and Form of Business for the Conduct of Conference', 1876.
Item 34 is a printed report on Wesleyan Centenary Hall, 2 July 1877.
Item 36 is a page from 'The Daily Telegraph' (12 November 1877) on Mr Stanley's mission 'through the Hitherto Unknown Regions of Africa'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include William Arthur, W H Rule and Henry Bleby
Item 1 is a letter from missionary students at Richmond College [Surrey] questioning the restrictions placed on them and probationers regarding marriage, 12 February 1878.
Item 10 is a letter (8 January 1880) from J Scott, Clapham [Surrey], with associated papers re Robert Tebb's case for financial assistance.
Item 39 is a letter (17 June 1881) from J Carwell Williams of Society for the liberation of Religion from State-patronage and control with a printed insert (2 June 1881) entitled 'Wesleyan Ministers and Ecclesiastical Grants in British Guiana'.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Kilner, Benjamin Tregaskis, Charles Warren and Marmaduke Osborn.
Items 3, 5 & 8 relate to the will and estate of Matilda Gregory of Long Bennington, Lincolnshire.
Item 15 comprises 'Draft Resolutions, Suggested by the Rev H P Hughes, MA' with regards to increasing revenue.
Item 32 comprises printed papers and handwritten notes on the Wesleyan Theological Institution [at Richmond] and the allocation of its students to home and overseas ministerial postings, January-July 1884.
Item 41 is an 'Extract from the Deed of Conveyance of Premises at Richmond on Trusts for a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Theological Institution', 5 June 1884.
Item 47 is a letter (28 August 1884) from B Tregaskis with a copy of an article entitled 'Countries Still in Heathenism'.
Item 56 is a letter (1 January 1885) from B Tregaskis with two newspaper cuttings on the death of Rev James Wesley Horne (September 1884).
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include John Kilner, John W Wood, Robert Moreton and David Hill.
Item 2 is a letter from students at 'The Richmond Branch of the Theological Institution' on the reduction of the quarterly allowance.
Item 4 comprises papers regarding funding at the Hibernian Auxiliary of the WMMS, Jan-Feb 1888.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include Thomas Hill, Andrew Laverack and Edwin Simpson.
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Majority of correspondence (where addresses are extant) was sent to Centenary Hall and Mission House in Bishopsgate, London.
Correspondents include George Olver, Esther Kilner and Joseph Gratton.
Item 10 is a copy of an indenture, dated 17 March 1893, whereby the British Crown leases to the WMMS a parcel of ground (lot no 1316) in Victoria, Hong Kong. for the period of 999 years.
Item 11 comprises printed resolutions and handwritten notes on the status of 'native ministers', 1892-1894.
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Correspondence with the British Government regarding Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society activities and interests in their missions in Australasia and the Pacific, West and South Africa, Caribbean and Americas, India and Gibraltar.
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Correspondence, principally with Downing Street and the Colonial Office, regarding Wesleyan Methodist Misionary Society activities and interests in their West Indies, South Africa, West Africa and Canada missions.
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Correspondence received from the Colonial Office or Downing Street and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to WMMS activities and interests in their West Indies Districts. Some correspondence has accompanying papers.
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Correspondence received principally from Downing Street and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to WMMS activities and interests in South Africa. Some correspondence has accompanying papers. Letters date mostly from 1880s.
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Correspondence received principally from Downing Street (but also the Foreign Office, Admiralty, etc) and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to the WMMS in West Africa, principally in Gambia, Sierra Leone and their Gold Coast districts. Some correspondence has accompanying papers.
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Correspondence, with accompanying papers, between the WMMS and Lord Stanley [Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, Secretary of State for War and the Colonies] re Canada grant.
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Correspondence with various branches of the British Government, particularly Downing Street, regarding Wesleyan Methodist Misionary Society activities and interests in India, Gibraltar, Sri Lanka, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji, China and the former British West Indies. There is also a small amount of correspondence relating to the Royal Household and evangelism within the military.
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Correspondence received from various parts of the British Government (particularly Downing Street) and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to WMMS activities and interests in India, Gibraltar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Canada, New Zealand, China (including Hong Kong) and the former British West Indies. Some correspondence has accompanying papers. Letters date mainly from 1810s.
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Correspondence received principally from Downing Street and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to WMMS activities and interests in Australia (including Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]), New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga. Some correspondence has accompanying papers.
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Correspondence received principally from the Colonial Secretary for Gibraltar and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries (notably [George] Alton) relating to WMMS activities and interests in Gibraltar. Some correspondence has accompanying papers.
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Correspondence received from various parts of the British Government (particularly Downing Street) and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to education provision for recently freed slaves and their children in the former British West Indies. There is also a small amount of correspondence with the Church Missionary Society and some printed material being circular letters, reports, minutes, etc.
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Correspondence received from officers of the Royal Household or representatives of the Crown and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers.
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Correspondence received from the War Office or Admiralty and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to evangelising within the armed forces.
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Correspondence received from the India Offiice and draft or copy replies by WMMS offiicers or missionaries relating to religion (principally Christianity) in India. Some correspondence has accompanying papers.
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Correspondence, with printed circular by T F Wade, from the Foreign Office regarding the purchase or rental of land or property outside of the Treaty Ports in China.
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Images, mainly original photographs or reproductions of them, of missionaries and other staff employed by the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society and its predecessors. The majority of these images have been identified and dated (mostly 1910s to 1960s). A few group photographs and images of visitors to Mission House are also extant.
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This collection of photographs principally comprises images of MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) missionaries and other staff with nearly all of them dating from the 1910s to 1960s (there are about nine C19th images or copies of them). Most of the images are portrait style photographs but some are less formal, including a few images of couples or families. It would seem that most of the photographs were commercially produced and given to the Methodist Church by the subjects themselves. It is clear from the reverse of some of these photographs that they were reproduced in Methodist missionary publications, such as The Kingdom Overseas, and where this is known the relevant issue has been recorded in the note field of the list. However, it is likely that many of the remaining photographs were also reproduced in Methodist missionary publications.
The photographs within this collection have been placed inside archival polyester pockets for their protection. Please do not remove a photograph from a pocket without having first received the approval of the searchroom supervisor.
There are four sections to this collection: photographs of missionaries and other staff, group photographs, miscellaneous and unidentified. By far the largest and most important section is the photographs of missionaries and other staff. This part of the list consists of five fields - surname, forename, date, place and notes - and has been arranged alphabetically by surname. The date field contains the date recorded on the reverse of the photograph. This is presumably the date the photograph was taken but, in some instances, may be the date that the individual began overseas service. Where no date is recorded on the photograph an attempt has been made to date the photograph by other sources. The place field lists the mission district or mission field that the missionary served in as recorded on the reverse of the photograph. Where this information is lacking an attempt has been made to establish the district or field from other sources. Please note that place names have not been modernised as the name used at the time reflects the area designated as a mission district or field by the missionary society and not necessarily a specific geographic area. The note field contains any further relevant information recorded on the reverse of the photograph (such as subsequent postings or the edition of a magazine the image was reproduced in) as well as, in a few instances, any additional information added by the cataloguer for clarification. Lastly, this field also records whether the image is in a non standard format (e.g. negative or postcard) or if the photograph is large. Please note that large individual photographs are stored separately from standard sized individual photographs and can be found within Box 3.
The remaining sections of the list are ordered, where possible, chronologically. The group photographs contain a few photographs of missionaries at synods, conferences, etc. They have been dated where possible and any additional information has been included in the notes field. The miscellaneous photographs are a very small number of photographs which are not of missionary staff. It is unclear why these were originally placed with the other photographs in this collection. Only a few of these photographs are dated and any additional information about them has been included in the notes field. Lastly, there are a handful of unidentified photographs. These have been described as best as possible with what little information there is regarding them but unfortunately it has not been possible to date any of them.
To request a photograph or photographs please order MMS/Home/Photographs and the following relevant box:
Box 1 - Individual photographs surnames A-K
Box 2 - Individual photographs surnames L-Y
Box 3 - Large, group, miscellaneous and unidentified photographs
Open
Copyright held by various, mostly commercial produced photographs
Handlists available (see 'Document' field above)
Catalogued
The title of this volume is misleading. Although this volume does principally contain entries for missionaries engaged in overseas missionary work it does also, however, contain a significant number of entries for overseas visitors to the UK (whether groups or individuals), as well as a few entries for home administrative staff. Furthermore, not all entries are accompanied by a photograph. Entries which do have a photographic image of an individual or group usually actually have a cutting of a photograph from a missionary publication (such as from The Kingdom Overseas) as opposed to an original photograph. However, in a few instances original photographs do exist.
An entry for an individual or group commonly comprises a name (often actually a signature), the area the individual has been posted to (or from in the case of visitors) and the date. Entries can also contain additional information such as the individual's date of death, date of marriage, the name of a spouse and any children (even, on a rare occasion, a photograph). Entries for groups also often give information on the reason for their visit.
The volume is arranged chronologically (from 1945 to 1959) but does not, unfortunately, have an index. If you wish to avoid browsing it is best to try to establish the date a member of missionary staff first commenced work. This can be ascertained for ministers by looking at an appropriate edition of Hill's "Ministers and Probationers of the Methodist Church". It is also possible that an entry for a member of missionary staff may exist on the Methodist Missionary Register (database) - please ask a member of staff for further details.
Open
Catalogued
Scripts to accompany Glass Magic Lantern Slides lectures.
Open
Catalogued
One of the methods used in the UK by the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society to raise awareness of their work overseas was lantern lectures. These lantern lectures were given around the country most usually to Methodist audiences (some aimed at Sunday schools) in halls, meetings rooms, etc. Sometimes these lectures were given by mission staff, but more often than not they would have been presented by someone locally, who would read from a prepared script which was accompanied by glass slides whose images were projected through a projection lantern (sometimes referred to as a 'magic lantern').
The scripts and sets (with the exception of a few commercial ones) were compiled by mission staff or those involved in publicising mission work (such as Frank Deaville Walker, editor of The Foreign Field and The Kingdom Overseas). They were produced by the Home Organisation Department (HOD) who then publicised them, arranged lectures and loaned out duplicate sets and scripts. The most common source used to publicise the sets and scripts was the HOD newsletter - 'A monthly message from the Mission House to the helpers at the Home Base' - which ran from 1915 until 1976 (MMSL MG088). The HOD newsletter frequently makes reference to lantern lectures and which sets and scripts are available. Identification of some of the compilers of sets and scripts as well as the date they were created have been gleaned from the HOD newsletter but it has not been possible to make a comprehensive examination of this resource. No doubt a thorough reading of the HOD newsletter from its inception in 1915 until at least the 1950s would yield more information.
Whilst we do hold many of the original glass lantern slides I am afraid that due to the fragile condition of the glass lantern slides it is not possible to make them available. Only scripts will be produced for consultation. Furthermore no films or filmstrips have been deposited with us. However, some slides have been digitised and included on the Getty funded Internet Mission Photography Archive (IMPA). Sets which have had slides digitised are noted in the detailed list and can be viewed on the IMPA website (http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/impa/controller/index.htm).
The scripts themselves are generally in a good condition although a few have suffered water damage (fortunately this has not impaired their legibility) and in a small number of cases scripts are incomplete. Scripts contain a title, often their compiler's name, their number and in a few instances their date. All scripts contain a list of the slides that accompany the lecture and text to describe each. In some cases black and white prints have been attached adjacent to the relevant descriptions. (When consulting these particular scripts you will be expected to wear gloves).
A few scripts give advice on how to structure and present the lecture. It is clear that many scripts were still in use during the Second World War as in some instances there is a note at the front of the script warning the reader that circumstances reported in the lecture may well have changed as a result of the ongoing fighting. However, it is also evident that some scripts were revised during the Second World War to take account of changing conditions.
Although each script has a number it is apparent that this is not a unique number. As a slide and script set became obsolete its number was re-used for a new set . For administrative reasons scripts have been stored sequentially (excluding odd sized scripts in Box 5) but have been given a new reference numbers reflecting an intellectual arrangement based on geographic location. Scripts will not be produced individually but by box instead.
Only scripts will be produced. The glass magic lantern slides themselves are not available for consultation.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Handlist available (see 'Document' field above)
Catalogued
Minutes (including Synod) for Canada date from 1823 to 1868 with correspondence from 1791 to 1883. A small amount of United States correspondence is extant from 1801 to 1881.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1883 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
Images of missionaries who worked in the North American districts (predominately modern Canadian) of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.
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Catalogued
Engraving of Rober Alder by J Thomson based on a painting by W Gush.
Engraving of William Croscombe by J Cochran.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Out of Copyright
Catalogued
Synod minutes for the West Indies date from 1822 with general correspondence from 1803 to 1857 and from 1903. Conference correspondence exists from 1880 to 1902. Correspondence for specific areas is available as follows: Antigua (1833-1890), Bahamas (1835-), Barbados (1905-), British Guiana (1867-), British Honduras (1833-), Demerara (1858-1867), Haiti/Santo Domingo (1834-1930), Jamaica (1833-), Leeward Islands (1905-), St Vincent (1858-1890) and Trinidad (1905-). Photographic material (c.1880-c.1967) comprises images from the following districts: The Bahamas, Jamaica, Honduras, Haiti, Central America, Leeward Islands, Barbados & Trinidad, British Guiana [Guyana] and general.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. Only photographic material is currently available for beyond 1950.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1906 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the the MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) in the West Indies [Caribbean and Americas]. It is divided into nine sub-sections. The first section contains material which has not been assigned to a particular sub-section either because it covers more than one sub-section, or there is insufficient information to assign it to a particular sub-section; the second sub-section contains material relating to the Bahamas; the third contains material relating to Jamaica; the fourth to Honduras; the fifth to Haiti; the sixth to Central America; the seventh to the Leeward Islands; the eighth to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago; and the ninth to British Guiana [Guyana].
The items show individuals, groups, buildings, and local scenes, featuring missionaries, local Christians, hospitals, schools, etc. Particularly well represented are photographs by the Rev William Baillie (1864 - 1948), and Frank Deaville Walker (1878 - 1945), editor of The Foreign Field and The Kingdom Overseas, who visited the West Indies in 1930.
Where possible, each place name is identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the Society's Annual Reports) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different. The modern standard for British Guiana is Guyana.
Sub-sections mainly arranged by geographical location. Within sub-sections material has either been sorted into manageable units, either on the basis of provenance, author or geographical location of the subject matter, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate. Sets have been reunited, where identifiable.
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Catalogued
This sub-series contains images which cannot be ascribed to one particluar location in the West Indies [Caribbean & Central America], or the location cannot be confidently identified or the images are of subjects applicable to the whole of the West Indies [Caribbean & Central America].
The 4 files contain the following groups of images: set of photographs; photographs by F D Walker; miscellaneous photographs; history of Methodism in West Indies [Caribbean & Central America]
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: church congregations; scouts; senior indigenous church members; class inside schoolroom with indigenous teachers; portrait of three smiling young girls; class of missionaries' children; group of villagers.
People include: missionaries.
Places or buildings include: churches; mission houses; street scenes; views of islands; harbours; interior of house, possibly Nathaniel Gilbert's house, Antigua. Partial captions on reverse [not necessarily related directly to the image] also mention: Dr. Coke; Baxter; Antigua; St Kitts; Dominica; Luisenhoj; Tortola; Virgin Islands; Anegada; St Johns; Brimstone Hill, St Kitts; Colon.
Also includes: historical scene; sailing boats; rowing boats; canons on hilltops over harbour.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: children and teachers in front of school chapel, Tabubi, Valiente mission; congregation in front of Chapel Duplan, near Port au Prince, Haiti; children playing outside East Indian School, Georgetown, British Guiana; 'Jamaica brownies'; "White children on see-saw" [possibly missionaries' children]; orphanage children; school children doing homework on porch; young boys on dock side, Eleuthera, captioned "Mischief brewing"; schoolgirls; sisters, Jamaica; cup winners at Georgetown High School; girls singing and dancing to Action song, British Guiana; primary class, Trinidad; scouts, St Kitts.
People include: Rev E S Alphonse on horseback, Valiente mission; girl with doll. Activities include: travelling to New Year's Day service on Tortola, Virgin Islands. Places or buildings include: Methodist chapel in bay of Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Islands; church behind Eleutheria; court house where missionaries were tried for inciting slaves to rebel and cage in which they were imprisoned, Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Also includes: ox cart, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: wedding of ?Mau Premier; Cousins with Indians on beach.
People include: woman outside church, Florida.
Events include: stone laying ceremony including Revs J D Mackay, E Donaldson, McDonald and J B Hill.
Places or buildings include: ruins of West End church and teachers college; Tranquillity church; cell at St George's where Rev John Stephenson was imprisoned.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: anti-slavery convention.
People include: Henry Bleby being tarred and feathered; Thomas Morgan; J Rebmann; Charles Cook; Thomas Clarkson; William Wilberforce; James Calvert; Charles Penny; John Corlett; Isaac Whitehouse; S Woolley; John Baxter; Matthew Lumb; John Greathead; John Shipham; James Rowden; George Sargeant; Thomas Chambers; William Dowson; Benjamin Tregaskis; William Warrener.
Events include: Indian priest addressing Columbus in Cuba.
Places or buildings include: Kingstown, St Vincent; sugar plantation; 'native' house. Also includes: wreck of the Maria mail boat.
Prints taken by/received from: British Museum; National Portrait Gallery; Central Office of Information.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of The Bahamas including mission staff and buildings, local people and the local landscape.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: group outside J J Watson Knowles' house, Tarpum bay, Eleuthera; missionaries with bicycles, Nassau; missionaries returning to their stations from Synod, including Revs ?Bursell, Mudd, John Jackson and Reginald Walker Baker; staff and students of Wesley High School, Governor's Harbour; congregation leaving New Chapel, New Providence; congregation outside Green Turtle Cay Church and Old Harbour Church, Abaco; Queen's College Staff, Nassau.
People include: Joseph Barnett Brindley with bridge that he built, Andros Island; Reginald Walker Baker feeding chickens, mission house, Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera; Rev William Hyslop with church members outside church, Wemyss Bight, Eleuthera.
Events include: church interior on Centenary Sunday 1913, Ebenezer Wesleyan Church, Nassau.
Places or buildings include: Trinity Wesleyan Church and mission house, Nassau, including view showing Rev William H F Bleby and J W Leech of Preston and when damaged after hurricane, September 1928 and restored 1930; mission house, Tarpum Bay; Rock Sound mission house.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Frederick William Bishop Smith; Rev Robert Parkinson; John Henry Cartwright; G E H Johnson.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Jamaica including images of mission staff and buildings (notably churches), local people and the local landscape (including the damage caused by natural disasters).
The 7 files contain 6 sets of images by Rev William Baillie (people and places; portraits; people and places in Kingston; people and places in Savannah-lar-Mar; people and places in the Manchester circuit; people and places in Morant Bay) and one set of people and places by various individuals.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Wedding party, Morant Bay; Girls' League Conference 1931, St Andrew's high School; Principal, family, clergy and staff outside Caenwood College; Girl Guides.
People include: Rev Cartwright with Miss Levy, Port Antonio; Rev Wilfred Easton; Rev W Hartley Totty and Rev Hugh Sherlock; Wesley Powell, Principal of Excelsior School.
Events include: Rev Hugh Sherlock receiving key of city of Kingston.
Places or buildings include: Seaforth church, damaged by earthquake 1907 and restored, Morant Bay circuit; interior of building where Ebenezer church and Sunday School meet, Morant Bay circuit; Coke church damaged by earthquake and restored, Kingston; Montego Bay market, where distribution to the poor takes place on Christmas morning; Bluefields church and incomplete teachers cottage; Wesley church, Tower Street; Ebenezer church, damaged by earthquake, 1957. Prints taken by/received from: Sister Jessie Kennedy; H Gladstone Edwards; Elliot & Cleary, Kingston; Rev Cyril Dorsett; Ernest H de Souza Jnr.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society and Jamaican studio.
Catalogued
Groups include: labourers with Rev J J Kilpin Fletcher in Port Royal Mountains building road as part of government employment scheme; Rev Hardwick with teachers building temporary church and school at Dallas; boys and girls at the military school at ?Up Park Camp; Methodist West Indian soldiers; indigenous leaders of Gordon Town Wesleyan church.
Events include: Coronation Day, Mandeville. Activities include: building schoolroom at Mount Fletcher.
Places or buildings include: church at Manchioneal in process of restoration after hurricane; Unity Wesleyan church, Grateful Hill circuit; Fain Prospect Wesleyan church before the earthquake with wedding party at door; mission house; Mount Fletcher Wesleyan church with earthquake damage and after repair; churches at New Providence, ?Strong Hill; ?Sueea minister's house; Annotto Bay church; Beechamville church showing damage; Ocho Rios church; East Street from Harbour Street since the earthquake; minister's house, Falmouth; minister's house, Port Royal; Black River church; Barbican High School; Montego Bay church; training college, Port Antonio church; Bloomfield church; Buff Bay church; Duncans church; Jeffreyville church; Watsonville church school and teacher's cottage; Mandeville church; minister's house, Gordon Town; Yallahs church; Bethesda church; church and ministers house, Brown's Town; Bath church.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Baillie.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Baillie.
Catalogued
Groups include: ministers of the Jamaican District with their wives; Jamaica District Synod, 1905, 1911 & 1913, including lay attendees.
People include: Mother Leonard, the oldest member of the Jamaican Wesleyan church; Rev A W Geddes; Rev George Lockett at grave of his daughter, killed in the Kingston earthquake, 1907; Father Kennedy; ?W Thomas Morrison, junior steward, Manchester Circuit; Father Taylor, an old local preacher at Providence; Father Silvera of Buff Bay, a converted Jew.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Baillie.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Baillie.
Catalogued
Groups include: children of Wesley Mount School at coronation festivities.
Events include: Sunday school demonstration; opening ceremony of Wesley church, restored since earthquake.
Places or buildings include: Edmondson Hall; mission house; Coke minister's house; Coke church; Wesley church; Ebenezer church; - all restored since 1907 earthquake. Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Baillie.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Baillie.
Catalogued
Groups include: congregation outside Little London church; scholars of day school; Meansville Day School children; group with horse and carriage outside meeting house.
People include: woman carrying basket on head walking in front of Savnnah-la-Mar church; indigenous day school teacher with wife and child.
Events include: Sunday school demonstration, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Places or buildings include: Little London church; ?Meansville church; ?Hewitville church; temporary chapel and schoolroom; street scene before hurricane of 1912; ruins of town wharf after hurricane; minister's house; Savannah-la-Mar church after hurricane damage.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Baillie.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Baillie.
Catalogued
Groups include: Manchester Circuit quarterly meeting; church members outside meeting house.
Places or buildings include: Frankfield church; Wesley Mount church; ruins of New Hall Preaching Place.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Baillie.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Baillie.
Catalogued
Groups include: Junior School girls.
Events include: crowd outside new Port Morant church on opening day.
Places or buildings include: Baker Hall schoolroom; Seaforth church before earthquake in 1907, in ruins and after restoration in 1909.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Baillie.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Baillie.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Honduras (principally British Honduras, now Belize) including mission staff and buildings, local people and the local landscape.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Groups include: children, "a few of the Five Hundred Collectors"; congregation leaving Northern River church, Belize, after Harvest festival service; missionary demonstrations, Belize.
People include: Mother Nelson, the oldest collector, Bay Islands; woman, possibly missionary's wife, on afternoon visit to Manatee.
Places or buildings include: Orange Walk church; ?Antilla Bay church; view of Belize church from mission house; ?Manatee church, Belize; Ruatan [Roatan] mission house; Coxen's Hole church, Ruatan [Roatan]; mission house on Regent Street, Belize; school hall, Belize.
Also includes: bridge at Stann Creek, possibly built by Rev J B Brindley; devastation caused by hurricane in Belize, 1931.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Joseph Barnett Brindley, [Honduras 1907-1921].
Open
Copyright held by various, including Methodist Missionary Society and Associated Press
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Haiti including mission staff, mission buildings. and worshippers.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Groups include: congregation of Duplan church; groups at outstation, Petit Goave circuit.
People include: Dr Frank C Laubach; Rev Edward Armon Jones.
Activities include: driving along river bed, Cape Haitien circuit.
Places or buildings include: mission house; Port au Prince church; Bon Berger chapel. Prints taken by/received from: Rev Arthur Francis Parkinson Turnbull; C W Andrews; H O McConnell.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Central America (mainly Panama) including mission and local buildings, mission staff, local people and the local landscape.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: people and places; Valiente people of Panama.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev William John Williams, Rev Walter John Jacobs, hostess and class leader at cottage where missionaries rested, Lion Hill, Panama; teachers and preachers on beach at Cuaspin; mission house group, Cuasapin, Bocas del Toro, Panama; Brahman marriage, Key West, Florida.
People include: ?Mr S G Stewart.
Events include: British minister arriving for stone laying of new church, Panama City. Activities include: constructing schoolroom, Colon, Panama.
Places or buildings include: first church in Panama; Colon church; chapel, La Boca church, all Panama; Squires church, Costa Rica.
Prints taken by/received from: Fred T Parker; Wimmet studio, Port Limon, Costa Rica; Rev Sidney J Hopps.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev T S Cannon with Valiente congregation at Cuaspin.
Places or buildings include: churches, including Changuinola church; Indian church, Tabobi.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of the Leeward Islands including mission staff, mission buildings, local people and the local landscape. Includes a few miscellaneous items as well.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev W R Symons with members of the female class, Plymouth, Montserrat; crowd at stone laying ceremony, Aruba; letter from Rev M L Foyle with two prints of J C Bronwer, Governor of Dutch St Martin, Rev W Lunter, Rev George Alexander Elliott and Rev Montague Leigh Foyle and women and children at tea party at Guild Christmas fete, St John's Hill, Bangalore, Mysore, India.
Activities include: baptism scene on beach, Sandy Point, St Kitts.
Places or buildings include: Plymouth chapel after the hurricane, Montserrat; church, St Eustatius; chapel and belfry, Jost Van Dyke; church, Basseterre; St John's church, Figtree, Nevis; Methodist manse, Charlestown, Nevis; letter from Rev Archibald E Harris with prints and negatives of The Gilbert Memorial, Lion Hill, Antigua; Baxter's chapel, English Harbour, Antigua; Columbus' tomb, Santo Domingo, Dominica.
Prints taken by/received from: C E Lyon; Rev Montague Leigh Foyle; Rev E C ?Hendy; W H Irish.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Barbados & Trinidad as well as other islands within the same district. Images include mission staff and building, local people and the local landscape.
The 3 files contain the following groups of images: people and places in Barbados; people and places in Trinidad and Tobago; people and places by H R Cornish.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev G Earle and members of Society class, James Street church; Rev C G ?Errey's class of young women at Bethel church; group of missionaries, approx 1917; delegates to Eastern West Indian conference, 1900; Westwood St Vincent scouts; school group, St Vincent.
People include: Mr Cricklow; Rev Augustus Pitt, St Vincent; Sister Olga Brokkes-Smith, St. Vincent.
Events include: President's party at James Street chapel.
Places or buildings include: school house and church, Grenville, Grenada; Whitehall church; Payne's Bay church.
Prints taken by/received from: J E Clarke; Rev F W Vaughan; Anton; S Payne.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Groups include: church members holding up copies of The Foreign Field; Revs S M Hawthorn, Philip S Burrow and Arthur Gibson, ministers of Port of Spain circuit; group of laymen on occasion of opening of Claxton Bay church; Rev Thomas Huckerby with mixed group of children, San Fernando; study group, Tunapuna. Events include: opening of new church at Claxton Bay, San Fernando district, 1917; church, Port of Spain; new school house at Princes Town, San Fernando circuit; stone laying at ?Franklyns, Tobago.
Places or buildings include: chapel, St George.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev G Earle; F C Stephenson; Rev De Lacey Evans.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: Scarborough church with house above; Tranquility church, Port of Spain; interior of church in Port of Spain district decorated for centenary in 1913; ?Holetown church, James Street circuit.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Henry Rupert Cornish (1885-1957), in Barbados 1909-1916.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Cornish.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of British Guiana [Guyana] including images of mission staff and buildings, local people and the local landscape.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: people and places; set of photographs of Amerindians.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: "Aboriginal Indians" [Amerindians], Capoey, Essequibo circuit; day school scholars in front of Friendship church; members of East Indian young men's society; Arawak Christians, Lake Capoey; children and teachers of La Grange School; Provincial Synod.
People include: young girl, Mohammedan S[unday] S[chool] scholar, looking up at missionary, Demerara; Rev Stanley E Watson.
Places or buildings include: the Sunshine church, Georgetown; house at Pomeroon where J B Hill stayed, owner outside; central Wesleyan church, New Amsterdam. Prints taken by/received from: Rev Stanley Edwin Watson; Rev James Brentnall Hill; Rev F McKenzie Turner; Rev R W Hasler; E W Savory; Frank Deaville Walker; E S M Pilgrim.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Amerindians at Lake Capoey.
People include: girl.
Places or buildings include: Lake Capoey settlement and house.
Also includes: coracle.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Kenneth E Towers.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Synod minutes date from 1823 with general correspondence from 1917 to 1941. Correspondence for specific areas and districts is available as follows: Channel Islands (1806-1884), Egypt including the Levant (1823-1902), France including Belgium (1814-1950), Germany including Austria (1821-1899), Gibraltar (1804-1902), Greece (1826-1834), Ireland (1802-1862), Italy (1861-1950) & Naples (1886-1904), Malta (1815-1902), Portugal (1870-1950), Spain (1870-1950), Sweden (1825-1864), Switzerland (1823-1905) and various (1818-1879).
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1905 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the MMS in Europe (including parts of North Africa and the Middle East). Currently the only images available are of the pyramids in Egypt.
Open
Catalogued
Activities include: climbing pyramid.
Places or buildings include: the pyramids, probably Giza, Egypt.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This class contains mainly photographic material connected with the work of the MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) in Africa as a whole. Material included here generally cannot be identified with one specific country or relates to a number of countries in Africa.
Restrictions Apply
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) in Africa as a whole. Files 1 & 2 contain portraits of missionaries church members and other indigenous people; File 3 contains a set of postcards illustrating the life of David Livingstone; File 4 contains an album of images of Kenya and Rhodesia [ Zimbabwe and Zambia] by Rev George Ayre and File 5 contains miscellaneous items covering Africa as a whole, some identified and others uncaptioned.
Where possible, place names have been identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units or kept in existing units if these are appropriate, based on authorship, provenance, location or subject coverage. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
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Catalogued
People include: Rev James Archbell; William Wilberforce; David Livingstone; Wilfred Grenfell; Rev Thomas Hodgson; Jacob Links; Robert Lamplough; Rev Richard Ridgill; Rev William Shepstone; Rev William Tyson; Rev John Smith; Rev Samuel Young; Rev Barnabas Shaw; Rev George Chapman; Rev William J Davis; Rev John Edwards; Rev William Shaw; Rev William Boyce.
Places or buildings include: Wesleyan burial ground, Nisbett-Bath.
Prints taken by/received from: Mainly copy prints and engravings from books.
Open
Mainly copies of original paintings/photographs including National Portrait Gallery.
Catalogued
People include: ?Moirosi; ?Moroka; ?Sekohum.
Prints taken by/received from: George T Ferneyhough, Pietermaritzburg, Natal; C W Smart, Port Elizabeth.
Open
Catalogued
Eight groups of coloured sculpture tableaux depicting David Livingstone's character, life and work entitled: Vision, Truth, Faith, Courage, Mercy, Renunciation, Endurance and Sacrifice.
Prints taken by/received from: The Scottish National Memorial to David Livingstone at Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Open
Catalogued
Groups in Kenya include: group outside church, Mazeras; Kaga staff, servants, schoolchildren; women of Meru; speaker and audience at open air meeting, Maua. Groups in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] include: scholars, girl's class, senior class and Boy's compound, Chipembi; Ila girls; fishermen; Sandringham Farm tenants; football team.
People include: Young female Jomvu scholar, [Kenya]; female leper; Ila girl; village teacher with villager; Tonga women carrying pots on heads; man standing by water supply; farm foreman [Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia].
Activities include: Missionaries eating picnic lunch by car; basket making; building water supply.
Places or buildings in Kenya include: Portuguese castle, Old Portuguese Quarter, Mombassa; Nyeri falls and rapids; a Meru Road; Maua hospital; Maua market.
Places and buildings in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] include: Broken Hill school; African minister's house [possibly Chipembi]; the well at Nomantombwa; Nambala; Boy's quarters, Nambala; an African pantry; Kafue bridge; Nanzhila church; road to Kanchindu; boat on Zambesi River; hospital building; Victoria Falls; the Devil's Cataract; Salisbury [Harare]; domestic science class room; Waddilove church; church interior; teachers' houses; Rhodes' grave. Also includes: ferry and dug-out canoes, Kafue River [Zambia].
Prints taken by/received from: Rev George Ayre (1870-1944).
Open
First print loose.
Catalogued
Groups include: missionaries and men on trolley car; church congregations; indigenous Christians at Sekondi; Sunday School on verandah; outside ?Oponsee church; missionary and two men travelling by foot in Congo territory; Rev H Saunders with chief of Yawagu and others after service; missionary leaving village by boat; congregation at Layinka; school children with books on their heads.
People include: Mammy Lloyd
Events include: African minister preaching to open air congregation;
Places or buildings include: Zanzibar; Rosemary Hall; Somerville memorial church;
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William H Maude; Walter James Noble; Russell Roseveare; William Turnbull Balmer ; Frank Deaville Walker; Missionary Films Committee.
Open
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society and various
Catalogued
Synod minutes are extant for Fernando Po (1933-1939), French West Africa (1925-), Gambia (1841-), Gold Coast (1842-), Nigeria (1878-) and Sierra Leone (1822-). Correspondence is available for Fernando Po (1932-1940), French West Africa (1925-), Gambia (1821-), Gold Coast (1835-), Sierra Leone (1811-), and Nigeria (1877-1902) with Eastern Nigeria (1932-) and also Western Nigeria (1902-). Photographic material (c.1870-c.1965) comprises images from the following districts: Sierra Leone, the Gambia, the Gold Coast, French West Africa, Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], Eastern Nigeria and Western Nigeria.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. Only photographic material is currently available for beyond 1950.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1950 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) in West Africa. It is divided into six sub-sections. The first section contains material relating to Sierra Leone; the second sub-section contains material relating to the Gambia; the third contains material relating to the Gold Coast [Ghana]; the fourth to Western Nigeria; the fifth to French West Africa, comprising Dahomey [Benin], Porto-Novo, Dabou and the Ivory Coast; the sixth to Eastern Nigeria; and the seventh to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]. Significant collections of photographs have been received from Rev William Turnbull Balmer; Rev William H Maude and Rev James T Walton.
Where possible, place names are identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Sub-sections arranged by geographical location. Within sub-sections material has either been sorted into manageable units or kept in existing units if these are appropriate, based on authorship, provenance, location or subject coverage. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Sierra Leone including mission and local buildings, mission staff, local people and the local landscape. A few of the images relate to United Methodist missionary work in Mendeland.
The 6 files contain the following groups of images: people and place by Rev W T Balmer; places by Rev W H Maude; people and places by Rev James Walton; people and places in Freetown; Mende mission; people and places.
Open
Some of these photographs can be viewed on the Internet Mission Photography Archive website
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: children, Tikonko; Rev E J Fyle and family, Kennema; Rev J Walter carrying hammock with group of indigenous carriers in bush; members outside Sunday school.
People include: Sister Flora in ravine near [mission] bungalow; Rev James Walton with his catechist outside St Mary's church, Segbwema; La-bai-je, African chief, member of Kroo Bay mission, Freetown; Balmer with S Williams and John O'Bay rowing to Sunday service across bay, York.
Places or buildings include: Wesleyan Mission bungalow, mission house, Segbwema; silk cotton tree outside native minister's house, Wilberforce; Benguema church, near Waterloo; church at Bandajuma.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William Turnbull Balmer [1866-1928].
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: missionaries and wives on road near Freetown.
Places or buildings include: Waterloo mission house; view from mission house, York; sea cost at Toke with people on beach, showing coastal huts.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev William H Maude, via William Turnbull Balmer.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Events include: Christmas Day rejoicings at Kennema, showing musicians including 'dwarf' playing the bugle.
Places or buildings include: view from mission house, Segbwema showing railway train; Segbwema mission house, including view from the railway; ruins of Bandajuma mission house; Benguema, showing Wesleyan church; house of 'native catechist', Segbwema; court house of the African chief, Mendeland; Wilberforce market, near Freetown; Freetown mission house.
Also includes: fetish tree; missionary (Rev W T Balmer) asleep on camp bed, captioned "Camping out in a village school"; bridge and fetish house, Mendeland; floating bridge, attached by a creeper, Mendeland.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev James Walton, via William Turnbull Balmer.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Image available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
The Reverend W.T. Balmer, sleeping on camp bed in school room. The missionary's boots, bags and hats surround the beds, with linen hanging over a blackboard. Photograph taken by Rev. James Walton.
Open
Image available on-line at International Missionary Photography Archive
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Boy's High School students and teachers.
Activities include: Governor of Sierra Leone laying foundation stone of Boy's High School, 1914.
Places or buildings include: Boy's High School; view of Freetown from Boy's High School; Freetown new mission house, Wilberforce Hill; mosque.
Prints taken by/received from: Various including F Deaville Walker, W S Johnston.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: first baptised men and women with missionary, catechist and boys of Boarding School, Jojoima 1 January 1922.
People include: Mr [James] Walton's cook in temporary kitchen, Bandajuma. Activities include: girls spinning on steps of Kailahun mission house, 12 March 1935; house building, Segbwema.
Places or buildings include: interior of church, Kennema; Mr Morrison's house, Bandajuma; the Training Institution, Bunumbu; the memorial well, Tikonko.
Prints taken by/received from: Various including F Deaville Walker, Isaac Holden, Rev E Cocker [UMMS, Sierra Leone 1926-1930], possibly William Turnbull Balmer.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: King Bomboh Lahai and retinue in the mission compound, Fouricariah [published in Foreign Field December 1914] ; P P Hagley itinerating in villages around Bouthe [also published in Foreign Filed December 1914]; family group of mother and children in Sunday attire, Christians in whose house the photographer and [William Turnbull] Balmer stayed, father having already left for farm in hills, May 1906.
People include: [Leonard Ward] Juby with chief of ?Lalilu; Dr. [John] Kearney with man in ceremonial dress and interested villager.
Events include: first meeting of the Synod Provincial District.
Prints taken by/received from: [Percival Sheffield] Toye; A W Banfield, Lagos, Nigeria.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of the Gambia including mission and local buildings, mission staff, local people and the local landscape.
The 3 files contain the following groups of images: people and places by Rev W H Maude; Bathurst [Banjul] by George Armatage; people and places (mainly Bathurst [Banjul]).
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev William H Maude with George Armatage and two indigenous men under tree by River Gambia.
Places or buildings include: mission house, High School and church, Bathurst [Banjul]. Prints taken by/received from: Rev William H Maude via William Turnbull Balmer.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
People include: "Is it nothing to ye that pass by. The Missionary intercepting a heathen boy from the country." Indigenous pastor in his front garden.
Places or buildings include: Bathurst chapel; grass hut erected for the use of the missionary in charge of the building of a new mission house in the bush.
Prints taken by/received from: George Armatage.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: George Armatage with students in carpenter's shop and blacksmith's shop, Technical school, Bathurst; primary school children with teacher in grounds, Bathurst; "Climie babies" with their mothers; Youth Workers Conference, Cape St. Mary.
People include: indigenous Christian woman in [western] bridesmaid's dress; Juju and Cassi, "the mission house boys".
Places or buildings include: church and high school, Dobson Street, Bathurst.
Prints taken by/received from: Various including Miss J Davies
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of the Gold Coast [Ghana] - notably for the Cape Coast - including mission and local buildings (especially educational), mission staff, school children, local people and the local landscape.
The 12 files contain the following groups of images: people and places by F D Walker; people and places by W T Balmer; portraits; portraits by L Creedy; events and buildings, Cape Coast, by M Smith; church communities; postcards by J D Russell; people and places, Cape Coast; people and places, Ashanti District; Accra Girls' School and mission buildings; Wesley Girls' High School, Cape Coast; portraits of Dom family, Accra..
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: missionary and children on shore in front of Salt Pond Church; girl guides on parade, Accra; large group of boys performing regimented exercises, Government school, Accra; girls outside High School, Accra; men inside mosque, Accra; brownies and cubs, Accra; Mfantsipim boys "swotting"; group around canoe on beach; four unclothed or partially clothed young boys looking at camera with different emotions; school girls with dolls; the Ga King of Accra with others [interior portrait, seated, smiling]; schoolgirls carrying jugs; people with sacks of cocoa at depot.
People include: portraits of Fauti people: an old man smoking, three Methodist ladies and full length portrait of man with hands on hips [published in The Kingdom Overseas January 1935]; portrait of girl looking into a mirror; village church elder; two young men in traditional robes, one with skin markings (raised tattoo); chiefs at doorway; men playing board game.
Events include: opening of Salt Pond Church.
Activities include: students exercising outside the school at Abouri; girls doing "prep" outside boarding school, Cape Coast; loading boats at Sekondi; rowing boat; singing class at Wenchi; cobbler at work outside shop; building road through forest; landing ashore via chair, ?Takoradi.
Places or buildings include: exterior view and interior view showing pulpit of Wesley church, Cape Coast; Wesley College, Kumasi; hospital, Accra; exterior view of mosque, Accra; Mfantsipim Boys school; Cape Coast Castle; the market, Sekondi; unfinished church; Sekondi; Elmina castle including view of colonnade; view of Elmina from the castle; Christian's Bay castle.
Also includes: ferry over ?Prah River; overturned car on road.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Image available on-line in the gallery pages of the Mundus website
Catalogued
A portrait of a young Ghanaian girl looking into a mirror, displaying her hairstyle.
Open
Image available on-line in the gallery pages of the Mundus website
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: W T Balmer with the first 8 boys of his High School; students of Wesleyan School, Kumasi; students at Elmina Girl's School; four missionaries drinking tea on the verandah of Sekondi mission house, including Rev [Hubert] H Bridge [d.1914]; students of Mfantsipim School.
Places or buildings include: Kumasi mission house; Wesleyan church, mission house; girls' school and view from mission house, Cape Coast Castle.
Prints taken by/received from: William Turnbull Balmer [1866-1928].
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Official group including governor, General Sir George Guggisberg; group of ministers.
People include: Wassaw King; Samson Opam; Rev John Beech; Rev Peter Kwei Dagadu.
Also includes: list of missionaries to Gold Coast 1835-1873.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: students of Wesley College, Kumasi, with their college trophies; an Ashanti village congregation; kindergarten class at ?Monopraturo with teachers, Agnes Efa and Comfort Clegg playing game with children; junior class at Monopraturo with teacher, Florence Addison; church members at service, ?Aburaso. Places or buildings include: bamboo church, ?Ayeduose.
Prints taken by/received from: Laurence A Creedy.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
People include: Rev F E Ekuban at Nasia.
Events include: group gathered in front of Cape Coast mission house, Empire Day, 1912.
Places or buildings include: Wesleyan mission house, elementary day schools, Richmond College, Mfantsipim School and girls' high school, Cape Coast.
Prints taken by/received from: Mence Smith.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: church procession and quarterly meeting at Enchi, LS Frontier mission; Rev A [Gordon] Simon and E O Tetteh with catechists, LS Frontier mission. Events include: Congregation greeting missionary at Sewum, including Rev A G Simon and E O Tetteh.
Places or buildings include: Wesley College, Kumasi.
Prints taken by/received from: Russell Roseveare.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: church congregation, Kintampo; school girls with dolls, Kumasi.
Places or buildings include: mission house, Kintampo.
Prints taken by/received from: J D Russell.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Axim Wesleyan Methodist Church congregation, 3 August, 1914; group including [Geoffrey Thackray] Eddy, Mfantsipim, 1954; First Cape Coast cub pack with Mrs R A Lockhart; First Cape Coast guides.
People include: Rev [William Robert] Griffin, chairman of the Gold Coast district 1910-1915, on his office verandah; A N Walker mending boots, Richmond College; [William] H Maude in front of Richmond College.
Places or buildings include: Cape Coast castle; mission house; Wesley chapel; Wesleyan Girl's School and training home; Dunkwa railway station; Mfantsipim; Sekondi mission house whilst being disinfected following the death of the missionaries from yellow fever; book depot at Accra; mosque, Accra; map of Mfantsipim.
Prints taken by/received from: Various including J H Moses; George Armatage; [Leonard Swaine] Pickard; Paul Popper Ltd.
Open
Copyright held by various, including Popperfoto
Catalogued
Groups include: students and staff of Wesley Training Institute, Aburi; college students with the children's singing band, Tarkwa; missionary personnel administering medicine with smiling patient, Abrepo, near Kumasi; Rev [William Robert] Griffin with group of indigenous men leaving Kumasi with boxes on tour to northern territories; students of Tarkwa day school; Tarkwa mission house staff. Places or buildings include: Wesley College, Kumasi; Kumasi market place showing chapel; book depot, Kumasi.
Prints taken by/received from: William Garfield Waterworth; Leonard Swaine Pickard; Christopher T Eddy.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: Various exterior views of the buildings of the new girls' school at Accra.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: exterior view, dormitory, quiet room of Wesley Girls' High School, Cape Coast, formerly the mission house. [Reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas September 1936].
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
People include: Abigail, Kofi, Ama and Kojo (Jnr) Dom, Accra.
Prints taken by/received from: Bob Deh, Accra.
Open
Prints may have come into the collection via Margaret and Rose Roper, MMS missionaries to India who were friends of the Dom family after being introduced by Hilda Porter.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Western Nigeria including mission and local buildings, mission staff, local people and the local landscape. Also a few photographs of places associated with indigenous beliefs.
The 5 files contain the following groups of images: people and places; people and places, Lagos; buildings and staff of Ilesha Hospital; people of Shagamu; people and places near Ilesha by Rev Arthur Eustace Southon
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev [Herbert Lewis Octavius] Williams with daughter Peggy and "motherless babies", Christmas, ?Ama Ashana hospital; Ibos boys who performed in play Joseph and his brethren; "The twelve apostles at ?Abajekute [?Abeokuta]"; Nigerian lepers; female church members and catechists, Iseyin; missionary with scouts, Wesley College, Ibadan, 1929 [reproduced in The Foreign Field June 1939.] People include: Rev Oliver J Griffin and wife [Lagos 1897-1928] ; portrait of Dorcas, wife of William, Methodist chief at Orin, near Ilesha; portrait of Methodist leader, Ilesha.
Events include: church opening, Ntalakwa, Ndoro [reproduced in The Foreign Field March 1933].
Places or buildings include: place of sacrificial executions, Oyo; mission house, Oyo; fetish or devil houses, at Fiditi, Yoruba [Oyo state]; boat and camp on Ogun River; beach at Owulakon, River Ogun; courtyard of heathen secret society, Ifaki; village at Kapa, Ilesha circuit.
Prints taken by/received from: John T Frederick Halligey; [Arthur Humphrey] Richardson; N A Birtwistle; A W Banfield; Frank Deaville Walker; J P Shrimpton; Dr. D M Beaugie.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev J Green and students of Ibadan Training Institution; the congregation at Layinka [published in The Foreign Field, May 1915]; students at Igbobi college; Rev H W Stacey with Lagos High School scouts, 1920; girls dancing around may pole; overflow of girls at boarding school, sleeping on floor; Boys Brigade boys from Lagos helping to build bush school in Moslem village.
Places or buildings include: village school near Iperu; two children with foundation stone of church, Badagri.
Also includes: village devil house between Lagos and Abeokuta.
Prints taken by/received from: William Turnbull Balmer; ?D Hodome Loko; Rev John T Frederick Halligey; N A Birtwistle; Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Events include: opening of new nurses home, 19 July 1932; crowd at the opening of new council hall, when Dr E A Hunter was created Oluawo (chief of the native doctors).
Activities include: Dr Hunter, Dr Woods, Sister Ludlow and Sister Moody performing operation in new operating room 19 July 1932.
Places or buildings include: Dr Stephen's bungalow; entrance; the old dispensary. Also includes: nurses making preparations for an operation.
Prints taken by/received from: A E Southon; Russell Roseveare; J T Jackson; Frank Deaville Walker, Dr D M Beaugie.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: scholars on feast day; The Life Boys, First Shagamu team, 1933; crowd in village [reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas October 1939].
People include: King of Shagamu with his infant son, Prince Hezekiah.
Prints taken by/received from: William Frederick Mellor.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: group standing around seated Bale, or headman, of ?Kapa, ?Ekitt country.
People include: teacher with two girls, outside village church, Ilesha (caption reads "The teacher is a particularly fine man").
Activities include: women washing using washing machine (given to Dr Stephens by a friend in England), Ilesha.
Places or buildings include: village church at ?Iyere, Ilesha; bungalow, Ilesha; church, Lokoja.
Prints taken by/received from: Arthur Eustace Southon.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of French West Africa including mission and local buildings, mission staff, local people and the local landscape.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: Dahomey and Porto-Novo [Benin] and Dabou and Ivory Coast..
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: young women in a domestic science class at a boarding school and training centre "in the country where the Prophet Harris preached"; congregation outside village church, Dahomey.
People include: "King of Night", Port-Novo; evangelist at the door of the church, Dahomey; Abraham Sagboham, first Christian at Ekpe with chairman, Porto-Novo circuit, at opening of new chapel.
Activities include: men trying to dislodge missionary canoe stuck on sandbank; boys building dormitory at Dassa; indigenous men trekking across river in flood using felled trees, possibly carrying missionary supplies.
Places or buildings include: exterior views and interior view of dormitory, Wesley college Porto-Novo [seminary]; snake temple, ?Whydale, Dahomey; ?Leman village; Little Popo, Togoland [Togo].
Prints taken by/received from: A Rouse; A Garner; Frank Deaville Walker; Harry Buckley; John T Frederick Halligey.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Previously in box 1195B
Catalogued
Groups include: women at ?Akradjou; large congregation outside unnamed church; congregation outside Jackville church; villagers greeting missionary; students at Abidjan school washing before the class; church and congregation at Debrimu; church members at Rogaff meeting to decide to erect a new brick church; people at riverside in Ngokrou for departure of Rev Ernest Partner; boys singing a welcome in a village near Divo; Rosemary Home teacher group of female students inside classroom, Dabou; intermediate class, Dabou Boys' School, being taught by a young woman; schoolgirls from seven different tribes; girls knitting on school steps.
People include: indigenous man in western clothing with "The Bible he cannot read"; W Fletcher and chief of Bouboury; Fanti preacher at door of church, Azurretti; Eliza at sewing machine, "the most advanced pupil".
Activities include: building new church at Grand Lahou; missionary leaving Dabou for Jackville.
Places or buildings include: Christian house near Abajekute; Wesleyan church at Grand Lahou; Rogaff old church; interior of Jackville church showing congregation; Wesleyan mission house, Dabou.
Also includes: motor boat "L'Evangeleste" on lagoon and on River Bandama.
Prints taken by/received from: A W Banfield; Robert Howett; Ernest Partner; Muriel Stennet.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Previously in box 1195B
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Eastern Nigeria including mission and local buildings (particularly hospitals), mission staff, local people and the local landscape. Some of the images are Primitive Methodist in origin.
The 8 files contain the following groups of images: portraits; postcards of Calabar; Oron Hospital by Dr H Haigh; Ibo Girls' Institute, Ovim, by D Lawrence; Ikot Ekpene Hospital; Itul Mban Hospital by Dr H Haigh; Itul Mban Hospital; Mary Hanney Memorial School, Oron.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: "Pioneer generation" of Eastern Nigeria including George Hanney, Leila Grainger [nee Leila Leggate], Jim Sollitt, Ernest Pritchard, Robert Banham, J T Barkby, Frederick William Dodds, William Groves, Mr & Mrs MacKenzie, Herbert Lewis Octavius Williams; Ben T Showell; Christmas party at Ihube, 1932; villagers around bush church, Ihube district; prize winning students at Ihube Central School, Empire Day 1932; traders at Obunagu market, Agbani circuit; girls washing clothes, Ituk Mbutu.
People include: Mrs Norah Horner, wife of missionary Rev G S Horner on the road to Asanting, Ibiaku; Rev E Alan Roberts; Felicia Udo Okure, winner of the mission hospital baby competition 1938, daughter of indigenous teacher at Ikot Ekpene. Activities include: boys making rope.
Places or buildings include: Oron Institute, mission house.
Prints taken by/received from: W J Wood [ex-PMMS]; B T Foster [ex-PMMS]; Dr Miller; M W G Love [ex-PMMS]; R S D Williams [ex-PMMS].
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Previously in box 1195B
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: Institute bungalows; U F Church of Scotland and school; consulate; bush scene; training institution; Christmas card of Jamestown; Oron town.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright possibly held by Hermann Rampendahl, Hamburg.
Catalogued
Groups include: Miss Stead, sister-in-charge, and nursing staff, including two male. Places or buildings include: interior of maternity ward with staff and one patient in bed, "the ante-natal patients were afraid of the photographer and all left the ward!"; exterior view of compound, nurses houses, out-patients, general ward and maternity ward.
Prints taken by/received from: Dr Harry Haigh.
Open
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Copyright held by Dr Harry Haigh/Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Events include: girls performing self-organized parade, Empire Day.
Activities include: girls clearing compound and a playing ground during early days; returning from the stream with pails of water; playing games; pointing out approaching locusts; end of term farewells.
Prints taken by/received from: Doris H Lawrence [ex-PMMS].
Open
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Copyright held by Doris Lawrence/Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: nursing staff (midwives) with Sister Taylor; patients in ante-natal, post-natal and general women and children wards; Eastern Nigeria District Synod meeting, 1947.
Places or buildings include: mission house; bookstore.
Prints taken by/received from: Possibly Dr Harry Haigh; Rev G S Horner.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: patient with relatives on ward verandah; relative preparing his food. People include: nurse Sarry, first year nurse in training hurrying from Friendly ward to theatre; staff nurse Ene in Labour ward.
Activities include: foot operation.
Places or buildings include: dispensary; operating theatre sterilising room; chapel. Also includes: iguana, 42 inches long; hospital lorry and ambulance; well.
Prints taken by/received from: Dr Harry Haigh.
Open
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Copyright held by Dr Harry Haigh/Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Sister Alice Holgate with patients in MacReady (male) ward; compound staff; patients and staff in maternity ward; Sister Alice Holgate with staff and patients in Friendly (women and children's) ward; Dr Harry Haigh, Sister Alice Holgate and Dr Howard Souster with nursing staff; doctors and nursing staff; patient in the private ward.
Places or buildings include: operating theatre; Mary Lenty maternity ward; Friendly ward; MacReady ward; the dispensary; laundry.
Prints taken by/received from: note from AWH [possibly Alice Holgate] offering photographs to be reproduced in the Kingdom Overseas.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Images taken by Audrey Wallington, later Griffin (1921-2009), who worked at the Mary Hanney Memorial School between 1948 & 1949.
Staff and children (holding dolls) from the Infants' Day School; woodwork class carving pestles and mortars [including student Atim Archibong in the left foreground and teacher Orijeh Azumah in the top right]; entrance to Mary Hanney Memorial School [with 'houseboy' Andrew entering].
Open
Transferred to SOAS Library by Alice Walford, World Church Office, Methodist Church House, July 2003
Gift to the Methodist Church from Rev & Mrs Griffin, May 2003
Apply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Individuals identified by the Rev Kenneth Griffith.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], particularly of Banni and Santa Isabel, mainly relating to (Primitive) Methodist missionary activity as well as of missionaries who served there. There are also a few photographs relating to the John Holt Trading Company.
Open
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Various copyright
Catalogued
Groups include: missionary group in front of new church, Banni; young traders with corn, fish and orange juice near the mission house, Banni; school children outside Banni mission house; young Bubi people who all attend at Botenos, wearing western 1920's dress; Botenos women's missionary auxiliary, wearing cloche hats and "flapper" style dresses; girls in doorway of Botenos church.
Events include: opening of Botenos Girls' School, 29 March 1932.
Places or buildings include: mission house and new school building, Santa Isabel; ?Cupapa church, Banni mission; new mission house, Banni; first church built on Fernando Po.
Prints taken by/received from: George Bell; Rev John Nicholls; William Broadbent Luddington.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Previously in box 1195B
Catalogued
The postcards and the photographs, were sent to K Brockman of Liverpool, from Keith and Vivienne Brockman of the John Holt Trading Company. Most images have captions on the rear but only one is dated.
People include: Rev & Mrs G Bell and their son Cyril; [Keith Brockman] and colleagues; students at 'first native school'.
Events include: parade; visit of British gun boat.
Places or buildings include: [Santa Isabel] cathedral; [Methodist] mission compound at Santa Isabel; buildings in and views of the plaza, Santa Isabel; British Vice Consulate and Consul's house [Santa Isabel]; property of J[ohn] Holt [Santa Isabel]; general scenes of Santa Isabel including panoramic view; path to Catholic mission; road to point and hospital; building with image of General Franco on wall; unidentified landscape scenes.
Prints taken by/received from: V[ivienne Brockman]; Ben Odunlami; J Sunday Afia.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Miss G. E. Brockman, daughter of Keith and Vivienne Brockman, via Rev John R Pritchard, January 2003.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Various copyright
Catalogued
Most photographs are not dated or a date has been added at the time of removal from file.
Groups include: Rev Holland and 'Bubi Boys'; Baticapo class members.
People include: [Rev William Napoleon Barelycorn] with letter, dated 21 Dec [18]87, to Miss Wade; Rev W[illiam] B[roadbent] Luddington; Rev G[eorge] Bell; [William Dolling]; William Cooper; Rev [Bernard] Batty; Rev & Mrs J H Briggs [John Henry and Elizabeth Anne].
Places or buildings include: [Santa Isabel School].
Prints taken by/received from: A & G Taylor, Liverpool; Vandyke & Brown, Liverpool; W Rowe & Co, Leicester; J Moon, Scunthorpe; Maria Showers.
It is unclear why, when or by whom these photographs were removed from their respective files. In some instances the original location has been annotated on the rear of the image by the individual who removed them.
Open
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Most items out of copyright
Catalogued
Minutes (primarily Synod) for South Africa are extant from 1823 to 1887 with the addition of minutes (1889-1944) for Transvaal and Swaziland (including Rhodesia to 1911). General correspondence dates from 1807 to 1824 with the addition of correspondence relating to the South African Conference from 1883-1942. Correspondence for specific areas is available as follows: Albany (1825-1857), Bechuana (1838-1876), Bloemfontein (1876-1885), the Cape including Mauritius (1825-1885), Clerkebury (1881-1885), Grahamstown (1864-1885), Kaffraria (1858-1864), Mashonaland (1891-1898), Natal (1858-1885), Queenstown (1868-1885), and Transvaal and Swaziland (1881-). Please note that there are siginifcant gaps in some of these correspondence sequences. Some photographic material (c.1900-c.1935) is also extant.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1900 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the Methodist Missionary Society in South Africa. Images are mainly for South Africa (particularly the Transvaal and Swaziland District) but do include some images from neighbouring regions. Most images are of individuals or groups (working, worshipping, at leisure, etc), buildings (including places of worship), modes of transport and the local landscape.
Where possible, place names are identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units or kept in existing units if these are appropriate, based on authorship, provenance, location or subject coverage. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: porters, two indigenous men in white western suits with unclothed child; morning congregation, Bonna; men with indigenous religious artefact with skulls; audience watching dancing; indigenous woman and children; men seated in village; children helping roof repairs; family outside home; waiting for baptism, Kinjabo; boys with dog, "Monga"; "Akwaba", welcoming the missionaries at Kinjabo; children, Bonna; interpreters and porters ready to leave Monga for Memmu; baby with father on table; woman with child; wedding party; market scene; the northern catechists; men at start of sack race; missionary group.
Activities include: weighing yams.
Places or buildings include: village scene with fetish houses; church.
Also includes: lagoon scene; sailing ship; well; canoes.
Prints taken by/received from: Miss Buckley.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Clarkesbury District Synod, 1906 at Emfundisweni; Rev Peter Hargreaves with group of missionaries and native evangelists of Emfundisweni district; group of indigenous villagers in ceremonial dress with missionary, possibly Rev Walter C Wilks; group with memorial stone; large group of students with missionaries, Swaziland; group outside Boer farm, Middleburg, Transvaal; group gathering for centenary celebrations, Mahomba; part of congregation, Matutu; Rev George H Eva with staff, including indigenous preachers; children of the native school, Klerksdorp; church members, Klerksdorp; Mrs Burnet, President of the Union with [female indigenous] officers.
People include: Chief Meleea Malefo and wife; Shingawana, H L Bishop's servant, playing with children at Nyati, Portuguese East Africa; Rev William Meard with two children at garden party at Collingham.
Activities include: roadside picnic, Presidential tour, Pondeland, 1909; two women grinding corn outside a typical Kafir hut.
Places or buildings include: ?Emjanyana hospital; Waterval Boven church; Bloemfontein church, Orange Rover colony; Burnet memorial church, Kilnerton; Wesley church and Hartley Hall, Pretoria; church in railway camp, Pretoria; Wesleyan church, Potchefstroom.
Also includes: waterfall; avenue on German mission station, Middleburg; street in Middelburg, showing English church; ruins of original church, Mahomba; first church at Bandajuma; church in Krugersdorp; ?Vrededorp.
Prints taken by/received from: Mrs Lenward; Edwards, Transvaal; Rev Walter C Wilks; Rev J Chamberlain; Rev C J Spence Harvey; H L Bishop.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: indigenous evangelist and congregation with church they built at ?Nelspirit; Rev & Mrs W O Barratt with church members in doorway of Molimola church, Mafeking; children of Spes Bona day school; students at Kilnerton training institution, Pretoria; indigenous man, possibly preacher, with family outside house, Mafeking.
Places or buildings include: typical Dutch homestead, Rustenburg; Spes Bona church and day school.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev T Frederick Lewis.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: students in Kilnerton domestic science quadrangle; Swaziland "Wayfarers" [girl guides] outside Mahamba church; girls performing drill; the Royal Kraal, children of the king of Swaziland with the Queen (the King's mother); students at Zoutpansberg school.
Places include: Victoria Falls.
Prints taken by/received from: W J Noble
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: male group, Kilnerton training institution; open air meeting of Manyano, Barberton; open air meeting, Portuguese East Africa.
Activities include: agricultural work, Kilnerton; looking for engine faults, Transvaal; crossing river with car by ferry, Portuguese East Africa.
Places or buildings include: camp at Victoria Falls.
Prints taken by/received from: Edwin Bottrill.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: 6 Swazi warriors.
Activities include: J W Stanlake and O Roebuck rescuing car stuck in mud near Bulawayo; H S Clarke "talking to a few heathen", Gazaland.
Also includes: car adrift on flooded road.
Prints taken by/received from: T F Hulme
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: girls' domestic science class (Primitive Methodist); illustration of John Ayliff as the Moses of the Flingo.
Places or buildings include: Kilnerton Training Institution; Pilgrim's Rest church and parsonage; "Coloured" church, Pretoria.
Prints taken by/received from: E W Sugden, Pretoria.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Minutes (primarily Synod) are extant from 1821. General correspondence exists from 1814 to 1867 and from 1935. Correspondence is also available for Colombo (1885-1906), Galle & Kandy (1885-1905), North Ceylon (1867-1935) and South Ceylon (1868-1935). Some photographic material (c.1860-c.1939) is also extant.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1905 are available in the SCRR.
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the WMMS and MMS in Ceylon. The items show individuals, groups, buildings, and local scenes, featuring missionaries, local Christians, hospitals, schools, etc.
Where possible, place names are identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units, based on provenance, geographical location or author, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate. Sets have been reunited where identifiable. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover broad date ranges.
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
Groups include: ?Nonis family celebrating Silver Wedding; Catachumens; Methodist pilgrims at Weligama railway station; minister and women outside Katabedda School; female missionary in office with child and woman; group with ox cart; Leper school; Richmond College students; Professor H G Wood with Dr H ?Kraema and Rev D T Niles.
People include: missionary and wife standing by giant bamboos by Mahaweli Ganga River, Kandy.
Events include: visit of officials from Kandy church to Sinhalese Estate School, Methodist Festival Day; Methodist centenary pilgrimage.
Places or buildings include: Ruanwelli; manager's house; Methodist College Hospital viewed from Clough House.
Also includes: man on elephant in mission compound, Negombo; child and cart at entrance to ?Dondra school; Jaffna Central College; Puttur Training Centre.
Prints taken by/received from: Mrs H N Saunders.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Wellawatte school boys singing; minister addressing workers in shed.
Places or buildings include: mission house, schoolroom and church, Wellawatte; Harvard settlement; Pettah church.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev H Haigh; H Highfield
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Mrs J M Brown and Mrs Small with needlework on mission bungalow verandah.
Places or buildings include: Durrell boarding house; church and ministers house; cricket field.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev W J T Small.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: wedding party; Sunday school children and adults.
People include: Susan Poopalapillai, headmistress, and two sons.
Events include: opening of Women's Medical Mission dispensary.
Places or buildings include: William Ault Memorial Buildings.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev B Holland; J Milton Brown; A Lockwood.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Staff and students of the United Training Colony, Peradeniya; Girls' school teachers, Kandy. Chemistry class, Methodist College, Colombo.
Places or buildings include: paddy field in front of the men's hostel, United Training Colony, Peradeniya; church at Negombo being enlarged.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Walker copyright.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev W J Noble with guests at garden party; with Rev A S Beaty and Mrs D G M Leith; with large group on verandah; official on platform during speech.
Open
Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
People include: Revs Alexander Dherma Ramal; Adam Sireh Goona Munhi Rathanal; William Ault; Thomas Hall Squance; William Martin Harvard; Benjamin Clough; Thomas Moscrop; William Buckley Fox; Daniel J Gogerly; Robert Spence Hardy; John Callaway; Dr Adam Clarke with Buddhist priests; John McKenny; Robert Newstead; Thomas Osborne.
Open
Catalogued
Madras in Southern India was the first Wesleyan mission being founded in 1817. Synod minutes date from 1824 to 1911 with subsequent minutes for North India (1912-) and South India (1912-). General and provincial minutes date from 1906. Correspondence is available for Benares (1868-1904), Bengal (1904-), Bombay (1902-), Calcutta (1868-1904), Hyderabad (1885-), Lucknow (1868-), Madras (1817-), Mysore (1835-), Negapatam (1886-1904), North India (1857-1874) and Trichinopoly (1886-1945).
Restrictions Apply
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the WMMS and MMS in India. The items show individuals, groups, buildings, and local scenes, featuring missionaries, local Christians, hospitals, schools, etc. It also includes a a couple of photographs of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in file 5.
Where possible, each place name is identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the Society's Annual Reports) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different. The modern standard for Poona is Pune.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units, according to provenance, authorship, geographical location or subject matter, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate. Identifiable sets have been reunited. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
Groups include: An Indian minister, a former outcaste, with his family who are also mission workers; group at opening of dispensary.
People include: Rev James Lynch; Rev Thomas Hodson; Josiah Hudson; Rev Henry Martyn; Rev John Hands; Miss M L Haskins; Rev Theo Sabrahmanyam; East Indian missionary , ?H M Yates, with an old [female Indian] Christian; Rev Benjamin Robinson; Rangaramanujam; Kenneth Anderson; Bishop Gurushanta; Rev G Wesley and family; son of H Premaka.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Events include: laying foundation stone of church.
Places or buildings include: Begwada church; Marion Lodge; London Mission Hindu Girls' School; mission hospital; Katherine Ada May Wood Memorial Hall, used for lace making, Ikkadu; ?Parlakimidi Palace; ?Rangoon Post Office; former Wesleyan church, Poona [Pune]; seminary and chapel, ?Ramapatam; Bucknell Memorial.
Also includes: statue of Queen Victoria.
Prints taken by/received from: Col J L L Morant ARIBA; W R F Chisholm FRIBA; William Lewis [architect]
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: children during famine, 1876; procession outside church; children outside church; bible women with children, Nizam's dominions [?Nizamabad]; female missionary worker with horse drawn ambulance bringing "Muhamadan patient" outside mission building, possibly hospital; outside new village school, ?Doddbangali; Moorish boys' school, Thurukundu; three Indian ministers and Rev W Le Caro Edwards; Women's Campaign Convention; outside school, ?Tauda; Mr Bastion, Mr Sandford and Mr Ellis preaching by river; on steps outside Dornakal cathedral after inauguration service, 1947; volunteers to join the Scouts; Sunday gathering in ?Dorsyan circuit village; baptismal group, Mudnakod.
People include: woman, possibly missionary's wife, at window of Indian palace; an Evangelist and his wife outside their home, a cowshed, while new cottages are being built for them; Evangelists Zecharias and Sundaraj of the Chamarajnagar mission. Events include: baptism of caste converts.
Places or buildings include: Indian palaces; church; Baptist chapel, Maddox Street [London]; exterior of house, Indian man, possibly a servant, in doorway; Bayada church; Jewett Memorial church, Ongole; Theological Institution; surgical block, Cole dispensary; Karachi church; new Evangelist's house and church, built of mud and thatched with leaves.
Prints taken by/received from: W C Biro; Rev F C Sackett; Miss Collingham; Miss Tucker; Rev N C Sargent; Rev B Clutterbuck; Lt P Custick.
Open
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Copyright mainly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: congregation outside church; schoolboys drawing from nature, Madras; Christian outcastes at service, Haidarbad [Hyderabad]; C W Posnett on road to Medak; pupils of caste school.
Events include: Christmas morning service, Medak.
Places or buildings include: outpatients and dispensary, Kalyani Hospital, Madras [Chennai]; United Christian College for Women, Madras [Chennai]; reading room of Kellett Institute, Madras [Chennai]; mission press, Mysore.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Groups include: Buddhist monks in England.
People include: Buddhist monk in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]; Shan Buddhist monk writing. Activities include: giving food to a Buddhist monk; Japanese monks meditating. Places or buildings include: free clinic run by Buddhists in Ceylon [Sri Lanka].
Also includes: map showing areas of Buddhist influence; statue of Buddha.
Prints taken by/received from: Black Star.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Black Star
Catalogued
Restrictions Apply
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the WMMS and MMS in Southern India. It is divided into four sub-sections. The first section contains material which has not been assigned to a particular sub-section either because it covers more than one sub-section, or there is insufficient information to assign it to a particular sub-section; the second sub-section contains material relating to Trichinopoly [Tiruchchirapalli]; the third contains material relating to Mysore [Karnataka]; and the fourth to Hyderabad.
Where possible, each place name is identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the Society's Annual Reports) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different. The modern standard for Madras state is Tamil Nadu; the City of Madras is Chennai; Mysore state is Karnataka; Kodai is Kodaikanal and Trichinopoly is Tiruchchirappalli.
Sub-sections mainly arranged by geographical location. Within sub-sections material has either been sorted into manageable units according to provenance, authorship, geographical location or subject matter, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate. Identifiable sets have been reunited. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images which cannot be ascribed to one particluar location in Southern India, or the location cannot be confidently identified or the images are of subjects applicable to the whole of Southern India.
The 7 files contain the following groups of images: photographs by Rev Charles Gordon Early; mission buildings; group portraits; photographs by Rev Harwood W Raw; group portraits of meetings and synods; bishops of the South India United Church and Church of South India; photographs of Chadarghat by Rev E Priestley.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Caste summer school; Revs C W Posnett & P J S Appadorei with three caste enquirers at caste summer school, 1926; catechist and villagers outside newly built catechist's house; Evangelist ?Govie David with his wife, Mrs Kanakka and Christians at ?Mandagalli; children in elementary school; young men's summer school, Medak May 1936; girl's learning to sew in mission school, Nizam's Dominions [Hyderabad]; village congregation leaving the Evangelists house after Sunday morning service; "an Evangelist's house and some of his flock."
Activities include: baptism in river; collecting millet rations from government officials in Hyderabad; villagers building their church.
Places or buildings include: first boarding school built at Luxettypet; teacher's house built by villagers in newly occupied village; Christian bookshop in Nizamabad bazaar; Early's first house at Luxettypett.
Also includes: ox and cart "On tour in Boath circuit".
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Charles Gordon Early.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
People include: [William Lewis, as architect of buildings].
Places or buildings include: Madras Christian College; Wesley College, students' hostel and church, Royapettah; Ikkadu church; Burnham Children's Home and Tamil Wesleyan church, Tiruvallur; Wesleyan mission church, Georgetown; Cole's Memorial School; Lawrence Asylum press; ?Doruchal cathedral. All Madras - City [Chennai] or State [Tamil Nadu].
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: congregation outside village church, Tiruvallur; congregation inside church, Dharapuram; delegates chatting in front of Madras Christian College; Madras scouts; "women with shaved heads in fulfilment of a vow made in order to get the last child" in front of Vellore fort; man and woman by statue of Ganesh; girls outside school houses, Dharapuram; Sunday School girls.
People include: Rev Theophilus ?Subramanyam; Mrs Hollis and Miss ?Anstey at CSI Synod 1950.
Events include: village harvest festival and chapel, Madurantakam; opening of the Katherine Ada May Wood Memorial Hall, Ikkadu; Rev C H Monahan with daughter and Rev H E Pettet at opening of Madhavakam church, Nagari circuit.
Activities include: digging a well for the Ikkadu Girls' School; missionaries resting at the "Silver Cascade" waterfall, Kodaikanal.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Arthur S Hutchinson; E W Tomlinson; W B Simpson; Guru Brothers; Miss Moss; Rev G E H Johnson; Rev J O Cochrane.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: indigenous ministers and evangelists, Royapettah; Revs E V Redfern and F W Kellett with Hindus; female missionary with lace workers, Ikkadu; Synod group, Royapettah, probably 1899; girls of St Thomas' Mount Boarding School; children of caste school, Shimoga, Mysore [Karnataka]; missionaries and native workers, Tiruvallur; boys of Madarantakam Boarding School taking morning bath. Events include: procession.
Activities include: Indian Christians gathering stones to build church, Madurantakam; missionary instructing village Christians.
Places or buildings include: Ladies bungalow, Ikkadu, Tiruvallur; English church, George Town; village chapel, Tiruvallur; entrance to temple hill, ?Tirutani; Southern Cross Boys' High School, Tiruvallur; houses belonging to indigenous Christians, Madurantakam; Royapettah College.
Also includes: child at foot of stone horses, Madurantakam; working bullocks at Ikkadu Boys' School.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev H W Raw [Madras 1896-1905(d.)].
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Farewell to Mr Colling, 1914; Madras District Synod, 1906, 1908; Wesley College, Madras [Chennai]; Methodists, Kodai [possibly Kodaikanal] 1908 ; Methodist Mission Staff, Madras [Chennai], 1908; four Mysore ministers; 1st and 2nd Synod of Church of South India, Madras [Chennai] 1948 & 1950; missionary group, Kodai 1947; speakers at meeting, Royapettah 1947; Joint Committee on Church Union, 1947. People include: J S M Hooper. Prints taken by/received from: Ponniah Studio.
Open
Copyright held by various, including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: bishops of the South India United Church and new bishops of the Church of South India.
People include: Rev J S M Hooper; Rev A B Elliot; Rev C K Jacob; Rev L W Brown; Rev George Kell; Rev Meshach Peter; Rev H A Popley; Rev Bishop C K Mondol; Dean Malcolm Pitt.
Events include: Consecration of Bishop Sumitra; procession of bishops; consecration of Rev S Kulandran; Rev Charles Gordon Early celebrating communion.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: K. Greenfield with two Moslem children; new compound children bathed and dressed ready for school with evangelist's wife, a trained nurse; boys playing volleyball and basketball; Moslem children who come to the compound bungalow for Sunday school and play hour; children at the Welfare Centre; women's sewing hour in the church garden.
People include: Miss Tayerson with two schoolgirls, one wearing dress worn in school, one still partially clothed.
Places or buildings include: Chadarghat compound.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev E Priestley.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Trichonopoly [Tiruchchirappalli], and in particular, Findlay College, its staff and its pupils.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: Findlay College [male] class, Mannargudi; girls in the college; staff; University students. Places or buildings include: Wesleyan Tamil Church, Mannargudi; college buildings. Prints taken by/received from: Rev H J Lazenby.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Mysore [Karnataka] including images of buildings (notably schools), mission staff, worshippers and school children.
The 3 files contain the following groups of images: people and places in the Mysore District; Mandagadde Mission Hospital; schools and church groups.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: Mysore district ministers; boarding school children baptised 1904, Bangalore Tamil circuit; Mysore District Synod, 1911 & 1922; villagers in Mysore District; congregation inside church, Bangalore; St John's Hill Guild Executive, Bangalore; missionaries at a forest farm, Shimoga district; orphanage boys, Tumkur; evangelist, his wife and Rev Sawdye preparing meal after baptism; Rev Sawdye with two children; Sister Ethel Tomkinson with Dr Chinnapp Jacob, Miss Freda Vale and Mrs Johnson at Krista Krupa Ashram, Mundgadde; guides, Bangalore.
Events include: Centenary celebrations at Shimoga. Activities include: district evangelist on tour; industrial work at Tumkur School; Evangelist setting out on bicycle, Chikmagalur.
Places or buildings include: Mary Calvert Holsworth Memorial Hospital; school and chapel, Kolar Gold Field; Wesleyan High School, Bangalore; Victoria Girls' School; High School hostel, Bangalore; Redfern Memorial Hospital, Hassan; street scene; church of Kanarese Training Institute, Tumkur; Union Theological College, Bangalore.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev F Goodwill; Rev H H Newham; Rev N C Sargeant; Rev H N Saunders; R Chaloner.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: Mandagadde Mission Hospital.
Prints taken by/received from: sent to Women's Work Secretary from A F Blake in 1950's.
Open
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Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Girls' school, Gubbi; Rev John Mark and family; boys' school, day school, crowd listening to preaching at religious festival.
People include: Bible women from Bommanahalli.
Places or buildings include: Kunigal mission house; Bommanahalli village and church with congregation; William Arthur memorial church, Gubbi; original Gubbi mission house; Gubbi market.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images mainly of Hyderabad but also a few for Medak and Dichpali. The work of the mission staff in evangelism, education and medicine is recorded as are images of the local area and people.
The 5 files contain the following groups of images: people and places, Hyderabad; people and places, Medak; photographs by Rev David Francis; album of images of the Medak Institution; Dichpali Leper Colony.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: Dr Wigfield [female] with patient carried by coolies; congregation outside church, ?Ramayanpett; bible women; Indian girls; village school on verandah of Evangelist's house; Rev B Kotiah James with Siddipet enquirers.
People include: Rev J C Sakett on platform at meeting, Raikal.
Events include: a wayside service; presentation of medals to scouts at Medak mission; Mrs Wiseman's visit to Hyderabad; William Goudie addressing crowd, Rev D Napoleon interpreting from Tamil to Telegu; wedding of son and daughter of Christian Evangelists; opening service, Chadarghat church.
Activities include: doctors administering plague inoculations from medical tent; Dr Drake administering to a leper, Nizamabad; Emilie Posnett and Sara Harris touring with medical tent and dispensary; women in weaving sheds, ?Wadiaram settlement.
Places or buildings include: new Evangelist's house, Konogad; Nirmal church.
Prints taken by/received from: J Vanner Early; Charles W Posnett; Rev Robert Howett; Rev M Samuel; W E Lant; Rev C J Davey; Rev J C Sackett; Rev C G Early.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev Charles W Posnett with bible class students at training school for evangelists.
Places or buildings include: Medak church.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: mission staff; boarding school boys and girls singing as they approach new church for first Sunday service.
People include: English and Indian missionary children.
Events include: church opening and procession.
Activities include: female missionary [Dr Nancy Francis] administering medical help on tour from an ox pulled cart.
Places or buildings include: compound and church.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev David Francis.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: bible women; girls' school students; student evangelists; Rev R Howett with staff and students, 1917.
Activities include: building huts.
Places or buildings include: Centenary quarters; hostel; students', teachers' and cook houses; church.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: outdoor Sunday service; class at healthy children's school; girls by door to girls' healthy hostel; Boys' brigade; staff and patients outside dispensary block; scouts at opening of new block; engineers with F C Sackell.
Activities include: electrotherapy treatment; lepers receiving 3 days supply of rice. Places or buildings include: the symptom free children's house; private ward; assembly hall; boys' and girls' hostels.
Prints taken by/received from: F C Sackell; R Howett; A W H.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Restrictions Apply
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the WMMS and MMS in Northern India, covering Lucknow, Bengal and Bombay [Mumbai]. The items show individuals, groups, buildings, and local scenes, featuring missionaries, local Christians, hospitals, schools, etc.
Where possible, each place name is identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the Society's Annual Reports) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units, according to provenance, authorship, geographical location or subject matter, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate. Identifiable sets have been reunited. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: Benares mission school class in compound; students in workshop; Miss Duncan with bicycle and Indian women in horse and cart.
People include: Padre Elliot of Faizabad; village catechist and his wife, Jubbulpore [Jabalpur]; Benares Industrial School.
Events include: opening of Daridih, Ghazipur.
Places or buildings include: Central Hindu College, Benares [Varanasi]; High school, Lucknow.
Also includes: Himalayas.
Prints taken by/received from: J Vanner Early; Saeed Brothers; W H Russell; J Bence.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
People include: Ernest Saren, head circuit steward, weaving on hand loom.
Activities include: building a brick kiln.
Also includes: group around car on flooded road.
Prints taken by/received from: A W Hooker; G H Johnson.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: Wesleyan soldiers' home, Punjab; Colaba church.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev J Hart
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Wesleyan missionary work started in Australia in 1818, had reached New Zealand by 1822 and the South Sea Islands in the 1820s (Tonga first in 1826). The Australasian Methodist Missionary Society was formed as an auxiliary in 1822 with independence taking place in 1855.
Minutes (primarily Synod) for Australia (including Tasmania) and New Zealand are extant from 1822 to 1862 whilst for Fiji and Tonga they are extant from 1828 to 1855. Correspondence is available for Australia (1812-1889), Fiji (1835-1884), New Zealand (1819-1882), Samoa & New Britain (1834-1881), Tasmania (1823-1876) and Tonga (1822-1859). Some photographic material (c.1880-c.1957) is also extant.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. Only photographic material is available in original format.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence up to 1889 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) in Australasia, mainly comprising of missionary portraits, as well as mission activity in Tonga and Fiji. There are also a few images of Australian Methodist missionary work in the South Seas. The items show individuals, groups, buildings, and local scenes, featuring missionaries and local Christians, and include work from the commercial portrait studios of F H Dufty.
Where possible, each place name is identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the Society's Annual Reports) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units, according to provenance, authorship and geographical location, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate.
Open
Catalogued
People include: James Calvert; James Buller; Joseph Dare; James D Dodgson; Daniel J Draper; John Eggleston; R C Flockart; Henry H Gaud; William Horton; Benjamin Hurst; Dr Kelynack; Walter Lawry; J E Moulton; Joseph Nettleton; C T Newman; His Majesty Pomarre, King of Tahiti; William A Quick; Stephen Rabone; James Rowe; Richard Sellors; John C Symons; Jabez B Waterhouse; James Watkin; John Watsford; James S Waugh; William Tucker, Bishop of Gower; Charles Tucker.
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: Hongi and Waikato [Maori Chiefs, New Zealand]; Rev F & Mrs Langham.
People include: Joel Bulu; James Calvert; Samuel Leigh; Dr George Brown; R B Lyth.
Events include: Rev William Cross escaping from shipwreck.
Places or buildings include: Grave of Rev John Hunt, first European missionary to Fiji, with four Fijian men.
Also includes: John Wesley Schooner and Brig; Triton ship; statue from R Blyth collection, on loan to Cambridge University Museum; sacrificial stone used as baptismal font, Cakobau memorial church, Bau, Fiji; chart of Fiji islands.
Prints taken by/received from: F H Dufty; Appleton & Co, Bradford; Science Museum.
Open
Copyright held by various including Science Museum and private individuals
Catalogued
Groups include: Heads of chiefs in full dress. People include: Thakombau, Vu-Ni-Valu, king of Mba, Fiji.
Also includes: modes of painting the face; Likus; spear heads; clubs.
Open
Catalogued
People include: Rev Dr G Calvert Barber; Rev Dr Harold Wood; Rev S G C Cowled; Rev A E McKay; Rev T C Carne; Sir Ronald Garvey; Rev D I Tefler; Watisoni Seruvatu.
Events include: Opening of Centenary Methodist Church, Suva; opening of secondary classrooms, Lelean Memorial School, Davuilevu; visit of missionary cruise form Australia.
Prints taken by/received from: Fiji Public Relations Office.
Open
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Copyright held by Public Relations Office, Fiji Government.
Catalogued
Groups include: outdoor church meeting.
Places or buildings include: King of Tonga church.
Open
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Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Synod minutes for China are extant from 1853 with general correspondence dating from 1936. Correspondence for specific areas is available as follows: Canton (1851-1905), Hunan (1907-), Hupeh (1905-), Ningpo (1933-), North China (1933-), South China (1905-), South-west China (1932-), Wenchow (1933-) and Wuchang (1877-1905). Photographic material (c.1870-c.1962) comprises images from the following districts and areas: South China, Hupeh, Hunan, North China, Yunnan, Ningpo [Ningbo], Wenchow [Wenzhou], general and miscellaneous.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. Only photographic material is currently available for beyond 1950.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1905 are available in the SCRR.
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the MMS (as well as its predecessor organisations) in China. It is divided into nine sub-sections. The first section contains material which has not been assigned to a particular sub-section either because it covers more than one sub-section, or there is insufficient information to assign it to a particular sub-section; the second sub-section contains material relating to South China; the third contains material relating to Hupeh [Hubei]; the fourth to Hunan; the fifth to North China; the sixth to Yunnan; the seventh to Ningpo, [Ningbo]; the eighth to Wenchow [Wenzhou] and the ninth contains miscellaneous images and portraits. The items show individuals, groups, buildings, and local scenes, featuring missionaries, local Christians, indigenous clergy, hospitals, schools, etc.
Where possible, each place name is identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the Society's Annual Reports) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different. The modern standard for Hupeh is Hubei; Fatshan is now Foshan; Hunan is used instead of Hu-nan or Hunan-Sheng; Yunnan is used instead of Yunnanfu or Kunming; Wuhan is used instead of Wu-han, Wuchang, Hankow or Hankou; Tientsin is now Tianjin; Canton is now Guangzhou; Peking is now Beijing; Shantung is now Shandong; Ningpo is now Ningbo; Chunking is now Chonqing; An-Hwei is Anhui and Kukong is Shaoguan.
Sub-sections mainly arranged by geographical location. Within sub-sections material has either been sorted into manageable units, according to provenance, authorship, geographical location or subject matter, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate. Identifiable sets have been reunited. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Some of these photographs are available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images which cannot be ascribed to one particular location in China, or the location cannot be confidently identified or the images are of subjects applicable to the whole of China. A few of the images are United Methodist in origin.
The 7 files contain the following groups of images: images from a slide show entitled 'A Personal Record' by H R Rattenbury; photographs by F D Walker; photographs by T Butler; photographs by H Dewsbury; scenes in Lunghwa Internment Camp, Shanghai, by O Seepol; postcards; prints from press agencies.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: children, women; men and children in street listening to missionary preach.
People include: young man and woman in uniform; man at desk; two women, "Matron and Doctor" [by Hilda Porter, reproduced in Harold B Rattenbury's "This is China"]; man drinking; carpenter; monk.
Activities include: woman spinning; man playing [guitar like] musical instrument. Places or buildings include: statues outside building, possibly a temple.
Also includes: ox and cart.
Prints taken by/received from: Harold B Rattenbury, R E Kendall; Hilda Porter.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Chinese babies being carried to hospital in baskets; "Chinese women gazing wistfully at the scriptures they are unable to read".
Also includes: ?Ancestor tablets.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: congregation outside Tangshan church.
People include: vegetable seller, Ningpo [Ningbo, reproduced as cover of The Kingdom Overseas, November 1933]; carpenters at work in shop; water carrier pushing cart with barrel of water drawn from well, Peking [Beijing].
Places or buildings include: canal, Tientsin [Tianjin]; outside gate of Ning Ching, Shantung [Shandong]; carts and rickshaws outside United Methodist Chapel, Tientsin [Tianjin]; the highest pagoda and small pavilion beside pagoda, Summer Palace, Peking [Beijing]; street scene; temple, Canton [Guangzhou].
Prints taken by/received from: T Butler [UMMS].
Open
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: flooded hospital, possibly Union Hospital, Hankow [Wuhan].
Prints taken by/received from: H Dewsbury
Open
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Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: missionaries with other internees in dormitories and cookhouse at Lunghwa Internment Camp, Shanghai during Second World War. [Reproduced in Annual Report, 1945].
Prints taken by/received from: Oscar Seepol.
Open
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Copyright held by Seepol.
Catalogued
Groups include: Christian Youth Summer Conference, Hankow [Wuhan]; leaders of Chinese National Church; Women's prayer meeting of the Institutional Church (Methodist), Chunking [Chongqing].
People include: Y T Wu, Chairman of the National Committee for the Realization of Self-Administration of the Churches in China.
Events include: consecration of 3 Chinese Bishops; Christmas pageant [nativity scene] by children of Shanghai YWCA; ordination of Rev Yang An-ting, Shanghai Community church; Easter service at Shu Wa Kai church, Chengtu [Chengdu].
Places or buildings include: First Baptist Church, Shanghai; Congregational Church, Peking [Beijing].
Also includes: Nationalist Party propaganda posters.
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: crowd watching street play; young women singing around piano in music class; female students on steps of Chengtu College [Chengdu].
People include: elderly man and baby, An-Hwei [Anhui] province; shop-keeper in pottery shop.
Prints taken by/received from: Chinese Government Information Office (CGIO); Paul Popper; Cecil Beaton.
Open
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Copyright held by Popperfoto, Cecil Beaton and Chinese Government.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of South China (being mostly of Fatshan [Foshan, Guangdong], Canton [Guangzhou] and Hong Kong) including images of mission staff and buildings (notably schools and hospitals), local people and the local lanscape.
The 15 files contain the following groups of images: people and places in South China district; people and places in Fatshan [Foshan, Guangdong]; views of Fatshan Hospital; new hospital at Fatshan; Haigh College Boys' School, Fatshan; photographs by Tse Chi Lai; celebrations in Canton [Guangzhou] after liberation by A Ko; portraits by W H Alton; photographs by W G Ream; people and places in Canton [Guangzhou] by Rev P W Jones; people and places in South China by F D Walker; photographs by Dr P V Early; photographs of Hong Kong by Rev P B Philipson; refugees in Hong Kong; relief work in Hong Kong
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: people at cooked food stall in Canton [Guangzhou] street ; candidates for the ministry, Hong Kong; Chinese Wesleyan Boy Scouts, Hong Kong; man, woman and children in Wesley Village, Hong Kong; children of Kowloon Methodist Primary School on a picnic; 4 North River catechists; Dr Lee with wife and child, Kukong Hospital [Shaoguan].
People include: man [possibly missionary] with two young Chinese children in garden, Tsang Sha, Canton [Guangzhou]; Chinese girl dressed as Mary in nativity play, Fatshan [Foshan]; orphan from Kukong Hospital, transferred to Springfield Orphanage.
Events include: South China Synod, 1950.
Activities include: men pushing cart loaded with sugar cane in Canton [Guangzhou] street; shoe shine bys playing Chinese chess in Canton [Guangzhou] street; refugees building bamboo houses, doing embroidery [possibly in Hong Kong].
Places or buildings include: leper village, Canton [Guangzhou]; view of Canton [Guangzhou] from river; interior of Chinese Wesleyan church, Hong Kong; Kowloon church, Hong Kong; interior of English Wesleyan church, Hong Kong; Chinese Methodist church, Hong Kong; street scene, Stanley Village, Hong Kong; Kukong Hospital.
Also includes: water transport in North River circuit.
Prints taken by/received from: J Evison; F H Ling; [Clifford Vallence] Cook.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Groups include: students in classroom of Wa Ying Primary Girls' School, also used as dormitory; Dr Anderson and Chinese pastor dispensing medicine after flood.
People include: child in Springfield Orphanage.
Events include: service in Fatshan chapel, Christmas Day.
Activities include: Dr Anderson and Hooker examining patient with stethoscope, Fatshan Hospital.
Places or buildings include: interior of main compound church and chapel; new girls' boarding school and Scott memorial.
Also includes: passage boat.
Prints taken by/received from: Hilda Porter; A H Bray; Marshall Broomhall.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: women and children outside Dr Hooker memorial maternity ward; hospital staff in garden.
Places or buildings include: Fatshan Hospital and College; hospital chapel; interior of Wesleyan church; special diet kitchen.
Prints taken by/received from: A H Bray; William Anderson; S G Hope; Charles ?Alsaff.
Open
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Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: various exterior views of hospital.
Also includes: ferry across river to hospital.
Open
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Copyright holder unknown, possibly Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: boys "dressed up" in old Chinese costume; committee of students' Christian Association; students and staff, autumn 1919; junior school parade; students' first dip in the sea, Pirate Island.
Events include: celebrations at opening of first dormitory, 30 May 1919.
Activities include: woodwork class making desks.
Places or buildings include: Central Hall; ruined fort [possibly home of Fatshan College in exile]; workshop.
Also includes: woodwork models made by students.
Prints taken by/received from: [George Granville] Barnes; A H Bray; [Leonard] E Hickin.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
People include: carpenter; Mr Tse, voluntary pastor, language teacher and paper merchant; Fok Chaak Kwong and Tseng Kei ?Hung, teachers at Wa Ying school. Places or buildings include: typical entrance to a South China village; Wa Ying Boys' Middle School, Haigh College.
Also includes: rice flour being dried in sun.
Prints taken by/received from: Tse Chi Lai (via Arthur H Bray).
Open
Catalogued
Activities include: celebrations and dances after liberation, Canton [Guangzhou]. Also includes: Communist red flags; hammer and sickle.
Prints taken by/received from: Arthur Ko.
Open
Various negative numbers, pre-fixed C or PC
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Arthur Ko.
Catalogued
Groups include: members of South China District Synod, 1950.
Activities include: boy poling small boat; man ringing the old bell, Tsangsha compound, Canton [now Guangzhou].
Also includes: old foundation stones of first girls' school in South China, 1867 & 1894.
Prints taken by/received from: W Herbert Alton.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: students at assembly.
Activities include: service on ward, Kukong Hospital [Shaoguan]; ordination service, Tsangsha church; playing football.
Places or buildings include: Ying Kwong School, Kukong [Shaoguan]; Kukong Hospital [Shaoguan]; Sum Yat Sui Memorial Hall; New Church, Canton Synod, 1950; view of Hong Kong.
Prints taken by/received from: William G B Ream.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Union Theological College students in class and library.
People include: Union Theological College professor at blackboard.
Places or buildings include: street scene with bicycle carriages; grave; missionary compound at Kukong [Shaoguan].
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Peredur W Jones.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: students of Union Theological School, Canton [Guangzhou].
Places or buildings include: Fatshan hospital [Foshan]; inside city gates, Nanking [Nanjing]; interior of Temple of 500 Geneii, Canton; flats, Hong Kong; Christian University College; Chinese Methodist Church, Hong Kong.
Also includes: barges on Pearl River.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Walker.
Catalogued
Groups include: patients and nurses; mothers, children and nurses, Fatshan [Foshan] Infant Welfare Clinic; girls' sunday school class; staff and student nurses, School of Nursing - all Fatshan [Foshan] Hospital.
Places or buildings include: rest house and watch tower on riverside road leaving Fatshan [Foshan] for Canton Guangzhou].
Prints taken by/received from: Dr Philip V Early.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Events include: Christmas Party in Sailors' and Soldiers' Home.
Places or buildings include: Methodist church, Wanchai, Hong Kong; squatter huts; Chinese theatre in front of Kowloon church; Wesley Village, Hong Kong.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev P B Philipson.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Chinese refugees travelling to and arriving in Hong Kong.
Prints taken by/received from: Kung Sheng Yat Po, Commercial Daily News, Hong Kong.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright possibly held by Commercial Daily News, Hong Kong.
Images purchased for £16.00 by Arthur Desmond Gilliland.
Catalogued
Activities include: resettlement officer dividing up nails for families burnt out, Chai Wan; re-building Chai Wan after the fire.
Places or buildings include: Epworth village; Chai Wan cottage area, day after a fire and after re-building.
Prints taken by/received from: Methodist Relief Fund worker.
Open
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
See relief Fund brochure, 1960, for details of work.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Hupeh district including images of mission staff and buildings (particularly hospitals), local people and the local lanscape.
The 8 files contain the following groups of images: photographs by F D Walker; people and places, Hupeh [Hubei]; people and places, Hankow [Wuhan]; people and places, Teian; portraits and missionary building, Anlu, Hupeh [Hubei]; staff of Shih Hui Yao Hospital by Rev W R Simpson; people and places, Hupeh [Hubei], by F D Walker; flood damage to Union Hospital, Hankow [Wuhan] by Dr John W Pell
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: staff and patients in the Alfred Crawford ward; Dr Chiang with nurses by a patient's bedside; Sister Gladys [Stephenson] lecturing to nurses; students in laboratory at the Union Hospital Institute; students singing outside David Hill Blind School; girls in formation outside school, Hanyang; students at Hanyang Girls' School reading magazines; staff in kitchen, Hanyang Girls' school; students and staff outside and staff on steps of Wesley Middle School, Wuchang [Wuhan]; students of Suichow Middle School; staff and patients on ward in Teian Hospital; uniformed students outside Middle School, Shih Hui Yao; four scouts at Shih Hui Yao.
People include: young Chinese boy [reproduced as cover of The Kingdom Overseas, January 1939]; Dr Cundall examining eye patient; two blind boys reading; headmistress of the Hanyang Girls' school; old idol maker in hand pulled carriage, Suichow; Chinese minister in his guest room; snake-bite patient [child] at Shih Hui Yao ; Dr Pell smiling at a patient.
Activities include: operation taking place in theatre of Union Hospital, Hankow and Teian Hospital.
Places or buildings include: boats moored on the Han River; street scene outside medicine shop, Hankow [Wuhan]; men standing at entrance to David Hill's house; street scene outside the Old Street Chapel, Hankow; New Central Hall, Hankow [Wuhan]; street scene outside Hospital of Universal Love; staff in corridor in men's hospital; exterior of women's hospital, Hankow [Wuhan]; modern street, Wuchang [Wuhan]; new library, Wuchang [Wuhan]; Wuhan University; Great South Gate, North Gate, Wall and street, Suichow; patients and staff at entrance to compound and hospital, Suichow; East Gate of Teian; Island pagoda, Tayeh; the Yangtze river at Shih Hui Yao; watergate and landing place, Wusueh; Watergate Street, Wusueh; entrance to the chapel, Wusueh.
Also includes: map of China; map of 'Three Cities'; idols in temple, Hanyang.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: four Chinese men accompanying missionary, at top of Kuling Pass [reproduced in The Foreign Field January 1915]; bus passengers, country road, Hupeh [Hubei]; boys outside school, Suichow.
People include: missionary and wife on verandah of bungalow, Kuling; Dr Morley and Nurse James; Dr Wang with wife and children, Tayeh.
Events include: celebrating opening of new dormitory at Hanyang Girls' school; opening of Hospital of Universal Love, Tayeh.
Places or buildings include: Kuling cemetery; wayside tea house, Kwangtung [Guangdong].
Prints taken by/received from: Rev C W Allen; A W H; Sister G Stephenson; R Hutchinson; J Helps.
Open
Copyright held by various, mainly Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Hankow staff, 1885 & 1913; sailors from HMS Thistle with Hankow mission staff, c.1906; staff of Hodge Memorial Hospital, ?1912 & 1917; teaching staff and graduation class of Hankow United School of Nursing; staff of Methodist General Hospital; war patients in emergency hospital, Hankow.
People include: patient in Union Hospital; Miss Hsiao, teacher, Dr A Tatchell, Sister Alice Shackleton.
Events include: Hankow Centenary Meeting.
Activities include: students reading out of the New Testament and writing, David Hill Blind School.
Places or buildings include: view from Hodge Memorial Hospital; operating theatre at Hodge Memorial Hospital.
Prints taken by/received from: Various including Zenith studio; Dr N R Sullivan, US Navy; Tatchell.
Open
Copyright held by various, some Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: Teian Church quarterly meeting.
People include: Rev Norman and Mrs Page on verandah of mission bungalow.
Places or buildings include: various views of Teian Hill Memorial Hospital; mission houses, Methodist chapel.
Prints taken by/received from: Dr R Bolton; Rev H W K Sandy; Dr W A Tatchell; R Hutchinson; Rev E Ronald Pillow.
Open
Copyright held by various, mainly Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: boarders outside Anlu Boys' Boarding School (1913); students in classroom at Anlu Boys' School; children at the primary department at Anlu, Teian; Anlu helpers (messrs Ch'ien, Wang-myf, Ch'en, Hsia, Liu) with contactor (Mr Yu).
People include: Chinese preacher outside chapel guest room with bell; patient, Colui Chang (aged 12), outside children's ward at Anlu Men's Hospital.
Places or buildings include: circuit house; Anlu Hospital; Anlu Hospital & compound; Union Hospital, Hankow [Wuhan]; Anlu chapel compound; interior of new chapel at Anlu.
Prints taken by/received from: [Rev] W[illiam] Rowley; Mrs Peak; G[ladys] Stephenson; [Dr Edward] Cundall
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society..
Catalogued
People include: Dr K C Wang; patient with leprosy or leg ulcers; Rev Yoh-chin-ming, hospital chaplain.
Prints taken by/received from: Wilfred Robinson Simpson.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: scholars, Suichow.
People include: fortune teller, Wusueh; man being pushed in wheelbarrow, Suichow; Dr. Pell about to perform operation, Shih Hui Yao Hospital; Chinese minister with guest; doctor and patient, Shih Hui Yao.
Places or buildings include: Methodist church, Hankow [Wuhan].
Also includes: idol shrine inside city gate, Teian.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society..
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: views of flooded Union Hospital.
Prints taken by/received from: Dr John W Pell.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society..
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Hunan including images of mission staff and buildings, local people and the local lanscape.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: portraits; Paoking Hospital after flood by Dr G H Pearson.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: women members of Tung An outstation, Yung Chow district; Rev W W Gibson and A S Franklin with bearers at roadside; Chinese wedding group with missionaries in attendance, 1916.
People include: Dr Li's wife and child.
Events include: Christmas nativity play at ?Yinjong.
Activities include: nurse attending to eye patient, Paoking.
Places or buildings include: village chapel, Chin Kang, Liuyang.
Prints taken by/received from: A W H; Rev J H Stanfield; W C Grosvenor; Dr Li.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Places or buildings include: Paoking hospital, destroyed by flood. [Report by Pearson in The Foreign Field December 1925].
Prints taken by/received from: Dr George H Pearson.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of North China (notably Wuting Fu) including images of mission staff and buildings, local people and the local lanscape. A few images are United Methodist in origin.
The 3 files contain the following groups of images: people and places; photographs by J A Fee; portraits at Wuting Fu by Rev Dr Frederick Robert Craddock and Mrs Florence Craddock.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: church members, teachers and scholars, Wuting Fu.
Events include: New Year celebrations in hospital yard.
Places or buildings include: Hatamen Street, Peiping [Beijing]; Wuting compound; temple, Pei Hei.
Also includes: car on ferry across the Yellow River; pavilion, Chung Hei.
Prints taken by/received from: A W H; F F Tucker; W C Ruse; Francis Ridge.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: men "admiring the length of grandpa's beard"; children at toy stall in street market; two men in field a harvest time.
People include: Mr Chao, blacksmith and Christian; Chinese minister; illustration of Chang Chao Huo; laughing Chinese girl.
Events include: bride and bridesmaid going to Christian wedding in covered cart.
Also includes: Communist poster.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev John A T Fee [some reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas April and September 1948 and WMMS Report 1949].
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: medical and nursing staff, Miss Winnie Sanderson with probationary nurses, Wuting Fu [reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas, November 1939]; children of Mr Kao, first nurse at Wuting Fu; Craddocks' "boy" with his family on New Year's Day; missionary's children with Chinese children on national Children's Day, wearing willow twig wreaths; patients and staff in men's ward [reproduced in 8 page report of 1936]; indigenous preachers.
People include: market gardener selling vegetables in street market.
Events include: official opening of hospital, Wuting Fu.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Dr Frederick Robert Craddock and Mrs Florence Craddock [UMMS].
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Yunnan including images of mission staff and buildings, local people, local buildings and the local landscape. Many of the images are of the Nosu and Miao people and some of these originate from when the Bible Christians and then the United Methodists were evangelising in the area.
The 8 files contain the following groups of images: mounted prints of Rev H B Rattenbury in China; individual and group portraits; portraits of the Nosu by C N Mylne; people and places, Weining; photographs by R E Kendall; photographs by W G B Ream; people and places in Yunnan by F D Walker; photographs by Rev K W May.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: missionary party halted by roadside, near Kunming [Yunnan]; party trekking on mountain trails including in snow; local preachers training class, crowd listening and missionary party leaving Chaotung; Miao boys, crowds outside church and at opening of school, Stonegateway; Nosu villagers outside their log hut; missionary's children playing with Nosu children.
People include: Rev Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury being carried in chair on road and with Miao boys.
Events include: Rev Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury leaving Stonegateway.
Activities include: sports, Stonegateway.
Places or buildings include: pagoda, canal, copper temple, pleasure pavilion, lake, Zion church, all Kunming [Yunnan]; village market; rice fields, plain, Methodist church snow scenes and street scene, all Hweitseh; suspension bridge over Yangtze river [Chang river]; pagoda and church Chaotung; Nosu church; primary school, Weining; railway to Yunnanfu [Yunnan]; market, Yunnan.
Also includes: idols in temples.
Prints taken by/received from: probably Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: children listening to gramophone; Young People's Society members, Chaotung; Miao children; day school scholars at Stonegateway; South West China Synod, 1950; Rev W H Hudspeth with leaders of Stonegateway church; Miss Wu preaching to a crowd, Chinese New Year.
People include: Henry Wu, headmaster; Rev T'ang.
Events include: Easter Morning service, Kunming Park [Yunnan].
Activities include: rowing in boat, Kunming Lake [Yunnan].
Places or buildings include: men's ward at Christmas, Chaotung; street scene, Chaotung; Miss C Pullen outside Miao houses.
Also includes: Miao script.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev E H Moody; R H Goldsworthy; F R Craddock; E T Scott; E Harrison; John A T Fee; Dr Oliver Lyth.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: 3 students from the Chao Tong Girls' School trained as teachers by [Letitia Olivia] Squire; staff and students of Nosu Boys' Boarding School, Universal Spring; Nosu preachers.
Prints taken by/received from: C N Milne.
Open
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/C N Milne.
Catalogued
Groups include: staff and students, Weining Boys' School [reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas February 1940.]
Places or buildings include: Harvest decorations inside Weining church, 1947; school compound.
Also includes: goats wandering across Christian cemetery on hillside.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev R Keith Parsons; Rev [Thomas Leslie] Thexton.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: choir entering Kunming church [Yunnan]; Miao girls in costume; Kop'u [Go-p'u] woman with grandsons; Miao women with parasols; Miao school children. People include: elderly Kop'u [Go-p'u] woman; woman walking through street with washing hanging out to dry; boy selling newspapers; two young Christian boys; Chinese "coolie" [indentured labour] 'Weining'.
Events include: wedding procession, Kunming [Yunnan].
Activities include: Miao preacher and missionary's wife [Ruth Kendall] vaccinating children against smallpox; working in paddy field; building motor road to Chaotung; school sports. Places or buildings include: memorial archway, Kunming [Yunnan].
Also includes: mountainside grave [of Sam Pollard].
Prints taken by/received from: Rev R Elliot Kendall - many of which are reproduced in his books "Eyes of the Earth" and "Beyond the Clouds".
Open
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Kendall copyright.
Image available on-line at the International Mission Photography Archive site
Catalogued
"Miao preacher and missionary's wife [Ruth Kendall (nee Rowley)], together vaccinating Miao children against smallpox. In England the infant mortality rate is roughly 5%...among the Miao it is anything between 50% and 80%."
Open
Image available on-line at International Missionary Photography Archive.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Groups include: Ream with Mr Davis on horses, Stonegateway; buglers, Boys' Middle School, Stonegateway; Leper congregation, Stonegateway.
Places or buildings include: East Gate street scene, Weining.
Also includes: products of Stonegateway Industrial School; broken down truck near Weining; leper's hands and feet.
Prints taken by/received from: William G B Ream.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Miao tribesmen; chair-carriers and loadmen with baggage on mountain path; boat women on lake, Kunming [Yunnan].
Places or buildings include: Stonegateway; Samuel Pollard's "Five Pound House" at Stonegateway.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society/Walker.
Catalogued
Groups include: Mr Ee and family, members of Universal Spring church; church members in front of almost completed new chapel at San-Tao-Ho (Three Rivers); Rev Kenneth May with wife and son in grounds of Buddhist temple; Kenneth May with Chinese, Miao and Nosu preachers at South West China Local Preachers' School, January 1927; Nosu teachers and school children outside school and Universal Spring chapel; crowd listening to local preacher near Chaotung; carol singers.
People include: Han Cheng-Ming, Miao teacher; Li Chan-Wen, Miao leader with wife and children.
Places or buildings include: Nosu village; chapel on top of wooded hill, Nosu circuit. Prints taken by/received from: Rev Kenneth William May.
Open
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Ningpo [Ningbo] including images of mission buildings, local people (particularly children) and the local lanscape. The odd image is United Methodist in origin.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: people and places; people and places by Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: Miss Sing addressing scouts and guides of Riverside and Primary School; smiling family; group at Ziang ?Sare Church, 1949, including Margaret Budd (2 row up, 4th from left.
Places or buildings include: girls' school; General Chiang K'ai Shih's private residence.
Prints taken by/received from: E H Moody, Hilda Porter, [Margaret Budd].
Open
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Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: students in uniforms, Union Middle School.
Places or buildings include: new science building, Union Middle School; Buddhist temple; street scene in Shih-Pu.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Wenchow [Wenzhou] including images local people and the local lanscape.
Open
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Groups include: Wenchow [Wenzhou] scholars.
People include: Mr Wong; country girl, Wenchow [Wenzhou].
Events include: Wu-Chow [Wuzhou] flood, 1915.
Activities include: man having hair cut on Wenchow [Wenzhou] Main Street.
Prints taken by/received from: Frank Deaville Walker; Dr Oliver Lyth.
Open
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images which would not fit comfortably in any of the previous sub-sections and in some cases which seem to have no obvious connection to the work of Methodit missionaries in China.
The 4 files contain the following groups of images: portraits of missionary staff; engravings of missionaries; miscellaneous photographs of people and places; miscellaneous illustrations.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
People include: William Argent; Dr Ralph Bolton; Rev D B Childe; Dr & Mrs T S Outerbridge.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
People include: Rev David Hill; Rev William Milne; Rev William Muirhead; Rev Thomas G Selby.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: sunday school children; Miss Wang with refugees; Rev Bone with group in front of country chapel; group including Rev H B Sutton; missionaries and Chinese ministers; Dr Wolfe and Mrs Booth with children; audience inside Morrison Memorial; printers in Chinese print shop; Chinese ministers; musicians; audience; preaching to a group of Miao; students at Yenching University; mass wedding; babies in Chunking [Chongqing] nursery; athletes; photograph taken at the Margaret Williamson Hospital, Shanghai, of nurses freed from Japanese internment camps (with key on reverse).
People include: minister in pulpit; "Rev H B Rattenbury writes up his diary with an audience"; Hilda Porter with Chinese mother and baby; Dr and Mrs William Anderson with baby Donald; missionary in hospital recovering from typhoid; hospital dispenser in old dispensary; blind musician; country magistrate; Dr. Stephens and patient, Africa; Chinese teacher, Chinese nurse; guest arriving at missionary's house; Chinese baby being baptised; portraits of Chinese boy, Chinese girl, Chinese Christians at pray.
Events include: tea meeting.
Activities include: missionary travelling down river on boat; Chinese calligraphy; chair coolies climbing hill.
Places or buildings include: Chapel Street; school building, ?Kyantse; small huts on stilts; En Kuang Middle School; science department, Christian University College; women's hospital [Hankow] also showing Dr Chiang's house.
Also includes: funeral models; Chinese funeral procession.
Prints taken by/received from: various including Hilda Porter; Mrs McQuillan; Rev J C Scott; Rev Frank Evison; Mr Poole; Peter Thompson; CCR; Rev John A T Fee; Dr. Oliver Lyth; William Anderson; C W Allen; Shanghai Branch of NAC.
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
People include: Confucius; George Piercy arriving in China.
Also includes: Chinese script, posters and programmes.
Open
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Originally, Kenya was a UMMS mission district (1852-1932). No papers are extant for this period. However, Synod minutes and correspondence are available from 1933 (coinciding with the formation of the MMS). Some photographic material (c.1910-c.1930) is also extant.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the UMMS and MMS in Kenya. Most images are of individuals or groups (working, worshipping, at leisure, etc), buildings (including places of worship) and the local landscape. The most frequent areas represented are Meru, Mazeras, and Ribe.
Where possible, place names are identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units or kept in existing units if these are appropriate, based on authorship, provenance, location or subject coverage. The files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: native / indigenous pastor among 'natives', Njuki Njuru, Meru [reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas October 1938]; mission women and babies [print and negative], Mazeras; [reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas July 1933]; missionaries at lunch in Kau, Mohammedan village at confluence of Tana River with Osi.
People include: two young male villagers, Nthaka [in traditional dress] and Jonathan, mission pupil (in Western dress) [print and negative]; dispenser out visiting. Activities include: missionary being carried to rowing boat, Kipini beach, Tana river; bargaining for leopard skin, Mazeras [reproduced in The Kingdom Overseas October 1935]; missionary and two female colleagues eating midday meal in Mji Mkuu village, Pokomo, Tana River, showing bee hives in hollow tree trunks; open air service, Nyika; drill at Nyika school.
Places or buildings include: house at Mazeras [negative].
Prints taken by/received from: T Butler; Rev A G V Cozens; Dr Gerard.
Open
Copyright held by various, possibly Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Groups include: local preacher and church members at grave side of Rev J Griffiths, founder of Methodist Church in Mazeras after Sunday morning service; bell-ringers. Places or buildings include: interior of church.
Prints taken by/received from: Ralph A Robinson.
Open
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Copyright held by Ralph A Robinson.
Catalogued
Groups include: pupils at Methodist Mission station; staff, with visiting staff from Meru; scout troop with tom toms, including Ralph A Robinson and visiting scoutmaster from London, G Lock.
Places or buildings include: dispensary and sick quarter.
Prints taken by/received from: Ralph A Robinson
Open
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Copyright held by Ralph A Robinson/Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Sunday school; children under clothes line, seated men, one with garden fork; queue of men in fez hats with plates, waiting for a meal.
Activities include: constructing building.
Places or buildings include: dormitory interior.
Prints taken by/received from: W H Laughton
Open
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Copyright possibly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Minutes (primarily Synod) are extant from 1889 whilst correspondence dates from 1886. Some photographic material (c1890-c1950s) is also extant.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche. Only photographic material is currently available for beyond 1950.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence dating up to 1902 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material mainly relating to the missionary work of the WMMS and MMS in Burma [Myanmar]. Material has been sorted into three files: one general photographic, a large set of stills accompanied by the text for a film and one non-photographic. The still images are from the film "Burma's Charm and Challenge" whilst the remaining images are of the missionares' evangelical, medical and educational work. There are also a few images relating to Adoniram Judson, the pioneering American Baptist missionary.
Where possible, placenames are identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Material has either been sorted into manageable units, according to provenance, authorship and geographical location, or kept in existing units if these are appropriate.
Open
Catalogued
Groups include: high school boys with largest ringing bell at giant pagoda, Mingoon [Mingun]; indigenous preachers; congregation inside Mandalay church; Miss Butt with children of lepers; schoolmaster with family and Christians, Mandalay; group in front of Hope Ward Leper Home, Mandalay; group outside children's ward; monastic school at Pakkoku; Pakkoku Christians; inside village schoolroom, Pakkoku; Intha and ?Taungthu tribes people; church choir; teachers and students of village school, ?Kontha.
People include: boys on journey to Pakkoku School on horseback, 1894.
Events include: ?Intha water festival, Inle Lake, Shan Hills.
Activities include: women rowing boats on Irrawaddy River.
Places or buildings include: Kyaukse church and mission house; mission school, Mandalay; ?Pindaya bazaar; new mission building under construction; Kappali church.
Prints taken by/received from: S V Vincent; M Dawson; ?Manny Shwettla; Rev E J Bradford; W Vickery; H C Williams
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Includes: People and places of Burma and examples of missionary work.
Prints taken by/received from: Various
Open
Copyright held by various including Methodist Missionary Society and Camera Press
Catalogued
Images (including illustrations) relating to the life of Adoniram Judson and his missionary work as an American Baptist in Burma [Myanmar].
Open
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society and various
Catalogued
Synod minutes for Mashonaland from 1891 to 1911 and Matabeleland from 1895 to 1911 are with those for the Transvaal and Swaziland district. Synod minutes for Rhodesia district itself date from 1912 to 1933 with additional Synod minutes for Northern Rhodesia district (1932-) and Southern Rhodesia district (1940-). Correspondence for Rhodesia is extant from 1891 - although correspondence for Mashonaland between 1891 and 1898 is amongst the South African correspondence - with correspondence for Southern Rhodesia dating from 1932.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Handlists to correspondence up to 1945 are available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
This class contains photographic material connected with the work of the PMMS and MMS in Central Africa (mainly Rhodesia [Zimbabwe and Zambia]). Files are organised into five sub-sections: the first for Central Africa; the second for Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] with two further sub-sections for Mashonaland and Matabeleland, both also Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe]; and the fifth for Northern Rhodesia [Zambia]. However, please be aware that the odd mission in Rhodesia (particularly Northern Rhodesia) are not now in Zimbabwe or Zambia but are in neighbouring countries.
Where possible, placenames are identified by a contemporary standard form (generally taken from the 1933 Annual Report) and also by a current modern standard form (generally taken from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names) where this has been identified as different.
Sub-sections are arranged by geographical location. Material has either been sorted into manageable units or kept in existing units if these are appropriate, based on authorship, provenance, location or subject coverage. Files have been arranged chronologically as far as is possible, although individual files can cover large date ranges.
Open
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images which cannot be ascribed to one particluar location in Central Africa or where the location cannot be confidently identified. The images depict the work (mainly evangelical) of Primitive and Wesleyan Methodist missionaries as well as mission and local buildings, mission staff and local people and the local landscape
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: people and places in Central Africa; photographs by S D Gray.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Rev J W Stanlake with Mashona villagers at an outstation with assistant native minister, Rev ?Josia Rumusba and evangelist Jim Kamera; Headmen appealing for evangelists; Rhodesian Synod January 1932; ?Acco training institution principal and students.
People include: man in ostrich feather headdress; missionaries at grave of Cecil Rhodes; headman in ostrich feather headdress.
Activities include: children learning to write in the sand; on trek with van;
Places or buildings include: Mufulira church; native meeting house; village school. Also includes: recreation ground.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Frank Noble; Rev F J Bedford; J White.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Groups include: Mrs Gray's sewing class at Kwanda in Southern Rhodesia 1917. Activities include: trekking with carriers to outstations in Northern Rhodesia.
Places or buildings include: overview of grass roofed huts in village in North East Rhodesia; railway bridge.
Prints taken by/received from: S D Gray
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of people and places in Mashonaland [Zimbabwe] and in particular the staff, students and buildings of Waddilove Training Institution.
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Catalogued
Groups include: studio portrait of missionary group [with leopard skin rug, pot plants]; 1st Nengubo Wayfarers [Girl guides], 1928; beginners class, Waddilove; girls at Waddilove (Women's Work), 1934; football team, Waddilove; group outside Waddilove Institution.
People include: Rev J B and Mrs Rea, Waddilove.
Events include: opening of the new block, Waddilove.
Activities include: Waddilove pupils building during school vacation; building the John White memorial block, hospital, Waddilove.
Places or buildings include: missionary at door of manse, ?Satorma; Waddilove Institution, Nengubo; Waddilove village.
Also includes: oxen and cart, Waddilove.
Prints taken by/received from: J W Stanlake; McVickers; Miss M Hudson; J B Rea.
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Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Methodist missionary work in Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], including mission staff and buildings, local people and the local landscape.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: Epworth Mission station; photographs of Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe] by Rev Avon Walton.
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Catalogued
Groups include: men from Ayrshire mine in front of church that they raised money for (£20) and built; women in front of school, Manyana; women carrying baskets on heads, Harvest Festival, [possibly Manyana]; 3 mothers waiting for infant baptism.
People include: Jean's teacher with medical box [in 1920's western dress].
Activities include: building the school, Manyana; indigenous Evangelist teaching group outside.
Places or buildings include: new school, [possibly Manyana]; Evangelist's house.
Prints taken by/received from: George T Start; Walter James Noble.
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Catalogued
Groups include: Epworth girls and John Melusi going to mission house to sing Christmas carols; John and Mrs White; Mrs Walton and Hugh Walton with trap and mules; woman, possibly Mrs Walton with trap with mules. People include: Peter Mantiziba [d. 1934, first indigenous minister born and trained in Southern Rhodesia] with wife and child, asking permission to go to Northern Rhodesia; Rev Avon Walton acting as surgeon for operation in open air due to African's fear of entering hospital; Ramushu with his twin girls, "One child was always put to death, but Ramushu showed them the better way".
Activities include: bringing gifts for the church; travelling by oxen.
Places or buildings include: Nengubo Institute, 1904.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev and Mrs Avon Walton [Rhodesia, 1898-1917]
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Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Methodist misionary work in Matabeleland [Zimbabwe], including mission staff and buildings, local people and the local landscape.
The 2 files contain the following groups of images: people and places; Tegwani mission station.
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Catalogued
People include: Muyengwa Mucumbata, sister of late King of the Matabele, Lobengula, one of the first Christians in the field; Ben Magorimbo and Apolloa Dassil, two native evangelists in the Selukwe circuit.
Places or buildings include: the native church, Bulawayo.
Prints taken by/received from: Clement William Harpur.
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Groups include: "Wayfarers" [Girl Guides], sorting stamps; "Sunbeams"; boys at play.
People include: one of the widows of the "tyrant" chief Lobengula. Events include: Wayfarer's birthday party.
Activities include: building new school dormitory.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev Frank Noble; Missionary Films Committee.
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Catalogued
This sub-series contains images of Methodist missionary work (both Primitive and Wesleyan) in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia], including mission staff and mission buildings (particularly schools), local people and buildings, and the local landscape.
The 4 files contain the following groups of images: people and places in Chipembi; Northern Rhodesia by G E Taylor; people and places; Kasenga by Rev J W Price
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Groups include: boys and girls from mission boarding schools; evangelists in training with their wives and families; class inside Chipembi boarding school classroom.
People include: Rev S D Gray giving amateur medical aid; indigenous evangelists with families, including Alfred ?Makosana; Chipembi trained female school teacher.
Prints taken by/received from: S D Gray; Walter James Noble; F J Bedford.
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Groups include: "angels and shepherds", Chipembi scholars acting in a nativity play; Chipembi school girls; Chipembi school boys; school children dancing around child playing drums.
People include: village teacher and his family; missionary standing in high grass; village scholars marching out of their village.
Places or buildings include: classrooms at Chipembi.
Prints taken by/received from: George Ernest Taylor.
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Catalogued
Images mainly from former Primitive Methodist Mission stations, etc.
People include: patient arriving at the dispensary.
Activities include: Rev E W Smith building his church [reproduced in 1932 annual report]; building new hall, Kafue institute; building the first house at Nanzhila; Rev J White and friend pitching tent at Broken Hill [Kabwe]; building teachers house, Broken Hill [Kabwe].
Places or buildings include: Kafue site, Livingstone's Hill in distance; school hall site with Livingstone's Hill in distance, known as Bulengo or Bulengwe; Broken Hill [Kabwe] station, 2014 miles from Cape Town.
Also includes: oxen drawn ambulance at Kanchindu on the Zambezi.
Prints taken by/received from: Mrs Seal; Rev E W Smith; H S Gerard.
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Groups include: Nurse Booth with mothers and babies outside hospital; boys on church parade; Kasenga school boys presenting school girls with mats they had made for them when girl's school opened; school boys taking the salute; school boys reading on verandah; congregation after morning service.
People include: catechist with girls' school medicine cupboard; many playing indigenous percussion instrument.
Activities include: making bricks; boys building dormitory; building girls' dining hall; hospital building; fishing.
Places or buildings include: Kasenga mission house.
Also includes: field of bricks.
Prints taken by/received from: Rev & Mrs J W Price [Northern Rhodesia 1906-1934. Ex-Primitive Methodist Missionary Society).
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Contains the following classes of records: (1) Notes and Transcripts (2) Biographical Papers (3) Various Papers (4) Missionary Ships' Papers (5) '1786-1986 Celebrate Together' (6) 'Sounds Interesting'.
Much of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
Catalogued
Includes notes, manuscript works, copies of articles, newspaper articles and cuttings, small publications, leaflets, reports, copy & circular correspondence, etc, on: missionaries; missionary organisations and their work; the cultures and languages of people in areas of missionary activity; formation and work of independent connexions and churches; other world faiths, etc. Also includes a number of transcripts of missionary diaries, journals, correspondence and other autobiographical and biographical material. Although the material is predominantly twentieth century some items do date from the previous century. Principally English
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Includes notes, manuscript works, copies of articles, small publications, newspaper articles and cuttings, etc, on: missionaries; missionary organisations and their work; the cultures and languages of people in areas of missionary activity; other world faiths, etc. Also includes a number of transcripts of missionary diaries, journals, correspondence and other autobiographical and biographical material. Although the material is predominantly twentieth century (although none later than the 1970s) a few items do date from the previous century.
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Rev Thomas John Mckenzie (1890-1927) served as a Primitive Methodist Misionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1920 to 1926 (for further details see his entry in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa)
Typescript, in four sections, compiled for the 'Secretary for Southern Nigeria, W. Africa'. Includes information on child birth; role and education of children, circumcision, marriage and divorce, burial customs, daily and family life, play and games, law and punishment, health and medicine, clothing, exterior and interior of buildings, natural resources, weapons, trade, land and wealth, Ju-ju, hunting, human sacrifice, witchcraft, sacred places, parables and sayings.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Extant correspondence for Rev & Mrs Mckenzie from Nigeria can be found within MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/Nigeria/FBN 10. Reports may also be extant (MMS/PMMS/Reports/Foreign/FBN 1-2). Personal papers of Mckenzie and his wife are available as well (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 7-8).
Further material written by Rev Mckenzie includes his three volume manuscript work 'A few words of interest relating to Missionary Life in Southern Nigeria', 1919-1927 (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 18). A copy of volume one of this work (1919-1921) is also available in MMS Box 1204.
Catalogued
Dr John Gower (1927-) served as a doctor for the Methodist Missionary Society in their Eastern Nigeria District from 1953 to 1958.
Typescript with a few hand annotations. Probably written by Dr John Gower.
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Rev Samuel Langdon (1847-1908) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1873 to 1897
Typescript transcript (1956) of letter written by Sam [Rev Samuel Langdon], Wesleyan Mission House [Sri Lanka], to his sister Katie, asking after her and praising the behaviour of the Singhalese girls, 10 June 1873.
Notice advertising a public meeting on the 11 March 1891 at Raby Street, Moss Side [Manchester, Lancashire], where the Rev & Mrs Landon will promote the new mission in Uva, Ceylon [Sri Lanka].
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Both items probably obtained by the MMS from Miss G A Edwards of Camborne, Cornwall, in November 1956
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Rev Harold Garner (1887-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in French West Africa from 1925 to 1952.
Probably written by the Rev Harold Garner. Typescript manuscript on the development of Methodism and the impact of slavery in Dahomey [Benin] and Togoland [Togo].
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Received by the MMS from the Rev Harold Garner, 1954
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Catalogued
Rev Thomas Raston (d. 1896) served as a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1842 until 1851 and in Australia for the WMMS and the Australian Methodist Church 1852 until 1896.
Typed transcripts of two letters written by Raston (one from London the other from Freetown, Sierra Leone) to Kirkby between 1845 and 1846, regarding his departure for Sierra Leone and the subsequent death of his wife [Jane Padley] .
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Raston both in Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Sierra Leone/FBN 25-26) and the start of his career in Australia (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Australia/FBN 3). The latter letters are few in number but include an account of his shipwrecking off Brazil. Furthermore, the synod minutes will mention his work, and the work of his colleagues, in both Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 7) and Australia (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
An account of the Wesleyan Methodist mission in Sierra Leone written by him is also available (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 4). Lastly, an obituary for Thomas Raston appears in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, 1896, pp 170-172 whilst an obituary for his first wife appears in William Fox's 'A Brief History of the Wesleyan Missions on the Western Coast of Africa' (1851).
Catalogued
Joseph Blake (1791-1869) was instrumental in the creation of the Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society (later the Juvenile Missionary Association) and fund raising efforts through children (for further details see his entry in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Home).
Notes and correspondence (including some by Mrs C W Armstrong, secretary of the JMA) on the beginning of Methodist misionary organisations for children and the work of Joseph Blake. Includes a photograph of the memorial tablet to James and Ann Burton, who formed the 'first Juvenille Missionary Association in the Wesleyan Methodist Church'.
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Correspondence by Blake can be found amongst the Home correspondence - see handlist for details. It is possible that replies to Blake's letters are extant amongst the Outgoing correspondence series (MMS/Home/Correspondence/Outgoing/FBN 24A-24B). Further correspondence and papers by Blake on his fund raising activities and involvement in the formation of the WMMS juvenille missionary society are available (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Europe/FBN 1). There is also a photograph of the memorial tablet to him formerly in Bessborough Road Church, Harrow [Middx], with some correspondence and brief notes, 1972 (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 8).
Catalogued
Organised chronologically and notes writer, place, date, year and page number. [Compiled by Rev D Cragg].
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Rev William Threlfall (1799-1825) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Southern Africa between 1822 and 1825
Typescript transcripts of correspondence between William Threlfall and family, friends and colleagues whilst he was resident in London (1820-1821) and preaching in South Africa (1822-1825). With a few letters regarding his death (1828-1830).
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Frank Deaville Walker (1878-1945), was editor of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society magazines 'Foreign Field' (1914-1932) and its Methodist Missionary Society successor, 'Kingdom Overseas' (1932-1944).
Rev Dr Thomas Coke (1747-1814), advocate for Methodist mission, missionary to Caribbean and North America.
Notes, reports, transcripts, cuttings, publications, correspondence and images collected and created for Walker's book on Coke. With draft chapters for said publication.
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On Coke's early years, particularly with regard to Brecon and Oxford.
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Correspondence, notes, cuttings re Coke's career, particularly up to 1800.
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Copyright mainly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Notes and correspondence re Coke's family (including transcripts of wills). Memorials to Coke in Brecon and Pettah [Sri Lanka]
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Draft chapters for F Deaville Walker's book on Coke as well as a few notes and letters. With booklet on Brecon Cathedral (1929).
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Correspondence, notes, cuttings, images and publications relating to South Petherton Church, Somerset, and Coke's relationship to it. Also correspondence of Walker's attempts to obtain a copy of Coke's 'An Address to the Pious and Benevolent proposing an Annual Subscription for the Support of Missionaries...' with a transcipt of said publication. With booklet entitled 'The Parish Church of Kingston St Mary [Somerset]' by Rev I S Gale (1927).
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Extracts from Thomas Coke's journals. Notes taken from Findlay & Holdsworth [History of Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society]. Transcript of Rev E W Thompson's 'Address on Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, S[outh] Petherton, on occasion of Dedication of Methodist Memorial to Rev Dr Thomas Coke'.
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Correspondence, notes, cuttings and publications relating to Coke's visits and work in North America and West Indies. With map drawn by Walker showing Coke's voyages in the West Indies between 1786 and 1797. Booklet entitled 'Past and Present of the John Street Methodist Episcopal Church New York' (1913). Article (1919) and notes on possibility of Coke's ordination certificate having been found in Canada.
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Correspondence, cuttings, notes on Coke's and John Wesley's relationship with draft chapters for Walker's book on Coke. Article entitled 'Dr Coke and the Founding of Welsh Wesleyan Methodism'. Transcript of 'The Third Jubilee of Methodist Missions'. Notes on missions in West Indies and the Valiente Indian Mission in Panama. Negative images of the churches at South Petherton and St Mary's, Kingston, Somerset.
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Family tree for the Gilbert family (including Nathaniel) with notes, correspondence, and cuttings as well as extracts and transcriptions from journals and correspondence by or relating to the Gilbert family.
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Privately circulated report by F Deaville Walker of his tour of the West Indies during 1930 and 1931, July 1931 (2 copies).
Information complied, presumably by Walker, on The West Indies, Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic], Haiti, Cuba, Central America, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, [El] Salvador, Honduras, Panama (including Valiente Indian mission) and Porto Rico.
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Catalogued
Rev Robert Gamble (d.1791) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to St Vincent from 1788 to 1791.
Notes on the life and career of the Rev Robert Gamble including extracts from 'Wesley's World Parish' (1913), Moister's 'Heralds of Salvation' (1878) and Coke's 'History of the West Indies' (1810).
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Catalogued
Rev Arthur Baldwin (1825-1937) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the Northern Rhodesia district between 1889 and 1902 and in Jamaica from 1924 to 1925 (for further details see his entry in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa).
Rev Edwin W Smith (1876-1957) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the South Africa between 1898 and 1902 and the Northern Rhodesia district between 1902 and 1915 (for further details see his entry in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa).
Typescripts of Baldwin's journals (1889-1893 & 1899) as transcribed by Rev Edwin W Smith, ?1963.
'He Bore His Yoke Right Well: The Journal of Arthur Baldwin Pioneer Missionary in Northern Rhodesia', 1953. Account, by Rev Edwin W Smith, of Baldwin's missionary work based heavily on extracts from his journals.
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The originals journals and diaries of these transcripts are available (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/FBN 12-13).
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Catalogued
Typescript (with annotations) of chapters three to eight extant. Unknown author. Also some notes on the life and death of Thomas Coke as well as transcripts of letters. Papers cover the period from mid C18th to early C19th.
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Typescript (annotated) notes using official Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society sources (e.g. circulars) from 1820s & 1830s
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Publications, promotional material and photographs commemorating the 200th anniversary of Wesley's conversion (Wesley Day) in Asia, Europe, West Africa and the West Indies.
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Rev George Piercy (1829-1913) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Canton District of China from 1851 until 1883. He married twice: Joan Wannop in 1853 and Annie Taylor (d.1878) in 1877.
Rev Thomas Crosby (1840-1914) served as a minister for the Methodist Church of Canada amongst the Tsimshian Indians
Copy of typed manuscript of the life of George and Jane Wannop Piercy and their missionary work in China, written by their son. With extracts from Rev Thomas Crosby's 'Among the An-Ko-Me-Nums' (1907).
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Acquired by the MMS on 25 July 1950
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See also 'Newspaper article on Rev George Piercy by F Austin Hyde' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 1 (fiche 15))
Catalogued
Rev Charles Gordon Early (1889-1975) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Burma (1914-195) and Medak in India (1915-1975).
Originally compiled by Walter G Churcher & Edward C Early in 1910, with additions made in 1950s. Includes the lineage of the WMMS missionary Charles Gordon Early.
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Catalogued
Betty Crook (d.1961) married Rev Avon Walker (1872-1940) in c1902 and they served as Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionaries in their Rhodesia District until 1917.
Typescript manuscript biography (100 pages) of the Rev Avon Walton written by his wife, Betty Walton, c1953.
Brief autobiography (8 pages) by Mrs Betty Walton (2 copies), undated.
Three letters written by Mrs Betty regarding her biography of her husband, 1953-1955.
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Rev Thomas John Mckenzie (1890-1927) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Nigeria from 1920 to 1926 (for further details see his entry in Special Series/Biographical/West Africa).
Typed manuscript - in three volumes - with indicies to letters, customs, articles and reports.
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Transferred to SOAS Archive from MCOD, 29 October 1984
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Extant correspondence for Rev & Mrs Mckenzie from Nigeria can be found within MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/Nigeria/FBN 10. Reports may also be extant (MMS/PMMS/Reports/Foreign/FBN 1-2). Pesonal papers of Mckenzie and his wife are available as well (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 7-8). Further material written by Rev Mckenzie includes his 'Customs and Superstitions of the Efik People' (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1).
Catalogued
Rev George Piercy (1829-1913) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Canton District of China from 1851 until 1883. He married twice: Joan Wannop in 1853 and Annie Taylor (d.1878) in 1877.
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Copyright holder uknown
See also 'Papers on the lives and work of George and Jane Wannop Piercy in China' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 1 /fiche 12-13)
Catalogued
Rev Harold Garner (1887-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in French West Africa from 1925 to 1952.
Rev Joseph Wright (d. 1855) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society misionary in Sierra Leone from 1844 until 1855.
Article published in 'The Westminster Bulletin', February 1955.
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Catalogued
Rev Harold Garner (1887-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in French West Africa from 1925 to 1952
Missing
Probably missing since 1987
Catalogued
Rev Frederick William Dodds (c1884-1966) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1909 to 1939. From 1939 to 1950 he was Africa Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society.
Rev Herbert George Brewer (1896-1974) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1925 to 1947.
Covering note, dated 24 August [19]50, written by [Rev] F W Dodds for Rev T[homas] A Beetham, giving brief overview of the five manuscripts.
Draft annotated handwritten manuscript entitled 'Invasion for God: The Story of Methodism in Eastern Nigeria 1893-1943' by [Rev N G Brewer] with revisions by Dodds, c1943.
Typed manuscript entitled 'Ibo Openings' by [Dodds for Brewer] recording PMMS work amongst the Ibo from 1909 to 1923. 1940s.
Typed manuscript entitled 'Notes on Visit to West African Districts by F W Dodds, February to June 1939.' Specifically on PMMS work in Fernando Poo [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea].
Typed manuscript entitled 'Sierra Leone District' by FWD [Dodds] giving historical and contemporary information, c1939.
Typed manuscript entitled 'The Gambia District' by FWD [Dodds] giving historical and contemporary information, 1942.
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Received by the MMS from Rev F W Dodds, 24 August 1950
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Catalogued
John Ezzidio (d. 1872) was a liberated slave, merchant and supporter of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone.
Typed copy, annotated by hand. Original article published in 'Sierra Leone Studies'.
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Catalogued
Rev Charles New (1840-1875) served as a United Methodist Free Church missionary in East Africa from 1862 to 1875.
Exhibition of paintings from and of East Africa and their relationship to Rev Charles New.
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Catalogued
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Rev Richard Fletcher (1828-1907) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Sierra Leone from 1850 to 1855 and then in their Honduras District from 1855 to 1880.
Rev James Edwin Prescott Edwards served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Jamaica District from 1934 to 1944 and later in France from 1954 to 1959.
Article on memorial service for Fletcher written by Rev J E P Edwards for local [Lancashire] press. With correspondence regarding its possible inclusion in 'Kingdom Overseas'.
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Received by the MMS from Rev J E P Edwards, July 1949
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Catalogued
Muriel Rainsford Wray (1895-1982) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society educationalist in Nigeria from 1930 to 1931.
Deaconess Gladys Stephenson (1889-1981) served as a nurse for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in China from 1915 until 1951.
Outline of book (c1929) with much of the material contained within the file marked as to which chapter it is relevant. Includes:
correspondence with colleagues and representatives of institutions as well as notes compiled (some by Wray, others supplied by colleagues) regarding medical experiences and practices in Burma, Northern Rhodesia [Zambia], China, West Africa, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and India;
a few photographs of patients, mainly at Fatshan Hospital [Foshan, Guangdong, China], 1929;
typed copy of 'The Story of Christian Nursing in China' by Gladys Stephenson;
handwritten copy of 'The Life Story of a Chinese Nurse' by James K C Liu.
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Rev Percy T Cash (1881-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1906 to 1939.
Outline of his proposed book on Methodism in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Includes articles and chapter on the the geography and history of the island (partciularly noting British influence), Buddhism, education, Methodist Women's Work and the contemporary situation. With a hand drawn map of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] indicating where educational work is being undertaken by the Methodist Church.
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Given to the MMS by Rev Cash in October 1950
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See also 'Further papers created and collected by Rev Percy T Cash in connection with a proposed book on Methodism in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 7 (fiche 335-336))
Catalogued
Rev Charles Tucker (1808-1881) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in the Friendly Isles [Tonga] from 1832 to 1843.
Article on Rev Tucker with a few images and correspondence relating to the article.
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Gift from Mr Norman Tucker of Colwyn Bay to the MMS, May 1956
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Catalogued
Rev William Hoad (1873-1930) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1895 to 1897.
Typed transcripts of letters originally written between September 1895 and February 1897 by Rev Hoad mostly to his father. Earliest letters written whilst travelling to Nigeria with remainder written whilst in Nigeria (principally from Oyo but also Lagos and Ibadan).
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Rev Donald Robinson (1917-1985) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their North China District from 1945 to 1948, their South West China District from 1948 to 1949 and their Southern Rhodesia District from 1949 to 1958.
Articles and correspondence - written or collected by Rev D Robinson - on the history of Methodism in Southern Rhodesia [Zimbabwe].
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Typescript manuscript with corrections and alterations by hand. First draft (including table of contents) written by W Bourne, J Telford and H Haigh. Covers the period from before the formation of the society up to the First World War.
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George Gillanders Findlay (1849-1919) took over responsibility for the writing of the history of the WMMS from Rev W C Bourne in 1913. At that time Findlay was Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Headingley College. Findlay died in 1919 with the task only half-completed whereupon William West Holdsworth (1859-1939) was asked to complete the history in a modified format. The first volume of 'The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society' (Epworth, London) was published in 1921 with the following volumes published over the next few years (volume five was published in 1924).
Handwritten and typed notes and draft chapters covering the history of the WMMS in general and specifically in West & Southern Africa, Australasia, South Pacific, Caribbean, Americas, China, Europe, Sri Lanka and, in part, India.
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Includes a draft chapter on Rev Dr Thomas Coke.
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Comprising Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, St Kitts, Nevis, St Eustatius, St Barts, St Martin, Anguilla, Tortola and St Thomas.
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Comprising St Vincent, Tobago, Trinidad, Grenada, St Lucia, Barbados & Corracou.
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Catalogued
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Comprising Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Upper Canada, Lower Canada & Hudson Bay.
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Book II, Chapters 1-5
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Book II, Chapters 6-10
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Comprising Italy, France, Malta, Ionian Islands, Palestine, Sweden, Gibraltar and Germany
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Catalogued
Only general and for Mysore.
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Catalogued
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Rev Dr Pierre Benoit (d. 1962), minister and medical doctor, was a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in French West Africa from 1925 until 1945.
William Wade Harris (c1860-1929), Liberian evangelist who preached extensively in West Africa founding his own religious movement.
3 exercise books of notes (in English and French) re Prophet Harris, c1926 .
2 copies of Miss Thompson typescript translation (from the French) of M. P. Benoit's 1926 'Story of the Finding of The Prophet William Wade Harris'. Both copies (one corrected) also have a brief article entitled 'Harris's Strife with the French Government' with one copy containing correspondence, 1926-1929, 1962.
Handrwitten manuscript entiled 'Finding Prophet Harris' [being a copy of the 'Story of the Finding of The Prophet William Wade Harris'], 1926.
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Rev Edgar Bloye Roebuck (1885-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1908 to 1917.
Two notebooks on Methodism in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] with contents drawn from published and printed sources, c1958.
Published synod papers for Ceylon [Sri Lanka] 1949-1950.
Cuttings and small publications including 'Christianity and Ceylon Buddhism' by Rev C H S Ward (1928).
Typed notes being extracts from published sources (1858-1957) including annual reports, 'Foreign Field' and 'Kingdom Overseas', c1958.
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Rev James Cooling (1848-1915) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Madras, India, from 1876-1915
Corrected typescript manuscript.
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Typescript manuscript giving brief summary of the work from 1878 of the United Methodist Missionary Society.
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Rev Charles Wilfrid Allan (1870-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in China from 1895 to 1946.
Rev Lo Yu Shan (1862-1903), served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Wuchang District of China.
Typescript manuscript. With correspondence on the possibility of the manuscript being published.
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Received by MMS from Rev Allan in September 1951
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Rev Arthur Marcus Ward (1906-1978) served as a missionary for the Methodist Missionary Society and the Church of South India from 1932 until 1955.
Education provided by the Methodist Missionary Society in South India. With covering letter (1951) and inserted notes.
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Dr William E Plummer served as a United Methodist medical missionary in their Wenchow District of China from 1901 until 1926.
Lady Dorothea Hosie (1885-1959) author on China and daughter of the United Methodist missionary W E Soothill.
Annotated typed manuscript.
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Annotated typescript manuscript.
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Thomas Albert Richardson (d. 1979) served in education for the Methodist Missionary Society in their Hupeh District of China from 1933 until 1950.
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Comprising Northern Rhodesia [Zambia], Uganda, Nigeria, Gambia, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Madagascar. With Church Missionary Society newsletter (1957) on Christian education provided by missionaries.
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Catalogued
Rev Frederick Smallwood (1812-1890) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland districts from 1837 until 1890.
Typescript copy - original probably appeared in a Canadian publication in 1890.
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Rev W H During served as a United Methodist Free Churches missionary in Kenya from 1880 until 1890.
Brief overview of his career including his departure from the United Methodist Free Churches due to sexual misconduct.
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Rev James Sharp (1850-1915) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Haiti from 1876 until 1879 and France from 1879 until 1880.
Lecture compiled for the the centenary of Methodism in Hayti [Haiti] in 1916.
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Financing of Methodism in Ireland.
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Covering the period from 1784 to 1818.
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Continuation of lists found in Findlay & Holdsworth's 'The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society'.
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Rev Edgar Wesley Thompson (1871-1963) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in India from 1894 until 1919 and as a general secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society from 1919 until 1934.
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Peter Jacobs was an assistant missionary with the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in the terrorities of the Hudson Bay Company [Canada] from 1844 to c1851.
Typed transcription of letter (17 May 1844) from Jacobs at Rainy Lake, Fort Francis [Canada], to Mrs Hoole, briefly describing his journey to the mission station.
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Background and history with some information on circulation numbers for pre and post union magazines including the 'Helpers' Union' and 'Prayer Manual', juvenile publications, publications of the Women's Work department and 'Kingdom Overseas' with some brief information on missionary [collecting] boxes.
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Rev Jospeh Langham (1827-1883) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Australia (mainly Tasmania) from 1859 until 1883
Typed transcript of letter written from Launceston [Tasmania, Australia] on 7th July 1859 describing their journey there and an overview of the mission as they found it.
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Original with (in 1958) Mr & Mrs Edward Smith of Leicester
Copy received by the MMS from David Flude, Methodist Oxford & Leicester District YMA Secretary, August 1958
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Catalogued
Rev Charles Wilfrid Allan (1870-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in China from 1895 to 1946.
Article concentrates on Methodism and the use of hymns in China. Letter (8 October 1956) from Allan to Mr [N Allen] Birtwhistle on logictics of shipping hymnbooks overseas.
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Rev Edward Augustus Pitt (1854-1939) served as a lay agent and then as a missionary in Costa Rica, Jamaica District, from 1897 until 1927.
Typed and corrected maunscript (original probably written in the late 1920s) with covering letter (16 January 1940) from Jessie E Wright in Port Limon, Costa Rica, regarding the manuscript's provenance.
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Copy given to the MMS in January by Pitt's daughter, Jessie E Wright
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Authorised history of Methodism in Bermuda. Typed corrected manuscript.
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Typed manuscript subtitled 'Being an Autobiographical Sketch by a West Indian Methodist Layman'.
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Catalogued
Typed manuscript. Initially Methodist then Wesleyan Methodist Minutes of Conference with extracts from the committee minutes and correspondence of the missionary society.
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Secretaries and treasurers for the foreign missions or missionary societies of the Bible Christians, Methodist New Connexion, United Methodist Free Churches, United Methodists and Primitive Methodists.
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Comprises:
lists of female officiers for the foreign missions or missionary societies of the Bible Christians, Methodist New Connexion, United Methodist Free Churches, United Methodists, Wesleyan Methodist, Primitive Methodists and Methodists;
lists of female missionaries who worked for the Primitive Methodist and Methodist Missionary Society;
brief typed histories of Women' Work, Wesleyan Methodist Women's Auxiliary and Primitive Methodist Women's Missionary Federation;
extracts from minutes and general notes.
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Catalogued
Rev Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury (1878-1961) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Wuchang District of China from 1902 until 1934 and as a general secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1934 until 1950.
Journal begins on 2nd August 1939 and ends on 31st August 1940.
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The published report for his trip 'The Methodist Church Overseas Missions. Report of the Visit to the Burma and China Districts of the Rev. Harold B. Rattenbury, B.A. August 2nd 1939 - April 1940. Printed for the use of the Overseas Missions Committee' is available to consult (MMSL CH246).
Catalogued
Amelia Isham Jackman (d 1894) served as a missionary for the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Gold Coast District from September to December 1894.
Covers the period of when she departs from England (25/8/1894) to just before her death in the Cape Coast [Ghana] (2/12/1894).
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Copyright probably with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
There are also a few other papers available comprising: letters written, mostly from Cape Coast Castle [Ghana], to her parents; two letters of sympathy to her parents from colleagues; a few Methodist publications which comment on her death; four photographs - two of Amelia Jackman and two of her grave (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 7).
Catalogued
Rt Rev Norman Carr Sargant (1909-1982) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary and later Bishop of the Church of South India in Mysore from 1931 until 1972.
Rev Henry Premaka (1850-1922) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Mysore District, India, from 1886.
Typed manuscript, annotated and corrected by hand, 1955. With covering letters re manuscript being placed with the Methodist Missionary Society, December 1958.
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Gift from the author to the MMS, December 1958
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Sargant also published a booklet on Premaka entitled 'The life story of an Indian minister, the Rev. Henry Premaka 1850-1922' which is available to consult (MMSL INS119).
Catalogued
Rev Wilfred Barnes Trewhella (1874-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Mysore District from 1898 until 1910
With note by N C Sargant on other relevant sources. With accompanying photographs.
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Catalogued
Rev Dr Ebenezer Evans Jenkins (1820-1905) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Madras District of India from 1845 until 1864 and was a general secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society from 1877 until 1888.
Obituary includes an image of him in later life.
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Catalogued
Rev James Eacott (1805-1882) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the Bahamas, Haiti and Antigua between 1836 and 1848
The extracts mainly relate to Eacott's service in the Bahamas but also Haiti and Antigua.
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Given to the MMS by Rev Donald Siddons, July 1959
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
See also 'Copy of typed manuscript on James Eacott, with correspondence regarding it' ('MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 7 (fiche 303-304))
Catalogued
The chronology and list of missionaries dates from 1790 to 1957. The map (1911) is annotated with the location of Methodist chapels. Material possibly complied by Rev John Parker for his book 'Church in the Sun'.
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Catalogued
Chinese publication (dated Xuantong yuan nian 1909) with typescript translation.
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Catalogued
Typescript article (9 pages) indicates where the five photographs are relevant to the text. With two letters regarding its publication in the 'Kingdom Overseas'.
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Catalogued
Rev Dr Thomas Coke (1747-1814), advocate for Methodist mission, missionary to Caribbean and North America.
Rev Thomas Hall Squance (1790-1868) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Ceylon districts from 1814 until 1821 and in their Madras District from 1821 until 1823.
Letters (originally dated 1813 & 1814) from Coke to Squance re preparations for departure and Coke's concerns for Squance aboard ship.
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Copies received by the MMS from Mr T H C Squance of Kendal, Cumbria.
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Catalogued
Rev Thomas Birch Freeman (1809-1890) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Gold Coast District from 1837 until 1857 & from 1873 until 1886.
Miss Elizabeh Waldron was headmistress at the Wesleyan Girls School and Training Home [later Wesley Girls High School], Ghana, from 1837 until 1880.
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Held by Wesley Girls' High School, Cape Coast, Ghana
Gift to MMS from Mr F L Bartels, Headmaster of Mfantsipim School, Ghana, 28 July [19]60
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Copyright held by ? Wesley Girls' High School, Cape Coast, Ghana
Catalogued
Mrs Anne Turner (1798-?1893) was the wife of the misionary Nathaniel Turner and served with him for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in New Zealand (1822-1828 & 1835-1839), the Friendly Islands [Tonga] (1828-1831) and their New South Wales District in Australia (1831-1835 & 1839-1846).
Rev Samuel Ironside (1814-1897) served as a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in New Zealand from 1838 until 1858 and Australia from 1858.
Rev Thomas Raston (d. 1896) served as a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1842 until 1851 and in Australia for the WMMS and the Australian Methodist Church 1852 until 1896.
Rev William Wilson (1828-1896) served as a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Fiji District from 1853 until 1860.
Obituaries for Mrs [Anne] Turner [wife of Nathaniel], Rev S[amuel] Ironside, Rev Thomas Raston and Rev [William] 'Fiji' Wilson.
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Rev George Edward Lawrence (1903-1984) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Leeward Islands District from 1929 until 1946.
Typed manuscript including chapters on Saint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Sint Marteen, Aruba, Curacao, British Guiana [Guyana] and Surinam. With table of contents.
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Copyright held by author
See also similar manuscripts in MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 6 (fiche 287-344) & 8 (fiche 348-355)
Catalogued
Rev William Towler (d. 1853) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Haiti from 1837 to 1853 and in the Bahamas in 1853.
Typed transcript of Rev William Towler's journal whilst in Haiti and San Domingo [Dominican Repuiblic], 1837-1853 (219 pages);
Typed transcript of 'Missionary Sketches of Santo Domingo' by William Towler (18 pages);
With covering letter from editor of 'The Methodist Archivist' regarding provenance of documents, 21 August 1961.
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In 1961 with Towler's great-grandaughter Miss M E Walker.
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Catalogued
Prepared by B[renda] J Wolfendale at the request of the Rev George Gbeyongbe in preparation for the Centenary of the Methodist Church at Porto Novo.
Missing
Catalogued
List of lay and ministerial missionaries, 1935-1959; list of women missionaries, 1894-1952; list of chairmen and missionary representatives 1935-1960. Prepared by B[renda] J Wolfendale for the handbook published at the inception of the Ghana Methodist Church.
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Catalogued
List of chairmen of the Wesleyan Methodist Gold Coast/Nigeria District 1844-1930; list of chairman of the Primitive Methodist Nigeria District, 1896-1929; list of chairman of Nigeria Districts, 1933-1958; lay missionaries in Western Nigeria District, 1913-1961. Prepared by B[renda] J Wolfendale for the Nigerian Methodist Conference.
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Catalogued
Typed manuscript for the period from 1912 to 1932 for the mission in Meru [Kenya]. Notes prepared by B[renda] J Wolfendale at the request of R N Lindup in preparation for celebration at Meru.
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Typed extracts taken from Foreign Field (1910-1913), annual reports of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (1911-1913) and correspondence between Rev John White and Rev Marshall Hartley (1912-1913). Much of the material relates to Chipembi [Zambia]. Prepared by B[renda] J Wolfendale at the request of Rev David Hinson in preparation for jubilee at Chipembi.
MMS. Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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Prepared for the Inaugural Conference handbook.
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With cover correspondence explaining copies sent to Prof D H W Gensichen (along with a microfilm of further material) for his research, May-September 1960.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 and Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Typed manuscript article by Paul Elingworth entitled 'Sidelights on the early history of Methodism in Ouidah', September 1962.
Typed notes by Paul Ellingworth entitled 'Laymen in early Methodism in Dahomey', 1962.
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Printed map showing location of Wesleyan Methodist mission fields with accompanying text giving brief information on each.
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Papers (including correpondence and notes), draft copies of 1959 edition of regulations relating to missionaries and printed regulations relating to missionaries (some annotated with proposed changes) 1907-1959.
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Including notes, correspondence, distribution lists, first draft of 1959 edition of regulations for missionaries and regulations specifically relating to missionaries working for the Church of South India.
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Draft copies including copy sent to the printer. With odd instruction relating to specific mission fields.
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Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society regulations (1907);
Methodist Missionary Society regulations - with few alterations made by hand (1933);
Methodist Missionary Society regulations - with extensive alterations made, possibly for 1959 revision (1933);
Methodist Missionary Society regulations - marked 'Prelimary Revision' with extensive alterations made, presumably for 1959 revision (1933);
Methodist Missionary Society regulations (1959).
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Covering both the Western and Eastern Nigeria District. Notes by E A W and S K Okpo.
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Rev Donald S Ching (d. 1968) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in French West Africa from 1938 to 1949 and within Methodist Missionary Society districts in the West Indies from 1938 to 1968.
With letters (November 1961) regarding the publication of the article.
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Missing since at least 1987
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Ida M H Robinson (1907-1981) served as a medical missionary for the Methodist Missionary Society in their Wuchang District of China from 1933 until 1945 and their Eastern Nigeria District from 1951 to 1962.
Rev Dr Thomas Frank Davey (1908-1983) served as a medical missionary for the Methodist Missionary Society in their Eastern Nigeria District from 1935 until 1959 and for the Church of South India in Medak, from 1968 until 1973.
Kathleen Davey (nee Barnes) (1904-1966) served in education for the United Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society in Kenya from 1931 until 1936 and then for the Methodist Missionary Society in West Africa (including Nigeria) from 1936 until 1959.
Typed manuscript.
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Doris Roberts (nee Gimby) (d. 2010) served as a medical misionary for the Methodist Missionary Society in their Eastern Nigeria District from 1954 until 1961 and Kenya from 1969 until 1974.
Edward Alan Roberts (1927-) served a Methodist Missionary Society missionary n their Eastern Nigeria District from 1954 until 1961 and Kenya from 1969 until 1974.
Original letter dated 16 Spetember 1958 and written by Alan, Doris and Christine Roberts from Ovim, [Eastern] Nigeria.
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Rev Vernon Stones (1912-1984) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their South-west China District from 1937 until 1951.
Describing his experience of imprisonment (solitary confinement) in China during 1951.
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Impact of Second World War on Methodist hospitals in Fatshan & Kukong [Shaoguan] in the Methodist Missionary Society South China District.
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College opened by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Robert Black, on 1st November 1958. Describes recent history of Methodism in Hong Kong with information on the newly built college.
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Rev Norman Carr Sargant (1909-1982) served as a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society and later as a Bishop of the Church of South India in the district/diocese of Mysore from 1931 until 1972.
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With covering letter (19 March 1962) from C Kingsley William explaining connection to Methodist Missionary Society.
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Handwritten manuscript, with typed transcription, as recorded by Mr Yamhlun, Maingdaungphai, Naga Hills District, Burma [Myanmar].
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Includes information on some neighbouring regions. Extracts principally from the annual reports of Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society, 'Prayer Manual', 'Foreign Field' and 'Kingdom Overseas'.
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Rev Charles New (1840-1875) served as a United Methodist Free Church missionary in East Africa from 1862 to 1875.
Links between Charles New's mission to East Africa and the Lancashire town of Heywood. Probably written by the Rev David Martin, who was a Methodist minister in Heywood in 1965.
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Compiled in 1950 naming Dr L Savin, Dr F S Dymond, Mrs C E Hicks, Dr R P Hadden, Dr L M Dingle & C E Pullan (all United Methodist missionaries). With brief covering note explaining how list came to light in 1965.
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Covering the period from 1905 to 1910.
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Correspondence for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Cape & Albany Districts as well as some general correspondence. Notes place of writing, date, author and brief description.
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The actual correspondence itself is available as MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/FBN 1-3 & 7-9.
Photocopy of this item available in the SCRR
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Listed alphabetically, giving brief overview of key events in their lives (concentrating on missionary career). Cites soures used. Compiled by D H Simpson, Librarian of the Royal Commonwealth Society. With covering note from him, 6 August 1965.
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Typescript manuscript. Quotations are from published and archival sources dating from 1786 to 1852 on the genesis and establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society mission in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in 1814.
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Mrs Gertrude Marian Doncaster Page (1909-1979) served with her husband, Rev Harold William Sibree Page (1907-1963), in the Methodist Missionary Society District of Medak in India from 1936 until 1955.
Petition, dated 17 August 1938, from the villagers of Tambaraopet, Jagital Circuit, India, requesting baptism and concluding with the signatures and thumb prints of the Nalas, Nadigas and Sudra elders. With correspondence (1966) between Mrs Page and the Methodist Missionary Society regarding the petition.
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Gift to the MMS from Mrs M Page of Bournville, Warwickshire, February 1966.
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Rev George Basil Jackson (1898-1973) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Ceylon districts from 1926 until 1973.
Appears to be a supplement from the 1st May 1966 edition. With compliment slip from Rev G Basil Jackson, 2 May [19]66.
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Gift to MMS from Rev G Basil Jackson, Theological College of Lanka, May 1966
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Rev James Eacott (1805-1882) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the Bahamas, Haiti and Antigua between 1836 and 1848
Gives overview of James Eacott's life including quotations from his diary. With correspondence between its author (Edith Harper) and the Methodist Missionary Society regarding publication.
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See also''Typed extracts from the diary of Rev James Eacott' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 6 (fiche 270)).
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Received by the MMS from R Elliott Kendall.
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Miss Rebecca Young served the Ladies' Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in education in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1882 until 1887.
Handwritten and typed chronologically, probably mostly sourced from minutes, mainly focusing on the work of individual women (some Irish) involved in Wesleyan Methodist missionary work between 1864 and 1887. Latter material is on Miss Young and her disagreements with the Missionary committee. With transcripts of two of her letters written from Kandy, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in 1884.
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Rev James Trenchard Hardyman (1918-1995) served as a London Missionary Society missionary in Madagascar from 1946 until 1973 and then worked part-time in their archives in London from 1974 until 1991.
Typescript manuscript with corrections and alterations by hand. With covering letter (27 Dec 1967) from Hardyman in Madagascar discussing his desire to publish.
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A version of this manuscript was published in 'Neue Zeitschrift für Missionswissenschaft/Nouvelle revue de science missionnaire'; v.25 (1969), which is available here at SOAS (MMSL AF-MG259).
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Thesis for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology in the University of Manchester.
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Deaconess Gladys Stephenson (1889-1981) served as a nurse for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in China from 1915 until 1951.
Typescript manuscript. One of the copies has a couple of inserts including the school song of the Hankow United School of Nursing.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Presented to the Evangelical Fellowship of Missionary Studies at Cambridge, September 1968
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Offprint from 'Sonderdruck aus Oecumenica Jahrbuch fur okumenische Forschung'
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Reprinted review of Gensichen, Rosenkranz & Vicedom (editors) 'Theologische Stimmen aus Asien, Afrika und Lateinamerika' from 'Journal of Religion in Africa'.
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Play performed at the inaugural conference of the [Nigerian Methodist Church].
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Notes sent by N D Coleman of the British and Foreign Bible Society, London, to Vernon Booth of Loughton, Essex, 16 September 1947.
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Rev Kenneth Robert Cracknell (1935-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Eastern Nigeria District from 1962 until 1968.
Typed copy of paper delivered at the Evangelical Fellowship for Missionary Studies.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Reproduced from 'The Bulletin of the Society for African Church History' (Vol 1, No 2, 1963).
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Houphouet-Boigny (1905-1993) was the first president of the Ivory Coast from 1960 until 1993.
Lead article in newspaper (28 October 1968) is on the opening of the L'Hopital Protestant by the president of the Ivory Coast, Houphouet-Boigny. With typed summary in English.
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'What's Happening in China' by Lord Boyd-Orr [1959];
Typescript copies of articles by B Burgoyne Chapman: 'Crime & Punishment in China, Past & Present', 'The Chinese People's Livelihood', 'How to deal with "The Opposition"', 'The Chinese Way', 'The Chinese Church & Chinese Communism', 'Land Reform & Chinese Collective Agriculture', 'An Official of New China';
Typescript abridged version of Rev B B Chapman's 'China Re-visited, 1957';
Cuttings from 'The Methodist Recorder', October 1957;
Printed circular letter, written by Rev D B Childe in Hong Kong, entitled 'Not Getting In To China', 30 January 1958. With update and covering letter, March 1958;
Editorial from 'Christianity Today' entitled 'The Church and Red China', 17 March 1958;
Typescript copy of report entitled 'Chinese Diary' written by Murial Lester, 1958;
'Taiwan' by Dorothy McConnell from 'World Outlook', December 1957.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Offprint fom 'The Bulletin of the Society for African Church History' (Vol 2, no 3, 1967).
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Hospital is probably L'Hopital Protestant in the Ivory Coast. The original article was apparently published in the 'Kingswood Magazine', January 1969.
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Off-print from the January 1965 issue of 'Reconciliation'
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Rev Thomas Allen Beetham (1906-1992) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Gold Coast District from 1928 until 1950 and in Kenya from 1970 until 1974. He was also Africa Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1950 until 1960 and of the Conference of British Missionary Societies from 1960 until 1967.
Typed manuscript being a summation and comment on the report's findings on the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. With an appendix of Philip Mason's comments from his book 'Year of Decision: Rhodesia and Nyasaland 1960'.
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Rev Thomas Allen Beetham (1906-1992) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Gold Coast District from 1928 until 1950 and in Kenya from 1970 until 1974. He was also Africa Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1950 until 1960 and of the Conference of British Missionary Societies from 1960 until 1967.
Typed manuscript comprising descriptions of Nigeria and Ghana Districts as noted from a former visit.
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Typed manuscript.
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Rev Thomas Allen Beetham (1906-1992) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Gold Coast District from 1928 until 1950 and in Kenya from 1970 until 1974. He was also Africa Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1950 until 1960 and of the Conference of British Missionary Societies from 1960 until 1967.
Typed manuscript.
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Dr Pauline Mary Webb (1927-) served within the Methodist Missionary Society as Youth Education Secretary (1952-1954), editor of 'Kingdom Overseas' (1954-1967) and area secretary for the Caribbean (1973-1979). Elsewhere she served as an officer of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (Vice-Moderator 1968-1975), secretary of the Board of Lay Training, 1967-1973, and organized religious broadcasting at the BBC World Service from 1979 until 1987.
Given to the W[omen's] W[ork] Committee on 26 Feb 1963.
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Report of the Executive Committee to the Council of the Institute submitted on 28 March 1968.
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Report of the Executive Committee to the Council of the Institute submitted on 28 March 1969.
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Professor Roderick Ninian Smart (1927–2001) was a Scottish writer and academic of religious studies.
Professor Peter Paul John Beyerhaus (1929-) is a German Protestant minister and missionary.
Paper I: 'Uniqueness, Historicity and Religions' by Ninian Smart, Professor of Religious Studies, University of Lancaster;
Paper II: 'The Gospel and the Religions: Continuity or Discontinuity' by Peter Beyerhaus, Professor of Missions and Ecumenical Theology in the University of Tubingen;
Paper III: 'The Encounter with Messianic Movements in Africa' by Peter Beyerhaus, Professor of Missions and Ecumenical Theology in the University of Tubingen.
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Rev Dr William James Platt (1893-1993) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Western Nigeria District from 1916 until 1924 and French West Africa (as Chairman of the District) from 1924 until 1930. Also served the Bible Society from 1930 until 1961, including a period as its General Secretary.
Typed with handwritten corrections. Article referred to written by Dr Haliburton was submitted for publication in 'The Bulletin of the Society for African Church History'.
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Three articles: 'Impressions of China 1957' being a talk given to the Young Womens Christian Association in Colombo [Sri Lanka]; 'Women of China' which appeared in the 'Ceylon Daily News'; 'The YWCA in China' which appeared in the 'Ceylon Observer'.
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Rev Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury (1878-1961) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Wuchang District of China from 1902 until 1934 and as a general secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1934 until 1950.
Copy correspondence written by Rattenbury, presumably to the General Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, extracts from his diary and newspaper cuttings written by him from 'The Kingsway'. Material mainly relates to his work in the WMMS Wuchang District of China, with particular reference to Hankow [Wuhan].
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With insert of typed notes entitled 'Methodism in the Honduras District'.
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Gift to the MMS from Cha[rle]s E Goff, 6 Nov [19]66
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
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Group formed from officers of the Methodist Missionary Society.
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Rev John Smithies (1802-1872) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Newfoundland District from 1828 until 1837, the Bahamas from 1837 until 1838, Australia from 1839 until 1855 and as chairman of the Van Diemens Land District from 1855 until 1872.
Delivered before the Royal Historical Society of Western Australia on the 25th July 1969. Brief typed footnote added for the years 1855 to 1900. Copy annotated in pencil with references to 23 Smithies letters from Newfoundland [within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive].
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Gift to the MMS from the author
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Rev Geoffrey Wainwright (1939-) served as a minister involved in education within the Methodist Missionary Society district of Dahomey-Togo as well as a pastor in the English-language parish of Yaounde [Cameroun] and as Professor of Systematic Theology at the Protestant Faculty of Theology in Yaounde, 1967-1973.
Thesis undertaken at the Faculty of Protestant Theology at the University of Geneva. With covering note.
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Gift from the author to the MMS, c1969
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Rev George Edward Lawrence (1903-1984) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Leeward Islands District from 1929 until 1946.
Typscript manuscript including chapters on Saint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Sint Marteen, Aruba, Curacao, British Guiana [Guyana] and Surinam. With table of contents and preface.
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See also similar manuscripts in MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 6 (fiche 279-286) & 8 (fiche 348-355)
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Rev Percy T Cash (1881-1958) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1906 to 1939.
Outline of his proposed book on Methodism in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Includes articles and draft chapters on religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, 'Demon' worship and Christianity - with particular reference to Methodism). With a hand drawn map of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] indicating where educational work is being undertaken by the Methodist Church. Also has an outline on missionary education written by Rev James Cartman, Principal of Wesley College, Colombo. 1947-c1950. With covering letter from Rev W G Bird explaining how he acquired the papers, 7 March 1970.
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Given to the MMS by Rev W G Bird (who had previously obtained the papers after the death of Rev Cash), March 1970
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See also 'Papers created and collected by Rev Percy T Cash in connection with a proposed book on Methodism in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 2 (fiche 90-92))
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Rev Mark Baker Bird (1807-1880) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Jamaica from 1834 until 1839 and in Haiti from 1839 until 1879.
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Rev Peter Briggs Swinglehurst (1929-1988) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Panama from 1954 until 1968, Jamaica from 1969 until 1972 and Bahamas from 1972 until 1976.
Brief overview of their culture and interaction with the Methodist Church.
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Rev Peter Briggs Swinglehurst (1929-1988) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Panama from 1954 until 1968, Jamaica from 1969 until 1972 and Bahamas from 1972 until 1976.
Overview of the history of Panama, including the contribution made by Methodism.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Article in German with typescript English translation.
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Immortality in Buddhism. Written for 'The Times' but unpublished.
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Corrected typed copy of an article written by Rev Longden Oaks on his experiences in China in 1921.
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Also known as Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, Nigeria. Photocopy of annotated typed manuscript.
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Also known as Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, Nigeria. Photocopy of heavily annotated typed manuscript.
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Rev George Edward Lawrence (1903-1984) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Leeward Islands District from 1929 until 1946.
Photocopy of typed manuscript.
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Typed copy of an article written in August 1960 (for 'a Church Newspaper') marking 50th anniversary of Edinburgh Conference.
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Typescript manuscript of revised article. Includes overview of evangelical Protestantism in Rome.
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Deaconess Gladys Millicent Cook (1903-1990) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their West Indies districts - including Jamaica, Leeward Islands and Guyana - from 1937 until 1966.
Typed manuscript concentrating on Methodist Women's work in Barbados, Trinidad, Leeward Islands, Bahamas, British Honduras [Belize] and British Guiana [Guyana].
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Photocopy of annotated typescript listing missionaries of each mission station in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] from 1870 until 1964.
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Includes typed biographical notes on Methodist missionaries George Miles, Tom Prothero, David Hill, Brother [Charles] Mitchil, Edwin Jobbins and Dr Arthur Morley; 'The Church Among the Chinese Tribes' by Harold B Rattenbury (1935); notes on missionary experiences and observations on Chinese life; manuscript entitled 'China's Story'.
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Original proclomation (1855) on the 'strong drink of the White Peoples'.
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On the Wesley Guild's support for missionary work, including fund raising.
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Deaconess Gladys Stephenson (1889-1981) served as a nurse for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in China from 1915 until 1951.
Typed manuscript with corrections and annotated remarks.
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Deaconess Gladys Stephenson (1889-1981) served as a nurse for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in China from 1915 until 1951.
Missing
Missing since at least 1987
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Typed manuscript giving brief overview of missionary work.
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Typed manuscript of extracts on the Women's Missionary Auxiliary from the 1932 publication 'The Story of the United Methodist Church', edited by Henry Smith, John E. Swallow and William Treffry.
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Rev J Rossendale Stone Law (1892-1971) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Sierra Leone from 1916 until 1971.
Copy of typed manuscript entitled 'A short account of how the work of the Methodist Mission started and developed in the Segbwema area from 1908 to 1952' by J R S Law;
copy of typed manuscript entitled 'Jojoima. How and Why?' by J R S Law;
typed sheet of biographical information on the Rev J Rossendale S Law, c1970.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Photocopy of typed report originally dated 3 January 1971.
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Typed manuscript.
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Rev Glyn Stuart Treleaven (1901-1950) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1927 until 1931 and in Gambia from 1931 until 1946.
Photocopy of pamphlet on church in Bathurst, Gambia.
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Rev Edgar Wesley Thompson (1871-1963) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Mysore District of India from 1894 until 1919 and as a general secretary of the WMMS from 1919 until 1934.
Photocopy (original dated 12 December 1[19]39) of memorandum resulting from a meeting of the Africa Committee at Edinburgh House on 7 December.
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Offprint from 'The Journal of Library History' (Vol 5, No 3).
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Gift to the MMS from the author
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Rev George Edward Lawrence (1903-1984) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Leeward Islands District from 1929 until 1946.
Typed manuscript including chapters on Saint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Sint Marteen, Aruba, Curacao, British Guiana [Guyana] and Surinam. With table of contents.
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See also similar manuscripts in MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 6 (fiche 279-286 & 287-344)
Catalogued
Rev Joseph Barnett Brindley (1865-1936) served as a missionary in the West Indies Districts of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in the Bahamas (1895-1907), Honduras (1907-1921) and British Guiana (1921-1936).
Proof manuscript copy for publication.
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Rev William Frederick Mellor (1891-1977) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Western Nigeria District from 1921 until 1974.
Published in 3 parts in the Nigerian magazine 'The People' (Nov & Dec 1970, Feb 1971).
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Photocopy of address on Methodism made to the Sarawak [Methodist] Annual Conference, December 1970.
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Photocopy of article from 'East Anglian Magazine' (Vol 30, No 5, March 1971).
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Newspaper cutting from 'Halesworth Times' on memorial service for William James Sutton.
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Photocopy of incomplete typescript copied from Rev T R Foulger's copy of the original minutes, c1947.
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Rev Edgar Bentley Thorp (1905-1991) served as a missionary in the Methodist Missionary Society Trichonopoly District of India (1930-1947) and later as the Bishop of the Trichinopoly-Tanjore diocese of the Church of South India (1947-1963).
Photocopy of typed manucript entitled 'Methodist Work in the Trichonopoly District between 1830 and 1840' [by E B Thorp]; photocopy of typed manucript entitled 'The Beginnings of Methodist Work in the Trichonopoly District' [by E B Thorp]; with cover note (dated 8 Nov 1966) from E B Thorp.
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Newspaper cutting from 'Halesworth Times' on service of recognition for Mr W S Little, Mr L E Melton, Mr A Wright and Mr O Job.
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Rev Daniel Sanderson (1819-1902) served as a misionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Madras District (1841-1843 & 1844-1848) and Mysore District (1848-1868) of India as well as briefly (1843-1844) in South Africa.
Photocopy taken from the 1902 Minutes of Wesleyan Methodist Conference.
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Rev Benjamin Burgoyne Chapman (1886-1964) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary, educator and administrator in China (Wuchang District 1913-1929, Nanking District 1930-1932 & South-west China District 1936-1940), India (Madras District 1929-1930) and Ceylon (1958-1960).
Typed 'Academic & Service Record' briefly giving dates and activities of his education and career; cutting of newspaper obituary.
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Photocopy of letter (dated 16 July 1971) giving biographical information on the Culshaw family's involvement with Methodist missions. With note re transfer.
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Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Photocopy of an article which appeared in the 'Journal of African History' (Vol 2, 1964).
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Rev John Henry Phillipson (1871-1948) served as a United Methodist Free Churches missionary in East Africa from 1900 until 1906.
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Photographs (P), newspaper cuttings (C), Photographs with newspaper cuttings (P&C) and newspaper cuttings with an image (C+P) of the following Methodist missionary personnel:
A.S. Beatty (P); G. Bell (C+P); E.M. Blow (P); R. Bolton (P); A.H. Bray (C+P); H. Carter (P); J.O. Cochrane (C+P); W.H. Collins (C+P); F.R. Craddock (C+P); A.T. Dale (C+P); J. Foster (P&C); W.S. Gifford (P); S.D. Gray (2P & C+P); C.P. Groves (C); J.S.M. Hooper (P); W.M. Hudspeth (2P); E.A. Hunter (2P&C);R.T. Kerr (P); S.K Lamming (P); E.H. Livesley (P); R.A. Lockhart (C+P); W.L. Oakes (P); C.W. Ramson (C); H.S. Redfern (C+P); R.A. Roberts (P); I. Scott (P); P.W. Searle (C+P); L. Simpson (P); G.H.B. Sketchley (P); J.H. Stanfield (P); A. Stott (P); D.W. Thompson (2P); C. Thorpe (P); P.S. Toye (C+P); A. Walton (C+P); A.M. Ward (C); J.T. Watson (P); J.L. Webb (C+P).
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Photocopy of a typed manuscript (probably written in 1946) on the history of the Methodist Church in their Wenchow District of China.
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Offprint from the 'Journal of Africa History' (VIII, I, 1967).
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Rev John Hunt (1812-1848) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the islands of Fiji from 1838 until 1848.
Rev Joseph Entwisle (1767-1841), Wesleyan Methodist minister who served as President of Conference twice (1812 & 1825) and as 'House Governor' of Hoxton Theological Institution from 1834 until 1838.
Letter (dated 7 June 1841) in which Hunt gives an overview of his two years work in Fiji.
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In Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
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Rev William Webb (d.1852) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Friendly Islands District from 1839 until 1852.
Mr Joseph Blake (1791-1869) was instrumental in the creation of the Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society (later the Juvenile Missionary Association) and fund raising efforts through children (for further details see his entry in Special Series/Biographical/Home).
Letter (dated 1 March 1843) in which Webb discusses their mutual friends in Harrow and gives an overview of his work with extracts from his journal dated between July 1842 and March 1843.
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The Pellah [Pettah] Methodist Church was 'the first Methodist church in Asia'. Printed by Wesleyan Mission House, London, and sold for one penny.
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Presented to the MMS by S F Moscrop, 21 Oct 1966
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Typed list of Methodist Missionary Society missionaries from Wales who are presumably serving in 1957.
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Offprint of Cross's address from 'The Advancement of Science' (No 50, September 1956).
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Rev Thomas Williams (1815-1891) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary on the islands of Fiji from 1839 until 1854 and then in Australia from 1854 until 1891.
Illness of King Tuikilakia and death of King Thakombau.
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Joseph Blake (1791-1869) was instrumental in the creation of the Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society (later the Juvenile Missionary Association) and fund raising efforts through children (for further details see his entry in Special Series/Biographical/Home).
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Correspondence by Blake can be found amongst the Home correspondence - see handlist for details. It is possible that replies to Blake's letters are extant amongst the Outgoing correspondence series (MMS/Home/Correspondence/Outgoing/FBN 24A-24B). Further correspondence and papers by Blake on his fund raising activities and involvement in the formation of the WMMS juvenille missionary society are available (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Europe/FBN 1 & MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1).
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Prepared by the Home Council of the Conference of Missionary Societies by the the British Market Research Bureau Limited, London.
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Prepared by the Home Council of the Conference of Missionary Societies by the the British Market Research Bureau Limited, London.
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Sister Elizabeth Baker (1902-1987) served as a misssionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1931 until 1987, and was a one of the founders of the rehabilitation centre for children at Navajeevanam.
Photocopy of an article that appeared in the 'Ceylon Record' in 1972.
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Programme with hymn sheet for JMA [Juvenile Missionary Association] event at Westminister Central Hall.
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First Day Cover commemorating 150th anniversary of first Methodist service to Maori people and advertisement for G I Laurenson's publication 'Te Hahi Weteriana'.
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Undated article.
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Printed by the Government Printer, Salisbury [Harare, Zimbabwe].
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Printed by the Government Printer, Salisbury [Harare, Zimbabwe].
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'Presented to Parliament by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty'. Printed by HMSO, London.
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Pamphlet entitled 'The Sungpu Murders. Investigations' - sourced from the correspondent of the 'North-China Daily News';
Pamphlet entitled 'Proceedings of Meeting Called in consequence of the Sungpu Massacre. Held at Hankow on July 7th 1893'. Issued by the Municipal Council, Hankow, 1893.
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Typescript report (possibly incomplete) of a [secretarial] visit to the missions of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Hong Kong and China during 1912 and 1913.
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Two similiar photographs of a map where the original has been annotated marking the ethnic groups of the Lushai & Chin, Burmese and the Khongsi. Photographs taken by Mr G F Standing.
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Rev James Allison served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in South Africa from 1839 until 1852.
Photographs of David Maketekete's mountain and Sekonyela's mountain, both near Mpharane.
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Given to the MMS by Mr M Damane
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Probably Mrs Herbert Carter (nee Sarah Dixon) who worked with her husband for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in their Southern Rhodesia District from 1914 until 1967.
Photocopy of annotated typescript of an address presented to the Ruwadzano/Manyano Conference by Mrs H Carter on 27th April 1973 at Moleli Secondary School [Kadoma, Zimbabwe]
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Chinese New Testament (Presbyterian Mission Press, Shanghai, 1864). Gift to Mr J W Graves from David Hill, Hankow, Oct 4 1865;
Permit to travel issued by the British Consul in Hankow [Wuhan, China] to Rev Loh Hsij-chung, 17 Jan 1885;
Notes on above items, 1973.
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Given to the MMS by Miss Gwen Sewell of Deal [Kent] on 20 September 1973
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Typescript, in four parts, on Lavington Church in Kenya.
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Published booklet produced in connection with the Jubilee Celebrations held in Bulawayo [Zimbabwe] between 27th and 29th October 1945.
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Proceedings of Study Conference No. 3, The United Northern Rhodesia Association.
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Rev Wilfred Robinson Simpson served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Hupeh District of China from 1930 until 1946.
Correspondence (including copies and extracts from), articles, notes, brief memoirs, etc, on Methodist missionary work (including medical) in China particularly in and around Hankow [Wuhan] and Hupeh, and including some material on the Sino-Japanese war. With copy of photograph of Hankow Union Hospital staff (1936) and biographical notes on Wang Ch'ien Sheng (1934).
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Rev Albert William Hodgetts served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1924 until 1954.
Copies of notes on indigenous Methodist ministers who mainly worked in the Eastern District of Nigeria. Comprising notes on Heywood Babaa Wiko, Albert Nwosu Igbo, Udo Nya, Friday Udo Ekanem and Ogwo Biaomo Okereke. With covering letter from Hodgetts explaining the background to his work and his desire to publish a book, 10 Dec 1973.
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Copy of Robertson work on cataloguing editions of the BIble printed in various languages. With covering letter (Edinburgh, June [19]74) to Mr Bennett explaining his recent work.
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Brief notes on the Girls' League, Leeds District Girls' League Hymn Book (1928), badges (c1923), headed paper, 'The Lamp' (No 7, September 1931) and a membership/pledge card (c1933).
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Gift to Methodist Missionary Society from Ms Muriel Stennet, 12 March 1975
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Volume recording donations to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society from supporters. Usually notes the name of the donor, the amount and the reason for the donation.
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Former Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine in Uganda, Thailand and Malaysia, and former Secretary for Public Health, Union of South Mrica as well as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal, South Africa
Offprint from the 'Journal of The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce'. Paper originally read to the Commonwealth Section of the Society on 8th June 1971.
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Former Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine in Uganda, Thailand and Malaysia, and former Secretary for Public Health, Union of South Mrica as well as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Natal, South Africa
Offprint from the 'Journal of the Royal Society of Health', Vol 93 No 1 February 1973.
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Photocopy of map created by D K R Bray of the Department of Agriculture showing 'Mwemba Resettlement Areas', 1958. Annotated to show the site of Methodist missionary activity and the changes brought about by the Kariba Dam near Mwemba [Zambia].
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Map was microfiched horizontally in two rows.
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Rev Jennifer M Potter served in education for the Methodist Missionary Society in Botswana, for a period was Secretary for International Affairs of the Methodist Church and serves as a minister at Wesley Chapel, City Road, London.
Dissertation submitted for an MA degree in Africa Area Studies at SOAS, September 1975.
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Rev John Thomas (1797-1881) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Friendly Islands District from 1842 until 1860.
Photocopied extract from the 'Wesleyan Methodist Handbook' on John Thomas.
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Rev Charles Crabtree (1882-1945) served as a missionary for the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society & South African Methodist Church in South Africa from 1922 until 1945.
Pamphlet (No 43 Message) published by the Young People's Department of the Primitive Methodist Church.
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Rev Arthur Henry Bray (1886-1974) served as Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society misionary in their South China District from 1914 until 1940 & chairman of their Chinese Hong Kong District from 1949 until 1952.
Photocopy of typed biographical notes on Rev Arthur H Bray and his wife (Edith Muriel Campbell) compiled for his funeral on 13th September [1974].
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Typed list (with a few handwritten annotations) of services at Mission House Chapel [Marylebone Road, London] between June 1940 and December 1967.
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Published overview giving brief history, current work and the jubilee fund at approach of their fiftieth anniversary.
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Typescript for a play on the role of women in early Methodism.
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Published play on Australian identity as seen through the floral emblems of its states.
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Stamps depicting Nathaniel Turner, John Thomas, the missionary ship 'Triton' and the chapel at Lifuka.
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Rev Merfyn M Temple (1919-2012) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Northern Rhodesia district from 1942 until 1974.
Typed transcript of Merfyn Temple's diary from 18 September until 13 November 1969 whilst working in Zambia as a Methodist missionary and his involvement with the Land Settlement Board.
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Rev Merfyn M Temple (1919-2012) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Northern Rhodesia District from 1942 until 1974.
Unpublished discussion paper for the Ministry of Rural Development, Lusaka [Zambia].
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Rev George H Martlew (1907-1998) worked as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society & Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Western Nigeria District from 1928 until 1932 and from 1935 until 1937. Later (1937-1950) he worked for the MMS as a missionary in Kenya.
Annotated typescript manuscript.
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Rev Samuel Pollard (1864-1915) worked as a missionary for the BIble Christians and United Methodist Missionary Society (as well as in close association with the China Inland Mission) in Yunnan, China - particular amongst the Miao - from 1886 until 1915.
Handwritten manuscript principally for chapter 6 of his book on the Miao.
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David Livingstone (1813-1873), doctor, minister and explorer, served as a missionary for the London Missionary Society in Bechuanaland [Botswana]. (For a more detailed biography see CWM/LMS/Africa/Odds/Livingstone within the Council for World Mission archive).
Typescript manuscript detailing Livingstone's life and work entitled 'David Livingstone. Missionary, Explorer, Statesman' (13 pages, no author, undated);
Typescript manuscript play entitled 'Livingstone the Liberator' (5 pages, no author, undated).
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Dr Lilian Grandin (1876-1924) served as a doctor for the Bible Christians and United Methodist Missionary Society in Yunnan, China, from 1906 until 1924.
Issued by the island of Jersey on 25 November 1976.
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Rev William Ault (1778-1815) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1814 until 1815.
Rev Joaquin Thomas Quenet (1953-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Central America from 1977 until 1979 and Monserrat from 1979 until 1982. He currently (2012) serves as the Area Secretary for the Americas and Caribbean.
Written by Tom Quenet.
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Rev William Thomas Harris (1904-1959) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Sierra Leone from 1930 until 1959.
Probably from a Cornish publication.
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Rev William J Ward (1872-1946) served as a Primitive Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1897 until 1907.
Half yearly message (No 35, New Series No 5) of the Young People's Missionary Department of the Primitive Methodist Church.
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Regarding the work of the missionaries of the Primitive Methodist Church. August 1898 publication.
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Typescript manuscript of 'Section IV - Particular inquiries to be made concerning Missionary Candidates'.
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Syllabus of the Rue Roquepine Guild of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Paris, September 1928 to July 1929;
Postcard of 'La Cite De Carcassonne' sent by William G Allen to Ivan & Donald Hindley, 1930;
Letter from J W Hindley, Auvers Sur Oise [Paris] to Rev Dr Colin Morris [Mission House], London, sending above items, 28 June 1977.
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Gift to the Methodist Church from J W Hindley, 1977
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Typescript manuscript (3 pages) and two photographs relating to the restoration of the oldest surviving building associated with the Methodist Church in New Zealand.
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Rev William Cross (1797-1842) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in New Zealand from 1827 until 1829, their Friendly Islands District from 1829 until 1835 and Fiji from 1836 until 1842.
Rev David Cargill (1809-1843) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Friendly Islands District from 1832 until 1843.
MA Dissertation, Birkbeck College, University of London, 1977.
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Mr Leonard Swaine Pickard (1899-1952) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in education and administration (Book Steward of the Methodist Book Depot) in their Gold Coast District from 1924 until 1952.
Mr Wilfred Myles Carter (1903-1991) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and Methodist Missionary Society in education and administration in their Gold Coast District from 1930 until 1954.
Manuscript (13 pages) written in May 1977 and typed transcript (5 pages). With photograph of Pickard with his car, c1931.
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Mr Wilfred Myles Carter (1903-1991) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in education and administration in their Gold Coast District from 1930 until 1954.
Manuscript (25 pages), possibly written in 1977, and typed transcript (5 pages). With photograph of L S Pickard, probably from 1920s.
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Includes notes, manuscript works, draft & copy articles, small publications, newspaper articles and cuttings, leaflets, reports, copy & circular correspondence, etc, on: missionaries; missionary organisations and their work; the cultures and languages of people in areas of missionary activity; formation and work of independent connexions and churches, etc. Also includes a number of transcripts of missionary diaries, journals, correspondence and other autobiographical and biographical material. Although the material is predominantly mid-to-late twentieth century earlier dated items are present, including a few for the the previous century.
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Transferred from Methodist Church House, September 2000. Later transfers or deposits are individually noted.
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Rev Canon Douglas Webster (b. 1920) served as Education Secretary for the Church Missionary Society from 1953 to 1961 and was Professor of Mission at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham, from 1966 to 1969.
Typescript labelled on cover as 'An Inaugural Lecture given by The Reverend Canon Douglas Webster Professor of Mission, Selly Oak Colleges, in the George Cadbury Hall at 8pm on Tuesday 22 February 1966'.
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Acquired by the Methodist Church Oveseas Division, January 1983
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Brief typescript biography of the Wesleyan Methodist minister Marshall Claxton (1799-1832), and his son, Marshall Claxton (1813-1881), painter. Includes an account of how the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society acquired the younger Claxton's painting 'The Death of John Wesley' and provides a list of his other works of art. Researched by Rev Ian Sumner.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev Ian Summer, 8 December 1982
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Booklet produced by the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society entitled 'A Plea for Medical Missions, Unset Gems' by L.B. (20 pages, 1885).
Second Report of London Primitive Women's Foreign Missionary Society (8 pages, 1899), with insert of May meetings for 1899. Heavily annotated by Rev Pinchen.
Booklet produced by the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society entitled 'An Indian Lady's Appeal to her English Sisters on behalf of her Suffering Countrywomen' by Roopabai D- & J.H. (12 pages, before 1894).
Booklet produced by the Women's Auxiliary of Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Women's Missionary Campaign Series (No 3) entitled 'Waiting for Women Doctors. The Possibilities of a Mission Hospital' by Mar Scharlieb (12 pages, late C19th).
Booklet produced by the Primitive Methodist Church 'The Jubilee of the African Missionary Society 1870-1920' (4 pages, 1920).
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Gift to the Methodist Missionary Society from Mrs J Pinchen, widow of the Rev J Pinchen, December 1980
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Rev Richard Elliott Kendall (1915-1992) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in China from 1939 to 1951 and in Kenya from 1957 to 1967.
Typescript copy of an article which appeared in the February 1967 edition of 'World Parish'.
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Rev Dr Hugh Braham Sherlock, kt, (1905-1998) was elected the first president (1967-1972) of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas.
Conference took place in Antigua during May 1967. Includes layout of Confernce Headquarters Building and notable individuals, past and present, who have had an impact on Methodism in the region.
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Rev Dr Hugh Braham Sherlock, kt, (1905-1998) was elected the first president (1967-1972) of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas.
Leaflet explaining the creation of the autonomous Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas and providing a brief history of Methodism in the area (with illustrations).
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Printed order of memorial service for Rt Hon Sir Hugh Olliviere Beresford Wooding, TC, PC, CBE, LLD, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, 1971-1974.
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Rev William Frederick Mellor (1891-1977) served as a (Primitive) Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Nigeria from 1921 until 1974.
Typescript account, by Miss E Richardson, of her three journeys between 1955 and 1967 to Nigeria to visit her uncle, Rev William Frederick Mellor, and record his work as a Methodist missionary there.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Ms E Richardson of Pudsey, Yorkshire, December 1982
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Rev Leonard W Juby (1893-1962) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Sierra Leone on three occassions (1921-1933, 1945-1951 & 1955-1959)
Photocopy of transcript of the Rev Leonard W Juby's memoir and autobiography from the late C19th to 1961. Includes: account of his childhood and background; his local preaching; his experiences in the Royal Army Medical Corps during World War One; training at Richmond College; missionary service in Sierra Leone (evangelical, educational and medical work) as well as commenting on local events, industries, politics, etc; ministerial work in Great Britain (Isle of Wight, Manchester, Suffolk, Rugby); teaching Mende at Rhodes House in Oxford; experiences as a minister in Manchester during World War Two; family life; return visit during Sierra Leone independence in 1961.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division by Mrs Juby (via Rev R C Richards), November 1982
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Rev Stanley Walter Smith (1911-1999) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Nigeria from 1937 to 1951.
Ms Elizabeth Faith Stead (1887-1969) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a nurse and midwife in Nigeria from 1924 to 1953.
Rev William T Groves (1880-1936) served the (Primitive) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Nigeria from 1910 to 1935.
'Where the Ship Went' - a typescript account of his journey by ship from Liverpool to Calabar in Nigeria, undated (3 pages).
'Betty Stead MBE - Missionary Nurse' - corrected typescript, 1982 (5 pages).
'No Tax on Nigerian Women' - corrected typescript account of protest by Nigerian women against the Colonial government and the intercession of Rev Bill Groves, undated (6 pages).
Handwritten note of further corrections to 'Where the Ship Went' and 'No Tax on Nigerian Women', undated (1 page).
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev Stanley Smith, September 1982
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Rev Alan Taylor Dale (1902-1979) served the (United) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their North China District from 1929 to 1936.
Copies of five typed circular letters (1930-c1932) with one personal letter written by Alan Taylor Dale from the United Methodist Mission at Chu Chia Tsai and Wutingfu, North China. Circular letters (numbered 1 to 5) summarise his and his colleagues work in the region as well as his arrival and settling in, the local environment and population, politics, religious sites and visitors. The personal letter, dated 23 January 1931, to Lily and Hilda, is a letter of thanks for a gift with information on his and his colleague's activities.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mrs Alwyn Shackleton of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, 25 January 1982
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See also N/T Series 2, item 107
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Rev Geoffrey Roy Senior (1927-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Hong Kong from 1974 to 1981. He was also involved in educational work at the Chinese faculty of the Theological School in Sibu, Sarwark, from 1960 to 1962 and as Principal of the Methodist Bible School in Medan, Sumatra, from 1963 to 1967.
Typed notes by Geoffrey R Senior on a visit to China made between 27 March and 12 April 1981.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Divison by Geoffrey Senior, 23 October 1981
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Ms Muriel Hollinshed (1895-1981) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in Burma working in education from 1920 to 1951.
Papers comprise: a draft manuscript entitled 'The Outlook for Christianity in Burma' (undated, 8 pages); notes in Burmese (undated, 3 pages); extracts from her diary (undated, 4 pages); copies of two letters to Eric from MSW [Hollinshed] whilst in Pakokku, 1948; Pakokku circuit plan in Burmese (1 page); 3 Christmas cards produced in Burma.
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The group met to discuss the working relationship between the Gereja Methodist Indonesia and other church and mision organisations (including the MMS) between the 17th and 19th August 1977. Material prepared by Bishop Johannes Gultom, Bishop of the Methodist Church of Indonesia.
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Rev Ernest Sawyer (1907-1993) served the Methodist Missionary Society in their Gold Coast District from 1932 to 1953.
Rev Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury (1878-1961) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Wuchang District of China from 1902 until 1934 and as a general secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1934 until 1950.
Rev Frederick William Dodds (1884-1966) served the (Primitive) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Nigeria from 1909 to 1939. From 1939 to 1950 he served as Africa Secretary of the MMS.
Rev Harry Belshaw (1908-1953) served the Methodist Missionary Society in their Gold Coast District from 1936 to 1948.
Typescript manuscript of an address entitled 'The Gold Coast - Yesterday and Today!' given by Rev Ernest Sawyer at the Conference Missionary Meeting of 1942.
Letters from Revs H R Rattenbury, F W Dodds and Harry [Belshaw] to Saywer on his address and 'Advance in Africa', 1942.
Letter from Rev Sawyer, Hull [Yorkshire], to Rattenbury responding to comments on his address, giving an overiew to his and others work in the Ashanti mission and how said work could be further promoted, 19 July [19]42.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev Ernest Sawyer, March 1983
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Rev Dr Alfred Harold Wood (1896-1989) served the Australian Methodist Church as a missionary in Tonga from 1924 to 1937 including as Principal of Tapou College.
Rev Donald Braithwaite Childe (1901-1993) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South China District from 1930 to 1949 and as MMS Secretary for China and Burma from 1949 (adding India and Sri Lanka in 1959) until 1965.
Correspondence between Rev Dr A Harold Wood and the Rev D B Childe where the latter is discussing his experiences working in the MMS District of Lucknow & Benares in India, August to November 1979 (7 letters).
Memorandum and notes written by the Rev Childe noting his experiences working in the MMS District of Lucknow & Benares in India and asking for comments from his former colleagues there as well as passing on questions raised by Rev Dr Wood, cAugust 1979 (10 pages).
Typed up responses to Rev Childe's memorandum and notes from his former colleagues in the MMS District of Lucknow & Benares in India. Answers to questions being supplied by Rev John P Le Sueur, Mrs Lilian Russell, Rev L E Pocklington, Miss Barbara Tasker, Rev Alan G & Mrs Ida Forbes and Rev J S Moon, all October 1979 (6 items).
Summary by Rev D B Childe of the contributions of the responses of his former colleagues in the MMS District of Lucknow & Benares in India, November 1979 (8 pages).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev Gordon Shaw, February 1982
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Dialogue between a narrator and a number of individuals regarding the history of the participation of women in Methodist missionary work.
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Rev Douglas Weddell Thompson (1903-1981) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their Hunan District in China (1925-1927 & 1929-1940) and in their Bengal District in India between 1927 and 1929.
Rev Robert Wilfrid Pile (1915-2012) served the Methodist Missionary Society in their Hunan District in China (1945-1951) and in Sri Lanka from 1952 to 1958.
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Photocopy listing (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society missionaries who worked in their Lucknow and Benaras District in India between 1924 and 1980.
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Rev Dr Colin Morris (1929-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Northern Rhodesia District from 1956 to 1964 and was elected the first President of the United Church of Zambia in 1965.
Annotated copy of Rev Dr Colin Morris's report on the transition of the Methodist Missionary Society into the Overseas Division of the Methodist Church (MCOD).
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Leaflet entitled 'Wesleyan Methodist Church Rhodesia Ruwadzano Initiation Service' in English and Shona with typescript copy in English.
Leaflet entitled 'Methodist Church S. Rhodesia Zwidzidzo Zwakasarudzirwa Ruwadzano Rwabasikana'.
Typescript translation of Ruwadzano-Manyano Membership Card (including rules and prayers).
Girl Wayfarrers' Association Enrolment Card.
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Booklets produced by the MMS as part of a series of eight written by a 'Methodist Layman, who is deeply interested in Overseas Missions' briefly discussing current issues. The booklets are: 'The Weak Link in Overseas Missionary Finance' (Series CS No 1); 'Some Stupendous Figures' (Series CS No 2); 'No Chance of Concentration' (Series CS No 6); ''Then and Now!' (Series CS No 7).
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Gift to MCOD from D Jenkinson, Nottinghamshire, June 1979
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'Church of South India Madras Diocese: Report on the Survey of Central & Western Areas' (1968, 59 pages).
Programme for Madras Diocesan Youth Conference held at Madras Christian College, 29 September to 2 October 1967 (29 pages).
Leaflet entitled 'The Madras City Church Development Trust: A Plan of Joint Action for Mission in a Rapidly Growing City' (1968, 4 pages).
Small booklet entitled 'Moderator's Address to the Twelfth CSI Synod Tambaram, Madras 3rd January 1970' (10 pages).
Map labelled 'Diocese of Madras Rural Pastorates Madras & Nellore Omitted'. Marks habitations, area boundaries, railways, rivers, Pastorate centres and sub-centres. Scale 1 inch to 12 miles. After 1946.
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Cyril Osborne (1898-1969) served as Conservative Member of Parliament for the Louth constituency in Lincolnshire from 1945 to 1969.
Typescript report by Osborne of his visit to Shanghai, China, between 14th and 16th October 1960. Visits churches, attends services and questions Christians on their experiences.
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Dr Herbert Owen Chapman (1884-1972) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor in their Wuchang District of China from 1921 until 1946.
Typescript biography giving details of Chapman's professional life including: medical training and practice in Sydney, Australia; his work in private practice elsewhere in Australia; service in the Australian Army Medical Corps during World War One; service in China for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society; internment in China by the Japanese during World War Two; medical work in Bathurst, Australia, as well as continued interest in China (Australia-China Society); retirement and death.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division by the author
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Rev Amos Burnet (1857-1926) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Mysore District of India (1881-1893) and in their Swaziland and Transvaal District in South Africa (1902-1920).
Ms H M Bradford served as a General Secretary of the Women's Auxiliary of the WMMS from at least 1913 until 1930 and as its President from 1931 to 1932.
Ms Anna M Hellier served as a General Secretary of the Women's Auxiliary of the WMMS from at least 1913 until 1930.
Handwritten 'Regulations for the guidance of the Women's Christian Union of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa' (mid C19th, 5 pages).
Handwritten 'Umanyano of the Young Women Christian Association Rules and Regulations' translated into English (early C20th, 2 pages).
Handwritten account of the history of 'The Native Women's Union of the Transvaal District' by Rev Amos Burnet, 18 May 1917 (3 pages).
Handwritten notes entitled 'Rev Amos Burnet's visit to Committee June 9 1914' noting his comments to the [Women's Auxiliary] Committee [of the WMMS] on Methodism and women in the Transvaal & Swaziland District and the Rhodesia District and seeking further assistance (3 pages).
Copy of letter sent by [?Miss Bradford] to Burnet enclosing a further letter from Anna M Hellier [General Secretary of Women's Auxiliary of WMMS] re assistance supporting missionary work to women in South Africa 16 & 17 Dec 1913 (3 pages).
Copy of letter, with attachment, sent by Lillie S Haigh of Muswell Hill [London] to Miss Bradford [General Secretary of Women's Auxiliary of WMMS] regarding the 'Native Women's Prayer Union in the Transvaal & Swaziland District of South Africa', 24 Jan 1918 (2 pages).
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Typescript copy containing circuit reports for evangelical, educational and medical work.
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Rev Thomas Birch Freeman (1809-1890) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Gold Coast District from 1837 until 1857 & from 1873 until 1886.
Notes compiled, by unknown hand, possibly in part for an article in 'Now' on early Methodism in Benin and Togo, on Freeman's work and his later colleagues in West Africa.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mrs M Hall of Birkenhead, August 1983
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Report by GBH [Gwendoline Betty Hares] of her visit to Kenya during November and December in 1970 to assess Methodist work amongst women and girls.
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Rev Frank Noble (1880-1948) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Southern Rhodesia District from 1926 to 1938.
Rev Herbert Carter (1887-1967) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Southern Rhodesia District from 1914 to 1967.
Typed extracts from letters written by Rev Frank Noble when he was Chairman of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society District during a trek through Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] in June 1927 (4 pages).
Typed copy of an undated memo from Rev H Carter to Rev J H Temple re early missionary work in and around Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia, from 1914 to 1923 (1 page).
Typed copy of 'The Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. Mzinyati: How it began' by Herbert Carter, 20 June 1962 (2 pages).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mrs Barbara James of Bulowayo, Zimbabwe, June 1983
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Compiled by Charles Pelvas Geneste showing mainly the male line of the Geneste family from 1470 to 1846.
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Three typescript and photocopy appendices by an unknown author. Main work not extant.
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Probably compiled by Rev Stanley Smith.
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Gift to the the Methodist Church by the Rev Stanley Smith
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Rev Donald Braithwaite Childe (1901-1993) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South China District from 1930 to 1949 and as MMS Secretary for China and Burma from 1949 (adding India and Sri Lanka in 1959) until 1965.
Photocopy of an annotated typescript work subtitled 'What should be the policy of the MMS concerning the writing & the preservation of a record of our contribution to Christian missionary enterprise in China'. Work therefore compises notes of the statement made by Childe on 12 July 1979 in the presence of officers of the MMS including its General Secretary the Rev Dr A[lbert] Mosley, Miss Betty Hares, Rev Gordon Shaw and Mrs Ellis, Archivist, with additional information added by Childe later.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Department from the Rev Donald B Childe
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Marjorie May Hicks (1914-2010) married Rev Brian William Redhead (1915-2001) on the 30 October 1945 and subsequently served with him in the Methodist Missionary Society District of Hupeh in China until 1949.
Diary begins on 28 September 1945 describing her journey to China, her marriage and her married life to a missionary. Last dated entry is for 22 May 1946 but this is followed by notes on holidays, a Chinese wedding and 'Flitting'.
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Photocopy is faded and therefore difficult to read in places.
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Rev Stanley Vincent (1905-1998) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Burma from 1930 to 1956. He also worked for the British Foreign and Bible Society in Burma (1956-1964) and Hong Kong (1964-1969).
Photocopy of typescript commenting on the current situation and areas he visited (including the Falam, Thaan and Maingdaungphai districts).
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Photocopy of undated typescript. Attached note states 'Miss G Stemp. An extraordinary product of Kingsmead training in the 1930s! M.R.A. 1.10.73'.
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Rev Dr Henry Hudson (1864-1928) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor and minister in Mannargudi, India, from 1889 until 1899.
Dr Edward Charlton Hudson (d. 1976) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor in their Bengal District of India from 1926 to 1931. He was the son of Henry Hudson.
Annotated Typescript notes on the medical work of Dr H Hudson and his colleagues in and around Mannargudi, India, between 1889 and ?1944.
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Gift to MCOD from D Colin Dews, 8 October 1987
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Report, by GCJ [?Rev Graeme Jackson], made to the General Purposes Committee of the Methodist Church Overseas Division on 29 February 1984, regarding a visit to China by the BCC [British Council of Churches] between 2 and 17 December 1983 (10 pages). Copy of statement from Madame Chou Enlai, President of the China People's Friendship Association, on 'Party Policy towards Religion', presented at the MCOD's Asia and Pacific Advisory Group meeting, 24 January 1984.
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Rev Ernest Bruce (1866-1963) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a minister in Ghana from 1894 until his death.
Article, in two parts, which was published in 'African Challenge'.
March 1957 edition relates Rev Bruce's life story in Ghana from his childhood including his relationships with his guardian Rev Thomas Freeman jr and his father Rev Thomas Birch Freeman.
April 1957 edition continues his life story including becoming a Methodist minister and his relationship with William Wade Harris.
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Privately produced booklet compiled by the Centenary Co-ordinating Committee on Methodism in Mount Morgan, Queensland, Australia.
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Rev Marshall Hartley (1846-1928), Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society from 1888 to 1929
The Hartley family includes the Rev Marshall Hartley, Secretary of the WMMS.
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Preliminary notice entitled 'A Scheme for a Missionary Guest House', undated (4 pages);
Subscription form for management or ordinary shares in Missionary Guest Houses Limited, undated (1 sheet);
Leaflet entitled 'Solving the furlough problem for the Missionary' and concerning the Missionary Guest House, Selly Oak, Birmingham, undated (1 sheet);
Letter, dated 16 March 1964, 'To the Shareholders of Missionary Guest Houses Ltd' from CJ Bennet, Financial Secretary of the Methodist Missionary Society, on the current unviable economic position of the Missionary Guest Houses and a request for assistance (2 pages).
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Typescript on the opening in 1963 and proposed future of the Sizane Vocational Secondary School in Luveve, near Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], with a request for financial assistance. Probably written by Mrs Edna Caddick.
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Gift to MMS from Edna [Caddick], Bulawayo S Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], c1964
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Rev Richard Keith Parsons (1916-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South-west China district from 1945 to 1950 and in Sierra Leone from 1953 to 1958.
Includes an article by R Keith Parsons entitled 'The Bible Christian Mission to China'.
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Privately produced account of a visit by members of the Methodist Circuit Youth Fellowship to Sri Lanka to visit Methodist institutions and meet fellow Methodists.
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Rev William James Platt (1893-1993) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Dahomey [Benin] from 1916 to 1924 and in their French West Africa District from 1924 to 1930.
Typescript account by Platt of his return to Dahomey and comparisons with his period as a missionary there.
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Ada Poole (1907-1995) served the Methodist Missionary Society in education in their Western Nigeria District from 1935 to 1958. In 1948 she married John Allen Angus (1896-1959), who served in the same district as a missionary from 1922 to 1958.
Address given by Mrs Angus to Women's Work May meeting held at Wesley's chapel in 1953, of a tour with her husband of the circuits of the Western Nigeria District. Note states that this is an extract of an address which appears in full in the Women's Work Magazine for July 1953.
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Rev Stanley Vincent (1905-1998) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Burma from 1930 to 1956. He also worked for the British Foreign and Bible Society in Burma (1956-1964) and Hong Kong (1964-1969).
Copy of brief typescript regarding consultation on the United Church of Papua New Guinea and representatives of supporting missions.
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Rev Dr William Sangstor (1900-1962) was a (Wesleyan) Methodist minister renowned for his preaching ability and author of articles and texts on Methodism.
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Third year project entitled 'French Calvinism - a preliminary study of the period 1802 to 1938 together with essays on the Organisation and Worship of French Calvinism and the Overseas Missions of French Calvinism'. With comments made throughout the document by Perry's tutor, the Rev Henry Rack.
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Includes an article on Women's Work and Methodism in contemporary China.
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Typescript report subtitled 'A collection of statements by the Christian community on the dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas'.
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Privately produced typescript publication. Relates to Methodist Churches in Dahomey-Togo, The Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rhodesia [Zimbabwe], Sierra Leone and South Africa as well as the United Church of Zambia.
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Leaflet produced by the Methodist Church in Segbwema [Sierra Leone]
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Biography, concentrating on the Christian lives, of Mrs Ko Shui Fang and her son Timothy mainly during the 1930s and 1940s.
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Typescript account of the work of Miss Margaret Darby, a nurse at Dabou Hospital, Ivory Coast. Taken from her diary entries from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division by Margaret Darby, April 1985
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Typescript manuscript, with preface by Professor Ruth E M Bowden, containing accounts by missionaries who received training at the Royal Free Hospital. Most of the accounts are by women and they record experiences in the mission field as well as in some instances details of family life, their memories of the Royal Free Hospital and post missionary activities. Contains two appendices: an alphabetical list of 'Royal Free Missionaries' and a list of missionaries by their missionary organisation.
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Acquired by the Methodist Church Overseas Division, November 1985
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Ms Doris Vera Coombs (1903-1986), later Bates, served the (United) Methodist Missionary Society in their district of Ningpo, China, from 1928 to 1950 and in French West Africa from 1951 to 1953.
Brief general overview of Methodist missionary work in the Ningpo District (2 pages).
'Recollections of Ningpo under the Communists (1949-1950)' (7 pages).
Note suggesting notes may have been made by Doris Coombs (1 page).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from James B Bates of Wimbledon, Surrey, 20 December 1982
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Brief typed notes on Methodism in France with specific reference to the Prunier family of Fresnes [by R K Kernick] (2 pages).
Typescript manuscript entitled 'Recollections of Pasteur (Etienne Frederic) Prunier (1818-1892)' by R K Kernick (15 pages).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from R K Kernick of Cardiff, September 1985
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Amended typescript history of Protestantism (predominately Methodistism) in South India from 1706 to 1986.
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Acquired by the Methodist Church Overseas Division, September 1986
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Rev Richard Keith Parsons (1916-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South-west China district from 1945 to 1950 and in Sierra Leone from 1953 to 1958.
Includes an article by R Keith Parsons entitled 'Mission South of the Clouds' on the Methodist mission to Yunnan in South-west China.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Oversesa Division by Rev R Keith Parsons, September 1986
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Rev William Goudie (1857-1922) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as missionary in their Madras District of India from 1882 to 1906.
Handwritten sermons by the Rev William Goudie inspired by St John's Gospel: 'I am the vine ye are the branches' (15, 5); 'Make not my Father's House a House of Merchandise' (2, 16); 'Four Months & Then' (4, 35).
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division by R Thorne, November 1986
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Rev Frederick William Dodds (c1884-1966) served the (Primitive) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Nigeria from 1909 to 1939. He also served as Africa Secretary for the MMS from 1939 to 1950.
Booklet entitled 'Our Nigerian Field' by Fred W Dodds (20 pages).
Booklet entitled 'Seed Time - The Story of the Methodist Church in Idoma, 1924-1974' by Ivan Chetwynd (35 pages).
Typescript entitled 'History of the Methodist Mission in Eastern Nigeria 1893-1943', with appendix containing an alphabetical list of European missionaries since 1893 (20 pages).
Typescript entitled 'Ma Nyama' principally about a female missionary assistant (Nyama) in the Oron Circuit of Eastern Nigeria. Apparently used during a tableau at 'Saints Alive' in Hartlepool [County Durham] in 1968.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev S W Smith of Brighton, November 1986
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Photocopy of typescript of history on Emmanuel Methodist Church, Akwatia, Ghana, 1986, with copy of letter re Akwatia Society, 1963.
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Gift from the author to Methodist Church Overseas Division, 4 September 1986
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Draft typescript, by an unknown author, which is heavily annotated and corrected by hand.
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Ms Kathleen Mary Coombs (1905-1985) served the Methodist Missionary Society in their Ningpo District of China from 1934 to 1948.
Deaconess Margaret D Budd (1921-1998) served the Methodist Missionary Society in their Ningpo District of China from 1947 to 1950 and their Bengal District in India from 1950 to 1968.
Circular letter [from Kathleen Coombs], Ningpo [Ningbo, China], 20 May [19]39, describing recent work in the Shih Pu and Ziang Saen circuits, recent bombing of Ningpo [Ningbo] and health of colleagues (4 pages).
Cutting from 'The Sherwell Magazine' (United Reform, Plymouth) on talk given by Miss K Coombs on her missionary work in China, ?1940.
Cutting from 'The Methodist Recorder' entitled 'Women's Enterprise on the Mission-Field which mentions Kathleen Coombs and has a group photograph which includes her, Miss [Mabel] Freethy and [Ida] Robinson, 2 May 1940.
Photocopy of typescript containing extracts from the letters of Margaret Budd written from Ningpo [Ningbo], China, between January 1948 and October 1949 (16 pages).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division by Sister Margaret Budd, July 1985 (the material relating to Kathleen Coombs having originated from Mrs Dorothy Bates, her sister)
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Cutting of article entitled 'We Moved Every Three Years' by E Harper. Experiences as a child of a Methodist minister (3 pages).
Typescript article by E Harper entitled 'A Missionary Life was no Sinecure' being extracts from and comments on James Eacott's diary regarding his and his wife's experiences as missionaries in the Caribbean (3 pages).
Typescript article by E Harper entitled 'On the Move in Early Methodism' re Elizabeth Flamank (4 pages).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from E Harper, April 1987
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Rev Henry Ormonde McConnell (1904-1998) served the Methodist Missionary Society in Haiti from 1933 to 1970.
Photocopy of typescript by Rev H O McConnell regarding his experiences as a missionary in Haiti. Begins by explaining his lay experiences in Ireland then his reasons for going to Haiti. Matters he discusses include: religious beliefs (including Voodoo), evangelism, natural disasters, languages, colleagues, parishioners, notable local individuals, teaching (notably Laubach Method), literacy and literature, medical work, Noveau College Bird, Methodist Church in Caribbean and Americas. Concludes with some general reflections.
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Rev Clifford Vallence Cook (1906-1972) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their Hunan District of China from 1929 to 1951 and in Hong Kong from 1952 to 1954.
Rev Reginald Heber Goldsworthy (1895-1938) served the (United) Methodist Missionary Society in Yunan, China, from 1921 to 1938.
Letter from Clifford V Cook, Methodist Mission at Kiyang, Hunan, China, to Mr Jones, dated 18 Aug 1935. Agrees to take the missionary anniversary services at Hebron Church.
Typed letter from R Heber Goldsworthy, Methodist Mission at Yunnan Fu [Kunming], Yunnan, China, dated 23 January 1936. Recalls meeting in December 1934. Happy to write open letter for 'Hebron scholars'. Current itinerary of travel. Later note stating last letter from Goldsworthy before being killed by bandits in March 1938.
Envelope addressed to Mr G H Jones of Bedminster, Bristol.
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mr K Jones of Bristol, November 1986
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Article on Edward Francis Small (1891-1958), briefly a missionary agent for the WMMS in The Gambia between 1917 and 1918, who subequently spent three decades involved in public affairs in The Gambia.
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Gift from David Perfect to Methodist Church Overseas Division, July 1990
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Rev Samuel Broadbent (1794-1867) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Sri Lanka from 1815 to 1820 and in South Africa from 1820 to 1826.
Dr Lewis Broadbent (1823-1891) was a doctor in Bamburgh, Northumberland, for 35 years.
Comprising newspaper cuttings, articles, correspondence, etc, relating to Rev Samuel Broadbent and his son Dr Lewis Broadbent. Includes:
Newspaper cuttings relating to Dr Lewis Broadbent being the 'first white baby of the Transvaal', c1938;
Booklet entitled 'Centenary Memorial to the Rev Samuel Broadbent, Pioneer Missionary in the Transvaal, 1823', 14 December 1922;
Typescript manuscript being a brief sketch of the life and work of Rev Samuel Broadbent, mid C20th;
Manuscript entitled 'Unscriptural Marriages and their Ruinous consequences. A Sermon on Genesis V 1-6 by Samuel Broadbent', mid C19th.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Miss F Farrar of Halifax, Yorkshire, October 1987
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Booklet entitled 'Methodist Church Jamaica District British West Indies. Women's Work' c1946.
Leaflet entitled 'Methodist Deaconess Convocation British West Indies Kingston, Jamaica 29th October - 4th November 1951'.
Leaflet commemorating West Indies Methodist bicentenary 1760-1960.
Leaflet entitled 'Bridge of Goodwill. Story of Operation Friendship in Kingston, Jamaica', 1960s.
Leaflet, order of service and luncheon invitation for 25th anniversary of Methodist Deaconess Convocation in Western Area, April 1966.
Leaflet, order of services and hymn sheet re inauguration services for the Conference of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, May-June 1967.
Leaflet for Conference of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas in Antigua 18 May 1968.
Booklet for thanksgiving service at Lyndhurst Methodist Church, Kingston, Jamaica, 25 May 1975.
Booklet entitled 'Lyndhurst Methodist Women's League Golden Jubilee 1927-1977', 27 February 1977.
Itinerary and newspaper article on 50 years of Deaconess work in Jamaica, 1978.
Handwritten list of 'West Indian Books', undated.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mary Dawson, November 1987
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Order of service, invitations and leaflet on golden jubilee of Meston College of Education, Madras [Chennai], India, 1987.
College magazines covering 1985-1987 entitled 'Meston Flashes', Flash 12 & 13, 1986-1987.
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Bishop Ephraim S Alphonse (1896-1995) served as a Methodist minister in Panama (particularly amongst the Valiente Indians) from 1926 until his death.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev Dr Dunn Wilson, January 1988
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Clara Foster Standfast (b 1866) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in education in their Gold Coast District from 1897 to 1903. She married Rev Ellis on 10 September 1896.
Rev Henry J Ellis (1866-1899) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Lagos District from 1892 to 1897 and their Gold Coast District from 1897 to 1899.
Typed notes giving an overview of her childhood in Somerset, marriage to Wesleyan Methodist minister Henry J Ellis, charity work in London, missionary experiences in WMMS Lagos and Gold Coast districts, husband's unexpected death, founding of Girls' Boarding School at Cape Coast [Ghana].
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Given to the Methodist Missionary Society by Mr F L Bartels, August 1960
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Corrected typescript of extracts, dating from 1896 to 1930, taken from publications on Methodist missionary work in West Africa (Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast). Extracts from publications including Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society annual report, Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society helpers' & prayer manual, 'Work and Workers in the Mission Field' and 'The Foreign Field'.
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Corrected typescript copy (?proof) of a play entitled 'The Opening of the Door. An Episode of the Kasenga Mission South Central Africa. A Missionary Play for 12 (to 20) Seniors and 8 (or 12) Juniors by Phil J Fisher. London: The Holborn Publishing House 1924'.
Corrected typescript copy (?proof) of a play entitled 'The Island Heritage. Episodes from the Missionary History of Fernando Poo, West Africa. A play for young people by Phil J Fisher ... London: The Holborn Publishing House 1926'. With sheet music for the prelude to said play.
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A published copy of 'Island Heritage...' is available (MMSL AF-EQ1318 ).
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Rev William James Platt (1893-1993) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Dahomey [Benin] from 1916 to 1924 and in their French West Africa District from 1924 to 1930.
Rev Dr Paul Ellingworth (1931-) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Dahomey Togo District from 1957 to 1961 & Cameroun from 1964 to 1967.
Handwritten notes of Ellingsworth's questions and Platt's responses regarding the latter's missionary work.
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Rev Richard Ridgill (1822-1898) served as a Methodist minister in South Africa from 1845 to 1898, principally in the Cape District.
Rev Thomas Laidman Hodgson (1787-1850) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in South Africa from 1821 to 1850.
Typescript manuscript recording Ridgill's early life in England and his missionary and ministerial work in South Africa, including in Namaqualand. With brief biographical note on Rev T L Hodgson.
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Rev Samuel Pollard (1864-1915) worked as a missionary for the BIble Christians and United Methodist Missionary Society (as well as in close association with the China Inland Mission) in Yunnan, China - particular amongst the Miao - from 1886 until 1915.
Typescript article on Sam Pollard and missionary work in Yunnan, China.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from author, December 1987
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Dr George H Pearson (1891-1975) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor in their Hunan District in China from 1920 to 1951, their Gold Coast District from 1962 to 1963, their Hong Kong District from 1963 to 1964, Kenya from 1964 to 1965 and Nigeria from 1965 to 1966.
Copy of an article by Dr Huang Chi-shuang which appeared in the 'Shaoyung Daily News' with a typescript English translation and brief note on its background.
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Acquired by the Methodist Church Overseas Division, July 1988
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Methodist Church of Australasia in-house publication being a series of reports on missionary work in Tonga, particularly with regard to education.
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Typescript explaining how to prepare, present and follow up on the film entitled 'Dabou Hospital'. With timelines for history and church history in the Ivory Coast as well as brief notes on its geography and beliefs, ?1969.
Card depicting stylised version of tree with leaves and roots plus caption 'The Leaves of the Tree are for the Healing of the Nations', undated.
Photograph of David Young [architect] and colleagues, undated.
Photographs depicting queue of outpatients and architect's drawing of Dabou Hospital, undated.
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Rev David Howard Smith (1900-1987) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their North China District from 1925 to 1948.
Photocopies of obituaries and CVs with copies of two photographs: one taken in 1924 whilst the other about 1984.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from the nephew of Dr Smith, Dr G H Smith, September 1987
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Rev David Arthur Rees (1853-1934) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Mysore District from 1876 to 1926.
Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian Nationalist, non-violent activist, lawyer.
Copy of transcript of an interview between Rev Rees and Mr Gandhi discussing the situation of Indians in the Transvaal in South Africa, the Registration Act, passive resistance, imprisonment and voluntary registration. With transcript copy of letter, dated 1908, from Gandhi returning corrected manuscript and offering to keep Rees updated on Indians in South Africa.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mr & Mrs C M Rees of Ingham, Lincolnshire
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Photocopy of declaration produced by the 1950 Methodist Conference.
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Rev William Turnbull Balmer (1866-1928) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Sierra Leone from 1901 to 1909 & 1914 to 1921 and their Gold Coast District from 1909 to 1911.
Rev Hugh Ernest Thomas (1915-1992) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Sierra Leone from 1939 to 1946 & 1977 to 1981, The Gambia from 1948 to 1949 and their Gold Coast District from 1949 to 1967.
Photocopy of a corrected typescript manuscript on Balmer's life and work probably written by Rev H E Thomas. With list of Balmer's publications for Atlantis Press.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev H E Thomas, March 1989
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Douglas Maw (1927-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in the Ivory Coast from 1954 to 1961 & 1988 to 1992, France from 1962 to 1963 and Benin from 1963 to 1974.
Printed circular letters, sent from mainly Divo but also Grand Lahou and Dabou in the Ivory Coast, summarising Maw's and his colleagues work and asking for prayers to be said for specific elements of their work.
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Rev John Robinson Temple (1885-1948) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South China District from 1910 to 1926. He also worked for the British Foreign and Bible Society from 1931 to 1948.
Ruth Margaret Barrowclough (d.1981) married John Temple in 1915 and assisted him in missionary work from her marriage until 1926.
Rev David Gifford Temple (1923-), son of the John & Ruth Temple, served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their North Rhodesia District from 1950 to 1966.
Manuscript typescript article, including extracts and images from missionary publications, on John R & Ruth Temple's missionary work in China between 1910 and 1923, by DGT [David Gifford Temple].
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from David & Judith Temple of Chislehurst, Kent
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Mrs Janet Sutch-Pickard (1944-) served the Methodist Missionary Society in education in Nigeria from 1969 to 1975 and subsequently as editor of its publications 'Now', 'Facets' and the prayer handbook.
Ms Eva Christina Mair (1912-1996) served the Methodist Missionary Society in education in its Hyderabad District from 1938 to 1955.
Ms Edith Margaret James (1920-2009) served the Methodist Missionary Society in education in its Hyderabad District from 1947 to 1961.
Letter from Mrs Ebenezer, Principal of the Eva Mair Technical Institute, Secunderabad, India, to Jan Pickard, Editor, MCOD, London, providing the documents listed below and a correction to an article in 'Now' regarding Wesley Girls' High School, 17 July 1986.
Typescript manuscript entitled 'History of Wesley Girls' High School' by Ms Dorothy Ebenezer, undated (5 pages). The school is in Secunderabad, India.
Cutting from magazine praising work of Miss Mair and Miss E. M. James, both missionaries involved in education in Secunderabad, India, undated (4 pages).
Typescript manuscript entitled 'Church of South India Eva Mair Technical Institute Secunderabad, A.P' by its Principal and Correspondent [?Ms Dorothy Ebenezer], ?1984 (4 pages).
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mrs Ebenezer, Principal of the Eva Mair Technical Institute, Secunderabad, India
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Copyright held by Church of South India
Catalogued
Two letters, dated 16 & 23 July [19]76, from Rev H K Moulton to Allen [N Allen Birtwhistle] regarding the Moulton family's involvement in the translation of the Bible into Tongan. He encloses photocopies from the British and Foreign Bible Society of an article entitled 'The Methodist Church and the Bible Society' with annotated lists of individual Methodists who translated the Bible and into what language.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from J A Vickers, April 1988
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Puposes; and British Foreign and Bible Society
Catalogued
Extracts from minutes of the Central Committee [of the Methodist Church Overseas Division], articles in 'Facets' & 'Now' and cuttings from 'The Methodist Recorder' on the creation of the Women's Network of the Methodist Church and its first president, Mrs Rosemary Wass. The Women's Network replaced Women's Work and the Women's Fellowship.
Open
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Catalogued
Draft typed manuscript by Paul Ellingworth entitled 'Methodism on the Slave Coast 1842-1870'.
Draft typed article, probably by Paul Ellingworth, entitled 'The Gestation of a Mission' about the Methodist mission to Dahomey.
Open
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Copyright held by author
See also MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 7 (fiche 317) for the published article.
Catalogued
Emily Mary Ewins (1886-1973) served the Women's Association of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in education in their Wuchang District, China, from 1909 to 1934. In 1914 she married the Methodist missionary Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury (1878-1961).
Typescript containing transcriptions of letters written by Emily Ewins to her family from Hankow [Wuhan] between 15 October and 10 December 1911 regarding the events unfolding around her and a letter from Wuchang [Wuhan] on 3 November 1912 explaining circumstances a year later. Edited with preface by HMR [Harold Morley Rattenbury].
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Gift to the Methodist Church Overseas Division from Rev Morley Rattenbury, February 1990
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev Richard Nelson Ludlow (1904-1999) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Nigeria from 1929 to 1952 & 1972 to 1973.
Dr Joyce Rewcastle Woods (1905-2006) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor in Nigeria from 1931 to 1953 and 1972 to 1973. She married Rev Ludlow in 1933.
Corrected typescript manuscript concentrating on the period he and his wife served in the Ilorin Circuit and Borgu Mission, Nigeria.
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Gift from author to Methodist Church Overseas Division, July 1994
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev Christopher Hutchinson (1902-1963) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in Nigeria from 1928 to 1939
Diary begins with his arrival in Nigeria on 10 February 1928 and ends in 1934. Diary includes information on preaching, infrastructure, visiting local area (including Ikot Ekpone and Igumale), women's anniversary celebrations, his ordination and his interaction with local people.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mrs Anne Hutchinson of Durham, 15 November 1984
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Copyright held by Mrs Hutchinson
Catalogued
Rev Frank Colyer Sackett (1876-1953) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Hyderabad District of India from 1901 to 1945.
Three printed circular letters from the Hyderabad District Methodist Mission:
'Medak Mission News. An Account of the Anti-Cholera Work Done in Kowdipalli. March 8th to 13th 1940.' Written by B D Ebenezer, May 1940;
'Faminine in Hyderabad', by Rev F Colyer Sackett, August 1940;
'Medak Mission News. The Ravages and the Conquest of Cholera', by Rev E L Ananta Rao & Rev F Colyer Sackett, October 1940.
Numbers 1 to 3 of 'Jottings from the Leper Hospital, Dichpalli, by F Colyer Sackett & L Sackett, c1940.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division by Rev Noel R Brewis, July 1983
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev John Foster (1897-1973) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their South China District from 1922 to 1937. From 1937 until 1947 Foster was Professor of Church History at Selly Oak College, Birmingham.
Typescript of a broadcast talk by Professor John Foster on 17 October 1946 on missionary training at Selly Oak, Birmingham. With appendix listing the Selly Oak Colleges, their denomination and date of foundation.
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Copyright holder unknown
Catalogued
Alice Lenshina (d.1978) was a Christian religious leader who founded the Lumpa Church in Zambia during the 1950s.
Rev Dr Colin Morris (1929-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Northern Rhodesia District from 1956 to 1964 and was elected the first President of the United Church of Zambia in 1965.
'Statement of the UCZ 1965' by Rev D M Musunsa, Synod Clerk, United Church of Zambia, summarising the first five months of the newly formed Church. Lusaka, 18 May 1965.
'Suggested Formula for Restoring Alice Lenshina to Membership of the United Church of Zambia' by Colin M Morris, President, United Church of Zambia, c1965
Open
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Copyright held by United Church of Zambia
Catalogued
Xundian Methodist Church [Yunnan, China] spring income and expenses book, compiled by Jickeng Zhao, 12 April 1937.
Zion Church at Yunnanfu [Kunming, Yunnan, China] expenses and salaries book, compiled by Xiaochuan Li, 30 April 1937.
Zion Church at Yunnanfu [Kunming, Yunnan, China] expenses and salaries book, compiled by Xiaochuan Li, 30 May 1937.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mr Arnold Pacey of Oxford, 18 August 1983
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev Walter James Noble (1879-1962) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their South Ceylon District from 1900 to 1922 and then as one of their mission secretaries from 1922 until 1947.
Incomplete typed journal of [Walter James] Noble's secretarial visit to the missions of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in India and Ceylon [Sri Lanka] during late 1928 and early 1929. He comments on evangelical, educational and medical work in the following districts: Bengal, Lucknow & Benares, Mysore, Trichinopoly and Madras in India as well as North Ceylon and South Ceylon.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev Alan Taylor Dale (1902-1979) served the (United) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their North China District from 1929 to 1936.
Printed letter (No 8) from Alan T Dale at Wutingu, Shantung, North China. Remarks on the death of Mr [Frank Bailey] Turner, illness of Mr [Fred] Heslop from Malta fever as a result of which Dale spens a month a T'angshan, fall of Funing, death of Heslop's child, Miss Williamson unwell, death of Rev Chang Tsun Shih, location of various colleagues, Voluntary Workers' School, summer retreat.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
See also N/T Series 2, item 11
Catalogued
Rev Donald S Ching (d.1968) served as a Methodist Missionary Society missionary in French West Africa (1933-1938), their Leeward Islands District (1938-1939, 1942-1949 & 1964-1968), their Honduras District (1951-1956) and in Jamaica (1956-1960).
Rev William Towler (d.1853) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Haiti from 1837 to 1853 and in the Bahamas in 1853.
Letters (some copy) written by Donald S Ching, Bude, Cornwall, in July 1962, to a number of individuals regarding research on William Towler and ensuing publications through the Methodist Historical Society of the Western Area.
Open
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Copyright holder unknown
Catalogued
Rev Francis Moon (1831-1902) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the Bahamas from 1854 to 1902.
Information, mainly obtained from parish records and the census, on Rev Moon and his family.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr Paul E Banko, Alabama, USA, May 2008
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
George Rose (b.1791) may have also served as a United Methodist minister in Jamaica (supernumerary in 1862).
Typed notes on George Rose, a veteran of the battle of Waterloo. Also notes on black serviceman in British armed forces during the late C18th and early C19th. He may also have been a United Methodist minister in Jamaica in later life. Notes compiled by Mr John D Ellis as part of his MA entitled 'The Visual Representation, Role and Origin of Black Soldiers in the British Army during the Early Nineteenth Century'.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from John D Ellis
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Three newspaper cuttings depicting Malaysian Methodist Youth fellowships (Tamil and North Malayan) and the Wesley Methodist Church at Wesley Hill [Kuala Lumpuar, Malaysia], 1951.
Eight programmes of service for the Wesley Methodist Church at Kuala Lumpur, October-December 1951.
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Deposited at SOAS by Christine Elliott Hall, Secretary Asia/Pacific, World Church Office, Methodist Church, June 2001
Gift to the Methodist Church from Mrs Ena Miller of Rugby, May 2001
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Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Rev George Lowe (1857-1930) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in the Gambia from 1882 to 1884 and their Transvaal & Swaziland District in South Africa from 1884 to 1925.
Three brief typescript articles, entitled 'Uncle George', on the life and work of the WMMS missionary Rev George Lowe, wriiten by his nephew Harry Lowe.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr Harry Lowe of Devon, November 2012
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Postcard entitled 'Village School Children, Hyderabad' depicting six Indian children. Photo by Rev B Pratt.
Postcard entitled 'Glorious First Born' depicting a Chinese boy who has had treatment at the 'Hospital of Universal Love', Hankow [Hankou, China]. Photo by Rev J S Helps.
Postcard depicting interior of church in Wuchang Circuit, China.
Postcard entitled 'Boarding Boys of Wesleyan Boys' Home Secunderabad' depicting a group of young Indian boys at a meal with the Australian minister Rev E T Leslie. Photo by Rev B Pratt, c1905.
Postcard entitled 'A Class of Village Evangelists in Training in the Hyderabad District' depicting a group of Indian men and women. Photo taken by Rev C W Posnett.
Open
Transferred by Barabara Negus, Deputy Administrator, Methodist Church House, October 2002
Purchased by the Rev White and given to the Methodist Church, October 2002
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Copy of an article by Lynne Mayers entitled 'The Relationship between the Christian Churches and those of other faiths in Trinidad 1970-1993' [1994].
Handwritten notes compiled by Lynne Myers including: lists of (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society missionaries who were stationed in Trinidad and in Tobago, annual membership returns for Trinidad and Tobago and a timeline for Methodism in Trinidad and in Tobago (1990s).
Papers and leaflets on ecumenical work in Trinidad & Tobago (1990s).
References to where Trinidad and Tobago are mentioned in (Wesleyan) Methodist missionary publications (e.g. annual reports, Kingdom Overseas, Foreign Field, etc) and photocopies of some of those referenced articles, news items, images, etc.
Publications: 'Hindu Trinidad Religion Ethnicity and Socio-Economic Change' by Stephen Vertovec (1992); 'The Pandits in Trinidad - A Study of a Hindu Institution' by Ashream B Maharaj (1991); 'Collaboration for Ecumenical Planning and Action in the Caribbean Network Annual Report 1991'; A Workbook for Mission in Renewal of The Church - Laity on the Frontlines of the Church' by Michael Ramcharan.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Lynne Mayers of Gloucestershire, August 2007
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Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Josephine Christie Ludlow (1904-1983) - daughter of Rev Charles & Lucy Cape - resident in and around Benares [Varansi, India] from 1904 to 1916 and 1919 to 1922.
Rev Charles Phillips Cape (1874-1945) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Lucknow and Benares District in India from 1898 to 1916 and from 1919 to 1922.
Edited typed transcript of two exercise books written by Josephine Christie Ludlow (nee Cape) on 28 February 1943. Recounts her childhood experiences of growing up, before the First World War, as the daughter of missionary parents working in the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Lucknow and Benares District in India.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Dr Brian Beck, Cambridge, January 2014
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Annotated typescript translation of a report compiled in 1929 by Rev Tshai Yung [of the Presbyterian Church of England's mission in Taiwan]. Remarks on the impact of Communism on the daily life of the mission and evangelism in particular.
Open
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Copyright holder unknown
Catalogued
[Rev Donald Braithwaite Childe (1901-1993) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South China District from 1930 to 1949 and as MMS Secretary for China and Burma from 1949 (adding India and Sri Lanka in 1959) until 1965].
Lecture gives overview of Methodist Missionary Society work in Chinese communities within South-East Asia in the late 1950s. Author is probably Rev Donald Childe.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Norman Palmer Morris (1916-2009) served the Methodist Missionary Society in educational work in The Gambia (1940-1941) and in their Western Nigeria District from 1941 to 1953. Later he was the Methodist Chaplain at Cambridge (1955-1962) and Edinburgh (1975-1979) universities.
Photocopy of typed manuscript (with photographs) recording his experiences as an educational missionary in Nigeria.
Open
Gift to the Methodist Church by John Morris, via the Rev Dr Albert Mosley, March 2010
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Report compiling comments on evaluations forms returned by members of the British Methodist Church regarding exchanges with overseas Methodist Churches, etc, since 1987.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Dr James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey (1875-1927) served as assistant vice-principal at the Prince of Wales College, Achimota, Gold Coast [Ghana] from 1924 to 1927.
Rev Charles Kingsley Williams (1885-1967) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Madras District in India (1911-1926) and in their Gold Coast District (1926-1940) serving as assistant vice-principal at the Prince of Wales College, Achimota.
Open
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Catalogued
Printout of article, with odd correction.
Open
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Copyright held by author
Published in 'Methodist History' (34:3, April 1996)
Catalogued
William Binnington Boyce (1804-1889) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in South Africa (1829-1843) and in their Van Diemen's Land District (1845-1854) in Australia.
Printed letter written by William B Boyce in Sydney, Australia, on 14th September 1854. Boyce outlines his proposals for the creation of a separate connexion for Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
A recollection, probably by a missionary, of the experience of pot making in Kenya before 1952.
Open
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Catalogued
As amended by the provincial synod of 1936. Indicates, in order of urgency, work to be undertaken and its cost.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev Joseph Clifford Culshaw (1910-1999) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Bengal District in India from 1934 to 1948.
Dr James Russell Macphail (1901-1968) served the Church of Scotland as a missionary in India from 1924 to 1968.
Letter from [Joseph Culshaw], Sarenga, Bankura, Bengal [India], to Dr [James Russell] Macphail, asking for assistance with Santali and in particular the form of 'barae' and St John's Gospel 21, 2 & 12, 11 April [19]47.
Macpahil's reply, from the Church of Scotland Mission at Bamdah (near Simultala) [India], 19 April [19]47.
Open
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Catalogued
Rev John White (1866-1933) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Transvaal & Swaziliand District (1892-1893) and then their newly created Rhodesia District (1894-1932).
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Typed transcription of minutes including tabular information and reports.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Catherine Pickles (1898-1994), later Moscrop, served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in education in their Central China District (1926-1927) and then in Sri Lanka (1927-1929).
Typescript copy (with corrections) of her experiences working in the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's Central China District as a teacher.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev Frederick Walter James Cottrell (1900-1986) served the (United) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Yunnan, China, from 1923 to 1942.
Describes his family background and childhood, his work as a missionary in Yunnan, China, and his departure due to his wife's illness.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
Apparently there is a copy at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, as well.
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev Eric Tomlin Barton (1906-1991) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their North China District from 1933 until 1950.
Corrected typescript.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Dr George H Pearson (1891-1975) served (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor in their Hunan District in China (1920-1951); Gold Coast District (1962-1963); Hong Kong (1963-1964); Kenya (1964-1965) and Nigeria (1965-1966).
Catherine Mary Chisholm (1892-1961) accompanied her husband (married 7 September 1918) to China and assisted him with his work.
Probably written by Mrs George H Pearson [nee C. Mary Chisholm]. Records her and her husband's experiences prior to and during their departure from China at the request of the Chinese authorities.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Ms Doris Vera Coombs (1903-1986), later Bates, served the (United) Methodist Missionary Society in their district of Ningpo, China, from 1928 to 1950 and in French West Africa from 1951 to 1953.
Corrected and annotated copy of Bates account of being interned by the Japanese between 1942 and 1945.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Dr Annie Rothwell (1898-1993) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a doctor in their Wuchang Dictrict, China, (1923-1935 ) and their North China District (1937-1948)
Typed transcript of Mary Rothwell's diary (the husband of John Rothwell, Alderman [later Mayor] of Salford) of her journey to attend their daughter's wedding, Dr Annie Rothwell, in Hankow [Hankou], China. Describes them visiting North America, Japan and China during 1925.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
Given to the Rev Geoffrey R Senior by Rev Rosemary Dale, June 1999.
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Copyright held by Rev Rosemary Dale
Catalogued
Charis May Mayo (1916-1997), later Bates, served the Methodist Missionary Society in education in their South West China District from 1945 to 1951.
Transcript of letter, dated 13 October [19]46, written from Chaotung [Zhaotong] mentioning the health of her colleagues, her educational work, the Flowery Miao and the local environment (9 pages).
Letter, dated 7 February [19]50, written from Kunming describing the impact of the communist revolution in the area. Letter is in part annotated for intended publication (10 pages).
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
Given to the Rev Geoffrey R Senior by Charis M Mayo, May 1987
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev Donald Braithwaite Childe (1901-1993) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their South China District from 1930 to 1949 and as MMS Secretary for China and Burma from 1949 (adding India and Sri Lanka in 1959) until 1965.
Typed transcripts of his two diaries recording his work as a missionary in South China and his experiences of internment by the Japanese.
First diary (November 1938 until December 1941) covers the period from his return from furlough until news of the attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese (148 pages).
Second diary (December 1941 until February 1946) continues from the last diary and includes his internment by the Japanese and his eventual return home (222 pages).
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Geoffrey R Senior (via Dr John A Vickers), September 2011.
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev Antony S Bennett (fl 1920-1966) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Sri Lanka from 1954 to 1958
Rev Lewis James Julian (1926-1999) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Sri Lanka from 1953 to 1988
Brief notes (2 pages), perhaps written in 1963, regarding property, evangelism, local taxes, etc, [in or near Trincomalee Methodist Church] between 1906 and 1916.
Typed memoir (7 pages) entitled 'Between the Jungle and the Sea' possibly written by Tony Bennett, probably late 1950s. Describes Trincomalee including dockyards and Royal Navy, Christianity in the area (particularly Methodism), life of a missionary and his family, services and sunday school, Royal Navy school for children, lay contributions.
Envelope which held material sent to Rev L J Julian at Trincomalee in August 1963.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Mary Julian (via Rev John R Pritchard)
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev John Poxon (1910-2001) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their Honduras District (from 1932 to 1933) and then in Jamaica until 1976 (from 1967 under the auspices of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas).
Typescripts (9 pages) of a lecture [given to the fourth Assembly of the Methodist Conference of the Caribbean and Americas by Rev Mr John Poxon] entitled 'Methodism in the Caribbean with particular reference to unity' .
Promotional text (2 pages) on above lecture explaining Poxon's survey of 200 years of Methodist witness incorporating education, evangelism, unity and ecumenicalism.
Open
Transfer from Peter Forsaith, curator of the the Wesley Historical Society library and art collections, Oxford Brookes University, November 2003
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev John Poxon (1910-2001) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their Honduras District (from 1932 to 1933) and then in Jamaica until 1976 (from 1967 under the auspices of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas).
Material relating to Lyndhurst Church, Jamaica, and the Rev John Poxon who served there. Papers include Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas statements of thanks for his service, 1976; photograph of ?synod; cuttings, service sheets, etc re dedictaion of Church Hall, 1938-1939; newspaper cuttings relating to various church events (e.g, harvest festival); article on 'The birth of Lyndhurst Church, 1956; photograph of sunday school attendees; copies of 'Lyndhurst News' 1931-1932.
Open
Transfer from Peter Forsaith, curator of the the Wesley Historical Society library and art collections, Oxford Brookes University, November 2003
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Various copyright
Catalogued
Cuttings from following newspapers: 'The Rhodesia Herald' 31 March 1978, 'The Rhodesia Herald' 1 April 1978, 'The Chronicle' 1 April 1978.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms Audrey Hebb of Hull
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Various copyright
Catalogued
Rev J Arthur Desmond Gilliland (1921-2008) served the Methodist Missionary Society in their Hupeh District in China from 1946 to 1950 and then in Hong Kong from 1954 to 1962
With copy of covering letter (October 2002) from Gilliland to Rev Dr Li Ping Kwong, President of the Methodist Church in Hong Kong.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from author, January 2003
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Gilliland's 1989 thesis entitled 'Brief encounter. The meeting of Methodist missionaries and the people of the Hupeh province in central China, 1862-1951' (MMSL CH231).
Similiar but shorter article by Frank Evison in Kingdom Overseas, Feb 1966 (MMSL X11).
Catalogued
Rev George Gillard Huxtable (1832-1909) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their West Indies districts (notably in the Bahamas) from 1855 to 1870 and afterwards in Canada for the Methodist Church there for 37 years.
With printed photograph of him and typed transcript of his obituary from Montreal Methodist Confernce of 1910.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Dave Burnett of Alberta, Canada, January 2004
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Out of copyright
Catalogued
Typed account of visiting area where William Simpson's great grandfather, William Overend Simpson, and his grandfather, William Burton Simpson, worked as Wesleyan Methodist missionaries in the mid to late nineteenth century.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from the authors, March 2004
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Copyright held by authors
Catalogued
Dr Charles Andrew Pearson (1921-1997) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a medical missionary in their Hupeh District of China from 1946 to 1951 and then in Western Nigeria from 1952 to 1985.
Circulated papers, typed and handwritten notes on the impact of the Communist Revolution on Christians in China. Includes accounts of discussions with government officials as well as statements and proposals made by Christian leaders and The National Christian Council of China regarding their situation.
Items collected by Dr C Andrew Pearson - a couple may have been authored by him.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Jean M Pearson of Bury St Edmunds, August 2004
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Rev Robert Dixon (1854-1939) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in The Gambia from 1879 to 1882 and again from 1905 to 1909.
Transcriptions of letters - from the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive - written by Dixon from Epworth House, Padiham [Lancashire], Bingley [Yorkshire] and Bathurst, Gambia, between July 1905 and November 1908. Letters discuss his preparations prior to departing for missionary work in The Gambia and then comments on his experiences once there including impact of Islam, language skills needed, lack of 'native agents', attempts to increase size of the mission, education, etc.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr John Holt, June 2005
MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/FBN 7
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev William Broadbent Luddington (1843-1888) served the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equitoreal Guinea] between 1873 & 1874, 1879 & 1881 and 1887 & 1888.
Ruth Hannah Luddington (née Mitchell) (1842-1888) served alongside her husband in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equitoreal Guinea].
Summaries of letters written by Rev & Mrs Luddington (although mainly the latter) to their daughter, Minnie, from December [18]86 until April 1888. Discuss family matters, travel in Europe, journey to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equitoreal Guinea], missionary work, their colleagues, local population, weather, public and private health, etc.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs M Knight, November 2004
With descendants
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by donor
Catalogued
Peregrine Pickle (c1782-1829) was a crown slave who worked as a sailmaker in Barbados and Antigua and converted to Methodism in 1821
Incorporating timeline of Pickle's life compiled by Robert Glen, image of 'Capture of Slave-Ship' after J Noel Paton and article abridging Pickle's account of his life (Wesleyan Missionary Notices, 1821 pp 947-949).
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Prof Robert Glen, University of New Haven, August 2005
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The document the article is based on, 'Short account of Peregrine Pickle, employed at English Harbour, Antigua', is available within the (Wesleyan) MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/FBN 3.
Catalogued
Rev Frank Bancroft Wilby (1903-1976) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their West Indies District as follows: Honduras (1926-1927), Trinidad (1929) St Vincent (1930-1934), Grenada (1934-1938), Barbados (1938-1940), Nevis (1942-1943) and St Marteen (1958-1962).
Typescript account of Frank Wilby's life by his son, Peter Wilby, including family background, health problems, family events, missionary work in British Honduras [Belize], Trinidad, St Vincent, Grenada, Barbados, Nevis and St Maarten. His work in home districts (notably Cornwall, Yorkshire and Devon) is also documentated. Mention of impact of Second World War on Home and Overseas work.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from the author, October 2005
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Rev James Barnett Foster (1865-1940) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society on the island of Barbados from 1888 to 1891 and the island of St Thomas from 1891 to 1897.
Sets out terms and conditions of his service with the Reformed Dutch Church on St Thomas [U.S. Virgin Islands]. Transcription from original by his granddaughter, Mary Pickard (née Foster).
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr Antony Pickard, January 2007
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Copyright held by Pickford family
Catalogued
Ivy Miriam Taylor (1914-1988) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a nurse in Nigeria from 1943 to 1958 and then in Kenya from 1965 to 1966.
Elsie Mary Taylor (1908-1937) served the Methodist Missionary Society in education in Nigeria from 1933 to 1938.
'Log of Miss Ivy E Taylor's 1st Trip to Nigeria' (50 pages), mid C20th, being edited extracts from her letters. Numbered 1-55 but missing pages 28-31 & 36. Begins with her departure from London on 24th March 1943 and ends on 25 February [19]45 at Ikot Ekepene [Nigeria]. Describes journey by sea, first impressions of Nigeria, colleagues, work routine including visiting out-patients and local communities, maternity work, status of twins, diseases and ailments encountered, religious services, leisure time, weather, learning Efik, etc. Letters principally written from Ikot Epene and Ituk Mban.
Letter (18 July 1937) from Elsie [Taylor], Girls School, Ovim [Nigeria] to Doris - congratulations on her wedding news, changes at school, disapproval of 'witchcraft', new colleague like her sister Ivy, gift for wedding.
'In Memoriam' on Elsie M Taylor from 'Women's Work' October [1937].
Printed circular letter, August 1937, from parents of Elsie Mary Taylor re appreciation for the sympathy shown to them since their daughter's death. Addressed to 'Doris'.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Richard Bartholomew, December 2003
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Information complied on the three Wesleyan Methodist missionary ships: 'Triton' (1839-1846), 'John Wesley' (1846-1865) and 'John Wesley II' (1866-1881) by Rev C Warner Crumb and colleagues.
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Transferred to SOAS Archives by Heather Carson, November 2004
Gift to Heather Carson, curator, Museum of Methodism, from Rev Charles Warner Crumb, 2004
No copying permitted
Various copyrights but some material out of copyright as well
Catalogued
Rev Dr William Platt (1893-1993) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Dahomey [Benin] from 1916 to 1924 and in their French West Africa District from 1924 to 1930. He then resigned from the missionary society and worked for the British and Foreign Bible Society from 1930 to 1961.
Margaret Ann Collier (1931-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as an educational missionary in their Ivory Coast District from 1959 to 1982.
Items collected or created by Margaret Collier.
'Journal des Missions Evangéliques' (Feb 1965) which includes an article (pp 44-47) mentioning Platt being honoured for his work in the Ivory Coast.
'Transcription of a conversation between Dr W J Platt and Margaret Collier on August 24th 1981' discussing his work for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in West Africa.
'Notes concerning a conversation between Dr W J Platt and Margaret Collier on August 24th 1981'. Typescript which has been hand annotated [by Platt] with corrections and edits.
'Edited version of a conservation between Dr W J Platt and Margaret Collier on August 24th 1981 (Dr Platt himself edited the conversation)'.
Letter from WJP [Platt], Windsor, Berks, to Margaret Collier, Aldershot [Surrey], 20 March 1985 - thanking her for information on Ivory Coast, Mr Groves ill health, meeting [in London] re Ivory Coast's autonomy, the need for a 'simple paper-back history' of the [William Wade] Harris movement, would like Collier to contribute to said history. With envelope and transcript of letter [by Collier].
Letter from WJ Platt, Windsor, Berks, to Margaret Collier, Aldershot [Surrey], 23 August 1985 - documents at Mission house on Ivory Coast history which may be sent there, would like to check accuracy of the information compiled, suggests alternative (less tiring) meeting arrangements. With envelope and transcript of letter [by Collier].
Letter from WJP [Platt], Windsor, Berks, to Margaret Collier, Aldershot [Surrey], 7th March - upcoming BBC 2 documentary, 'Ivory Coast: let my people go', which he discussed with them. With envelope and transcript of letter [by Collier].
Copies of obituaries for Platt from 'The Times' (14 July 1993), 'The Guardian' (17 July 1993) and the 'Methodist Recorder' (19 Aug 1993).
Printed 'Service of Thanksgiving for the life of William James Platt 2 May 1893 - 5 July 1993', Mission House London, 30 November 1993.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Margaret Collier of Aldershot, Surrey, March 2006
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Various copyrights
Catalogued
Rev Arthur Preston Hadwen (1899-1954) served as a (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society missionary in their Wuchang District of China from 1925 until 1948.
Copies or transcripts of articles by Hadwen entitled 'Cave of Adullam' (14 pages), 'Chiang ought to be dead!' (2 pages), 'Dr T'u (known as T.P.) A Chinese Christian Doctor' (8 pages), 'The Japanese as I found them' (3 pages).
Copy of Hadwen's poem 'Going back' (1 page) and a recollection [by Audrey Singleton, daughter of Rev & Mrs Hadwen] entitled 'Refugees' of her, her brother and mother leaving China to avoid the Japanese invasion and occupation (2 pages).
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Audrey Singleton of Blackburn, August 2006
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev George Lockett (1838-1915) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their St Vincent and Jamaica districts from 1861 to 1915 including postings to British Guiana [Guyana], Barbados, St Vincent and Jamaica.
Transcripts of letters written between 1861 and 1909 whilst Lockett was working in West Indies districts of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Letters written from British Guiana [Guyana] (1861-1864), Barbados (1864-1865), St Vincent (1866-1869) and Jamaica (1871-1908). With chronological list of all lettters transcribed.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Duncan Lockett, March 2007
These transcriptions were made from letters within MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/FBN 51-52 (Jamaica) and MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/FBN 60-62 (rest).
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev Edward Daniel Webb (1828-1899) served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Honduras District from 1854 to 1868 serving in both British Honduras [Belize] and Spanish Honduras [Honduras].
Chapters are entitled: Growing up in Birmingham (1828-1851); Richmond College (1851-1854); Belize and the Bay Islands (1854-1868); Home Mission (1868-1899). Includes extracts from his letters and printed sources.
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Deposited at SOAS by the World Church Office of the Methodist Church, May 2007
Gift to the Methodist Church by Peter Ensor on behalf of Rosemary Fisher, April 2007
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Author
Catalogued
Circuit preachers' plan for September to December listing location of service and whom to give semon. Names ordained and lay preachers.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev Dr Martin Wellings, June 2008
Originally in the possesion of Rev J A Hurd Barley
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev Geoffrey Roy Senior (1927-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Hong Kong from 1974 to 1981. He was also involved in educational work at the Chinese faculty of the Theological School in Sibu, Sarwark, from 1960 to 1962 and as Principal of the Methodist Bible School in Medan, Sumatra, from 1963 to 1967.
Article from 'Connect' (Winter 1998) on how archives helped identify former mission property in China and the importance of preserving them.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from the author, January 2008
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Author
Catalogued
Ruth Angove (1930-2015) was seconded by the Methodist Missionary Society to serve as a dietician at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India, from 1961 to 1969 and then worked at the United Mission to Nepal from 1969-1984.
Bundle of circular letters (some photocopies) written by Ruth Angrove from the C[hristian] M[edical] C[ollege] Hospital, Vellore, South India, 1961-1968 (8 items). Discusses her work as a dietician in Vellore and surrounding areas, comments on colleagues' work, staffing levels, political events, social activities, learning Tamil, etc.
Bundle of circular letters (some photocopies) written by Ruth Angrove from Kathmandu at the United Mission in Nepal, 1969-1985 (15 items). Discusses leaving Vellore, overview of situation in Nepal, her work as a dietician, training Nepalese staff, comments on colleagues' work, social activities, sabbatical in UK studying for Health Education diploma in Leeds and work in Glasgow area, on return role changes to advise health workers on nutrition programmes and travels around Nepal more, Methodism in Nepal and summation of end of work in Nepal and her current situation in Scotland.
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Deposit, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ruth Angove of Edinburgh, September 2007
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with author; Christian Medical College and Hospital; United Mission to Nepal; Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev George Price (1912-1981) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Jamaica from 1938 to 1948 and then in Barbados from 1959 to 1962.
Rev Thomas Whitfield (1882-1946) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in Jamaica from 1909 to 1946.
Two letters, written in April and July 1940, from Thomas Whitfield, St Ann [Jamaica], to Bro[ther] [George Price] informing him of material to be read and questions to be answered. With transcriptions of these letters and accompanying notes.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Colin C Short of Porthleven, November 2008.
Found by Colin C Short in a volume of Wesley's Sermons, possibly previously belonging to Rev Price.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev John Ralph Pritchard (1941-) served the Methodist Missionary Society in the Ivory Coast from 1966 to 1975, later serving as the Africa Secretary for the Methodist Church Overseas Division and then as its General Secretary from 1991 to 1996.
Typescript copy of an article by the Rev John R Prtichard on prominent women missionaries involved in the administration of Women's Work in (Wesleyan) Methodism.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from the author, February 2009.
No copying permitted
Author
Catalogued
Eileen Perkins (1931-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary involved in education in the Ivory Coast from 1963 to 1991.
Newspaper cuttings on specific missionaries or ministers as well as the Methodist Church itself; local publications including 1970 annual report of the Ivory Coast Methodist Church, memorial for Rev Samson Nandjui Agoh (1989) and four editions of 'Omega' (1972, 1974); typed translations into French of the synod minutes of 1930 & 1931 for French West Africa.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Eileen Perkins, February 2009
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Various copyrights including Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Eileen Perkins (1931-) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary involved in education in the Ivory Coast from 1963 to 1991.
Articles from newspapers and magazines on Methodism in the Ivory Coast; 'Kingdom Overseas' (May 1965) mainly on the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Methodist Church; typed translations into French of articles from misionary publications (mainly the 'Foreign Field') in 1920s and 1930s; typed copies of documents including letter of W J Platt (1977), 'Hymne de l'autonomie' of the Ivory Coast Methodist Church, conference programme on history of Christanity in the Ivory Coast,1953.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Eileen Perkins, February 2010
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Various copyrights including Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Rev Gideon Ouseley (1762-1839) served the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Ireland from 1799 to 1839.
Article on the life and work of the Wesleyan Methodist minister, Gideon Ouseley, in Ireland.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Joseph Downey, December 2017
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright with author
Catalogued
Printed copy of two articles that appeared in the 'Methodist Recorder' in 2012
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Deposited with SOAS Archives, June 2018
Gift to Owen Roberts, Heritage Officer, Methodist Church House, from Rev Andrew Mackenzie, May 2018
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright is vested with the author
Catalogued
Rev Paul Jefferies (1915-2002) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Hunan District in China from 1942 to 1951 and then subsequently in their Hong Kong District until 1966.
In addition to Rev Jefferies own writings there are extracts from colleagues' papers, district minutes, annual reports and other published works. Includes a list of missionaries stationed at Pingkiang [Hanchang] from 1903 to 1949 as well as four letters to and from colleagues in China in the 1980s & 1990s.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Stella Jefferies via Rev John R Pritchard, January 2003
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Letter to her brother and sister. Looks forward to their letters and hopes they will write more frequently. Asks after their children, particularly Ann. Success of evangelical work including destruction of idols and almost three hundred attending meeting classes. States only two years ago people were 'worshippers of devils' and lists efforts and methods to convert to Christianity. Congregation now approaching five hundred, literacy increasing, weekly meeting classes at around three hundred and 59 adults and children baptised. Toufaahan [Siaosi Tāufa‘āhau alias George Tupou I, King of Tonga] a 'champion for the cause of Christ' and he reminds her of King Saul. Relates conversion of the king at 'Vavous', Finau [Fīnau ʻUlukālala III, ruler of Vavaʻu] and destruction of idols, etc. Asks to be mentioned to various family members and friends.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Simon Daniell, September 2018
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Article originally appeared in the 'St Christopher Advertiser', January-June 1899. Summary and overview compliled by the Rev John Neal, 2018.
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Donation, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Rev John Neal, November 2018
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Rev John Neal
Catalogued
These papers are arranged by overseas region and then by individual missionary. Material - dating from the late eighteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century - includes diaries, journals, notebooks, letters, ms histories on missions and regions, ms biographical and autobiographical papers, published works and a few photographs. Comprises the following regions: Home, Europe, West Indies [Caribbean and Americas], West Africa, South Africa, Central Africa, Kenya, India, Burma [Myanmar], Ceylon [Sri Lanka], China and Australasia & the South Seas [South Pacific]. Includes the papers of the following missionaries of various Methodist denominations: Henry Badger, Samuel Broadbent, John Brown, W T Brown, James Calvert, Thomas Coke, William Dowson, Thomas Birch Freeman, Samuel Goodyer, S D Gray, David Hill, A J Hopkins, John Hunt, Thomas and Nella Mckenzie, Samuel Pollard, Charles Posnett, Barnabas Shaw, William Shaw, Edwin W Smith, Gladys Stephenson, George & Mary Swinnerton, John Thomas and George & Harriet Wrigley.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by various, although mostly Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Brief biographical information along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Obituaries for missionaries (where they were ordained Methodist ministers) can usually be found in the Minutes of Conference for the specific denomination they served.
Catalogued
Comprising the personal papers of those involved in the development of Methodist missionary work or its promotion and administration in Great Britain and Ireland as well as material collected relating to missionary endeavours. Includes the papers of Thomas Coke and Joseph Blake.
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Copyright mainly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Joseph Blake (1791-1869), a shoemaker by trade, was influential in the creation of Wesleyan Methodist juvenile missionary societies and the Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society (later to become known as the Juvenile Missionary Association). Blake spent much of his adult life teaching in Methodist Sunday schools (principally at Harrow, Middlesex) and encouraging the WMMS to involve children in its work, particularly through fundraising.
Inspired by a sermon delivered by the Rev Matthew Wills in 1812 Blake initiated a scheme in Wandsworth, Surrey, whereby he encouraged his charges to collect half-a-penny a week from each adult they could for missionary work. Unfortunately, he soon discovered that this disadvantaged the poorer children in his Sunday school and he halted the collections. However, others adapted Blake's approach and by 1815 Juvenile Missionary Societies had been set up in Yorkshire, London, Leicestershire and Kingswood School.
By 1815 Blake had moved to Harrow where his time was initially taken up with fundraising to renovate the chapel. In 1824, with the assistance of a local preacher named Hill, they formed a missionary branch. Blake then developed his system for collecting which involved encouraging children to collect half-a-pence a week from eight subscribers. Blake soon showed how such small sums regularly collected could raise quite substantial revenue over time. Blake also believed that the involvement of children at a young age would encourage them to become life-long supporters of missionary work.
In 1836 Blake consulted with the secretaries of the WMMS and was asked to adapt his scheme at Harrow for use across the country and in 1841, as steward of the Hammersmith Circuit, he persuaded the London District Meeting of the merits of his plan. Blake's system of collecting became widely adopted and was supported through the monthly publication of the Wesleyan Juvenile Offering from 1844. In 1846 funds raised by children assisted with the purchase of a new missionary ship, the 'John Wesley', to replace the outmoded 'Triton'. Blake's 'The Day of Small Things', which explained the methodology of collecting and gave encouragement to the founding of juvenile missionary societies, was first published in 1849.
Blake's wife, Esther Susanna, died on 21st June 1862 with Blake himself dying on 22nd January 1869.
Further Reading:
Blake, J, The day of small things (1849 & 1868);
JMA, A Brief History of the Junior Missionary Association of the Methodist Church (1980);
The Wesleyan juvenile offering: a miscellany of missionary information for young persons (1844-1878).
Primarily comprising correspondence written to the secretaries of the WMMS between 1838 and 1862 regarding the establishment of juvenile missionary societies or associations and fundraising through children. In particular, Blake writes at great length regarding the systematic collection of small amounts of money (half-a-pence) by each child from about eight individuals on a weekly basis. He frequently laments the Society's insistence on concentrating on collecting money at specific times (e.g. Christmas). The correspondence also includes information on: the formation of juvenile missionary societies (including Blake's work at Harrow); his book 'The Day of Small Things' and related publications; the importance of Sabbath (Sunday) schools; collecting for missionary ships and establishing a fund for old preachers. There are also a couple of letters regarding Harrow Chapel itself. Finally, there are a few printed items including two printed Christmas appeals by the WMMS to children (1841 & 1843) and two circular letters written by Blake promoting the 'Juvenile Home and Foreign Missionary Society' (1862).
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Further correspondence by Blake can be found amongst the Home correspondence - see handlist for details. It is possible that replies to Blake's letters are extant amongst the Outgoing correspondence series (MMS/Home/Correspondence/Outgoing/FBN 24A-24B).
Within Notes & Transcripts (item 6) there is some material - notes and correspondence, 1948-1952 - on Blake and the evolution of the JMA (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1) as well as (item 200) a photograph of the memorial tablet to him formerly in Bessborough Road Church, Harrow, with some correspondence and brief notes, 1972 (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 8).
Catalogued
Mr & Mrs Herbert Derry Osborn were active members of the wider Methodist missionary movement, with Mr Osborn being particularly active in the Wesleyan Methodist Laymen's Missionary Movement in Scotland after the Second World War. Their daughter, Olive Margaret Osborn (1923-2008), served the Methodist Missionary Society as a teacher in Nigeria from 1950 to 1965. Ruth Osborn (nee Lenton, 1921-), her sister-in-law, also worked in education in Nigeria from 1945 to 1947, including for at time at the Oron Girls' School.
Two photograph albums of Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society summer schools held at Swanwick, Derbyshire, 1912-1914. An account, with programme and photograph, of the Women's Work Centenary 1958.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Photographs of Olive Osborn's missionary work in Nigeria are available (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/Box 1216).
Catalogued
The mission summer schools began in 1910 and were original held the week of Whitsuntide. The first summer school had about 50 attendees but by 1914 - when the tradition of holding them at Swanwick in Derbyshire seems to have been established - attendance had reached just over 300. These early summer schools were attended by mainly young people, few of whom were likely to enter overseas service, but whom the WMMS hoped would act as promoters of mission in the circuits and districts of the Methodist Church in Britain. In 1914 William Goudie, in the August edition of the 'Foreign Field', expounded the ideals of the summer school as providing those attending with 'equipment for service, including a fuller Christian life, a stronger faith, a better understanding both of the problems of the work and the best methods of expanding these, and personal consecration to the cause.'
The week itself would be made up of bible study in the morning followed by 'circle' discussions on mission matters of the time. The afternoon was left for sporting and recreational activities whilst in the evening a lecture would be given by a missionary on furlough or one of the officers of the WMMS. As the numbers expanded partially separate programmes were developed reflecting the needs of those attending (often based on age or responsibilities) until by the 1930s a series of schools were held (now not exclusively at Swanwick), some for specific groups (such as the Young Laymen's League). By the 1960s few were referred to as summer schools but as events for specific groups within Methodism.
Two photograph albums taken by Herbert Osborn whilst attending summer schools between 1912 and 1914.
Gloves must be worn when consulting these items
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from Stephen Osborn, grandson of Herbert Derry Osborn, 3 November 2009
Had previously been in the possession of Olive M Osborn, daughter of Herbert Derry Osborn
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photographs taken by Herbert Osborn whilst attending the WMMS summer schools of 1912 & 1913. Photographs captioned. Images of Swanwick, 'The Hayes' and local area; individuals attending (including missionaries and organisers); group photographs including of educational events and recreational activities. A few of said images are faded.
Rear of album has a printed list of attendees ('members') with many of their signatures as well as a programme of events.
Gloves must be worn when consulting this item
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from Stephen Osborn, grandson of Herbert Derry Osborn, 3 November 2009
Had previously been in the possession of Olive M Osborn, daughter of Herbert Derry Osborn
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photographs taken by Herbert Osborn whilst attending the WMMS summer school of 1914. Photographs captioned. Images of Swanwick, 'The Hayes' and local area; individuals attending (including missionaries and organisers); group photographs including of educational events and recreational activities. A few of said images are faded.
Front of album has a printed list of attendees ('members'), 'questionary' (topically mission issues), programme of events and a group photograph of all attendees.
Gloves must be worn when consulting this item
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from Stephen Osborn, grandson of Herbert Derry Osborn, 3 November 2009
Had previously been in the possession of Olive M Osborn, daughter of Herbert Derry Osborn
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
The organised work of women in the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society began with the formation of the Ladies' Committee for the Amelioration of the Condition of Women in Heathen Countries, Female Education, & c. in December 1858, as an auxiliary to the main Society. The Ladies' Committee aimed at the systematic promotion of women's work on the mission field by securing the efficiency of Girls' Schools already established and increasing their number. Later women also became involved in medical and evangelical work. Upon Methodist union in 1932 the women's organisations in the three branches of Methodism united under the title of Women's Work.
The 1958 centenary was celebrated throughout the circuits and districts of Methodism with thanksgiving services being held on 29th October. A centenary publication, 'Women of Our Company' by Pauline Webb, highlighted the work of prominent missionaries and administrators. However, the centrepiece event took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 26th April 1958 with the 'Kingdoms Ablaze' pageant.
Souvenir, account and photograph of centenary celebrations for Women's Work
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from from Ruth Osborn, February 2001
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Annotated copy of a 'Souvenir Programme of the Pageant 'Kingdoms Ablaze'' being the centenary of Methodist Women's Work from 1858 to 1958 held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 26 April 1958.
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from from Ruth Osborn, February 2001
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Corrected typed account of celebration of the centenary of Methodist Women's Work from 1858 to 1958 held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 26 April 1958. Possibly written by Mrs H D Osborn.
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from from Ruth Osborn, February 2001
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photograph of pageant inside Royal Albert Hall.
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from from Ruth Osborn, February 2001
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
The Rev Dr Thomas Coke was born on the 28th September 1747 in Brecon, Wales, the son of Bartholomew & Anne Coke, his father being a prosperous apothecary and local official. The young Coke was educated at the local grammar school before attending Jesus College, Oxford, ultimately obtaining a doctorate in Civil Law.
In 1770 Coke was ordained as a deacon and two years later as a priest, having been appointed a curate in 1771 at South Petherton in Somerset. Coke became interested in and influenced by the writings of John Fletcher and John Wesley (whom he met in August 1776) and embraced Methodism which led to his removal from the curacy at South Petherton in 1777. Thirty years later Coke returned to preach to a crowd of 2,000. By June of 1777 Coke was working with John Wesley and became a key figure in the growth of Methodism in the United Kingdom, frequently acting as Wesley's deputy and resolving local disputes. He was also, perhaps, the most important figure in the transition period after Wesley's death in 1791, including serving as President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference in 1797 and 1805.
In 1784 Wesley sent Coke on the first of his many visits to America where Coke became a central figure in the foundation and growth of Methodism in America. Coke sought to further spread Methodism overseas and in 1786 delivered his 'address' encouraging the establishment of missions in the West Indies, British North America and the Channel Islands. Coke worked tirelessly to establish missions by raising money (sometimes even spending his own), visiting potential mission areas, recruiting missionaries and supervising and supporting their work.
Coke's long term ambition was to establish missions in the East. As early as 1784 Coke had harboured a desire to establish missions in India but the influence of the East India Company prevented this. In 1811 Conference agreed to his proposal to establish a mission to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] but the death of his second wife (Anne) delayed this venture. The renewal of the charter for the East India Company in 1813 opened up the opportunity of missions to India and Conference reluctantly agreed (and only after Coke promised to financially underwrite the mission himself) to this. It was planned that Coke and his colleagues would first travel to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] to establish missions with Coke then continuing onto India to seek to establish missions there.
Coke with his 6 colleagues and two of their wives left England aboard the Lady Melville and the Cabalava on 30th December 1813. The voyage was a troubled one hit by storms and the loss of ships, ill health and the death of one of the party, Mrs Ault. Furthermore, on the morning of the 3rd May 1814 Coke was found dead in his cabin from apoplexy, and was buried at sea in the Indian Ocean that afternoon. The remaining missionaries continued on their journey to Bombay [Mumbai] and then to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] where they founded missions. Within a few years missions were founded in India, although the spread of Methodism through India took longer than Coke had envisaged.
Further Reading (selected):
Coke, Thomas, An address to the pious and benevolent, proposing an annual subscription for the support of missionaries in the Highlands and adjacent Islands of Scotland, the Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, and Newfoundland, the West Indies, and the Provinces of Nova Scotia and Quebec (1786);
Coke, Thomas, An address to the subscribers for their support of the missions carried on by voluntary contributions for the benefit of the negroes in the British islands, in the West-Indies (1790);
Coke, Thomas, A history of the West Indies: containing the natural, civil, and ecclesiastical history of each island, with an account of the missions instituted in those islands, from the commencement of their civilization, but more especially of the missions which have been established in that archipelago by the Society late in connexion with the Rev. John Wesley (1808-1811);
Coke, Thomas, Extracts of the journals comprising several visits to north-America and the west-Indies, his tour through a part of Ireland, and his nearly finished voyage to Bombay in the east-Indies: to which is prefixed, a life of the doctor (1816);
Davey, Cyril J, Mad about mission: the story of Dr Thomas Coke (1985);
Davey, Cyril J, The man who wanted the world: the story of Thomas Coke (1947);
Drew, S T, The life of the Rev. Thomas Coke (1817);
Sowton, Stanley, Thomas Coke (1955);
Vickers, John A, Thomas Coke: Apostle of Methodism (1969);
Vickers, John A, Thomas Coke and World Methodism (1976);
Vickers, John A (ed), The letters of Dr. Thomas Coke (2013).
Papers of Rev Dr Thomas Coke principally consisting of correspondence written by him regarding his Methodist work in the United Kingdom as well as his work (or planned work) overseas. Further correspondence includes a small number of letters written about him or the acquisition of some items in this collection.
Additional material includes: partial copy of his journal recording his journey to and travelling in America during 1784 and 1785 along with printed extracts from his journals; a few of his manuscript sermons; a few printed items promoting or reporting on missions; images of Coke or buildings, places, etc, associated with him.
The collection has been arranged into four sections: correspondence; manuscripts; publications and printed material; visual material. Sub-divisions have been made, as appropriate, and where possible items have been catalogued within them chronologically.
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Deposited by the Methodist Church, 12 May 2015
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A significant amount of the letters for the first ten years of the Home correspondence within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive was written by the Rev Dr Thomas Coke, General Superintendent of the Missions, or was for his consideration (MMS/Home & General/Correspondence/Home/FBN 1). For an overview please see the Home incoming correspondence section of this catalogue and for details please consult the handlist in the SCRR.
The University of Manchester, Methodist Archive and Research Centre has a collection of Thomas Coke Papers (PLP/28), although many of the missionary related items are copies of letters, etc, held here at SOAS.
Catalogued
Primarily comprising correspondence written by Coke himself but also a few letters written to him or about him. Also includes a small number of letters regarding how a few of the items within this collection were acquired.
Subdivided into letters written by Coke; letter written to Coke; letters about Coke; letters relating to items in this collection. Where possible items have been catalogued within each section chronologically.
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Correspondence (originals dated from 1776-1814) written by Thomas Coke to the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, the Missionary Committee, colleagues and friends. Topics written about include his own financial arrangements, disagreements within Wesleyan Methodism, raising funds for and promoting overseas missions, journeys to and from the USA and plans for work there, missions in the West Indies, missions to India and Sri Lanka (with some letters written whilst at sea voyaging there).
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Encourages Churchey to send his papers to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. States he should read Mr Exon's inclosed letter and then seal it before sending it to the Bishop. In a postscript Coke states that the glebe-land at Exton [Somerset] may be rented for about £60pa and Mr Exon will give him first offer.
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Letter given to the Museum of Methodist Antiquities by Mrs [Mary] Punshon, 1882
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Some of the text of this letter is missing due to the letter's damaged state
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States that [John] Wesley desires him to inform recipient of letter that money received from the burial ground be appropriated to the House Steward's expenses. Also Wesley desires the 'Front of Gallery' be secure before 'Sunday sennight' [week Sunday] as Wesley will preach in the 'New Chapel' that morning. Coke also asks for Mr Boardman's letter to be sent to Wesley.
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Deposited by H B Rattenbury with the Methodist Missionary Society, 19 August 1948
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Received letter infroming him that the £150 is sent to London and expects it to arrive before he sails on 14th or 15th. Requires no more funds and leaves the management of his affairs to Williams.
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Grateful for funds raised for 'our important missions among negroes and caribbs'. Needs to review his conduct to Rodda - considered him, Moore & Broadbent for Dublin but preferrred the other two as known in Dublin. Apologies that they made a second offer to Broadbent instead of accepting his. Coke asks for forgiveness for every injury he has caused Rodda and asks that he writes a short letter before he (Coke) sails on 20th forgiving him. Hopes that Rodda and McGeary 'may settle the point concerning that passage in y[ou]r Letter amicably'.
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Deposited by H B Rattenbury with the Methodist Missionary Society, 19 August 1948
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Asks for the year's interest for the mortgage of the Coity Estate to be sent to him at New Chapel, City Road, London. Just returned from America where some months ago he had been shipwrecked on Edisto Island of the coast of South Carolina [USA]. Planning to visit Brecon in the next year and hopes to return to America.
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Hopes to see Ireland 'flame with the Glory of God'. Hopes the evangelical success they are having in Ireland will spread. Encourages Ridgway in his evangelism but to beware those they have expelled.
John A Vickers suggests that this letter was mistakenly dated 1791 instead of 1790 and that most of the letter is in a different hand from Coke's (page 127-128 of 'The letters of Dr. Thomas Coke' (2013))'.
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Hopes to visit him around Christmas after he has been to Baltimore [Maryland, USA] and arrange for a meeting with colleagues in Antigua. May visit Charleston [South Carolina, USA] to oppose Hammett's schism. Hopes Cole will accept an appointment to West Indies and is sure his (Warrener's) request to return to England will be granted by [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference. Answered Warrener's bills and passes on regards and messages to his family and colleagues.
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Apologises for not answering letters about poems but will speak to Lackington when he returns to London. Sold some poems for him but thinks it difficult to convince other preachers to sell and that the book is too expensive. Coke explains he has been so busy with the school had little time for other things but is willing to help Churchy and is sorry to hear of his problems.
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Deposited by H B Rattenbury with the Methodist Missionary Society, 19 August 1948
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Thanks Holder for his remarks. Proposition was drawn up in haste to avoid division but as drawn up as 'private letters' Coke suggests he can retract them if a better approach is found. Overlooked usefulness of District meetings and promises to support them. Been confined to bed for nearly a fortnight but improving now, although had to employ a secretary. Asks Holder to pass on his above comments to other preachers. Coke explains further how ill he has been. Wants to avoid divison but took Moore's part as Trustees should not have expelled a preacher by their power alone. Asks Holder to come to [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference and promote peace and to mark a successful year in conversions.
John A Vickers states that only the latter part of this letter is in Coke's hand (page 203 of 'The letters of Dr. Thomas Coke' (2013))'.
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Letter given to the Museum of Methodist Antiquities by Rev George Mather of Scarborough, May 1888
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Found it necessary to cease his journeys across the Atlantic and has decided to reside in 'the States of America'. Therefore wishes to settle his financial affairs in Europe as soon as posible as may return to America from Ireland about the middle of July. Asks Williams to take up the Coyty mortgage and to settle this matter with Mr Collins, Att[orne]y at Law in London. Excluding his library (worth two to three hundred pounds) has only the mortgage remaining as other finances spent on evangelising. Therefore needs the mortgage funds in America. Suggests he could have been in better finances but 'I have long consecrated all I am & have to God: & the many thousands of poor heathens I have been the instrumment of bringing to Christ'. Restates the need of his funds (by June) and his desire to settle outstanding debts. Will resign his place in the Common Council of Brecon.
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On hearing of their intentions to send missionaries to the West Indies outlines a statement of the Methodist missions in the 'Archipelago'. Forty to fifty thousand attend ministry of [Wesleyan Methodist] preachers with nearly ten thousand of those being members of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society. Proceeds to list society numbers in Tortola & the Virgin Islands, Antigua, St Christopher's, Nevis, Monserratt, Dominica, St Vincent's, Barbados, Grenada and Jamaica. Explains how their missionaries are fully supported. Explains that after initial reluctance planatation owners are allowing Methodist missionaries to preach and how additional missionaries are being dispatched. Indicates the [Wesleyan Methodist] Society intends to expand into Tobago, Anguilla, Providence Island and Bermuda.
Asks the [London] Missionary Society to suspend operations and intended plans with regard to the West Indies until the next [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference to allow them to decide to further the spread of the Gospel as they have 'at present no other work among the Heathen'. Can't see how they [LMS] will gain from preaching in the area unless it is specifically through their 'Calvinist Ministers'. Estimates that the population in English speaking areas to be no more than seven hundred thousand. States he is asking them to only suspend operations in Jamaica until the August Conference.
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CWM/LMS/Home/Home Office Extra/Box 1A, Folder 1, Jacket D
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The printing of his 'Commentary on the Bible', which he has been writing for seven years, will require funds and therefore he needs the two hundred pounds owing on the Coity mortgage in a month's time. Please send this sum, with interest, to Andrew Strahan, MP, at Little New Street, London, with the rest following next spring. Will be in London next month and the two hundred pounds is part of the one thousand pounds he requires. Response to this letter to be sent via W[illia]m Brocklehurst, Manchester [Lancashire].
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With exception of Brother Black Nova Scotia Brethren have been negligent in writing to him. Coke says will allow Mardsen £15per annum if he marries and if he hears a very good account of his work he will allow Marsden to claim on the Preachers' Fund. All letters written to New Chapel, City Road, London will be received by Coke wherever he is. Asks that Brother & Sister Sutcliffe will be received with affection.
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Regards to Mr & Mrs Burton and looks forward to dinner with them next Saturday. No objection to make missionary collection at Manchester 'Sunday sennight' [week Sunday]. However, chief pecuniary aid brings to missions is by private application and was asked by the 'Committee in London' [possibly Finance and Advice Committee] to assist in Stockport. Travel undertaken since [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference through Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and South Wales where the societies are all 'small & poor' has been unfavourable to private application for missions.
Unable to visit Altringham [Altrincham, Cheshire] as doesn't want to leave his wife alone. Intends to go to Ireland via Chester and Wales (the latter where they have delayed their Quarterly meetings for him). His wife's health is poor, particularly in winter, due to 'the weakness of her Constitution' and thus she is unable to venture out in winter and he must stay with her at meal times. Sends regards to a number of friends.
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Encloses £100 and hopes to send another £100 before he leaves. Received none of the letters sent to him in Liverpool. Will print a circular letter on Mr Ollivier preaching to 500 or 600 French prisoners aboard the St Nicholas. Wants to settle wife's marriage settlement and suggests the two estates be secured for the jointure of £750 per annum and all the property he leaves at his death, except £1000, be secured as a guarantee. If approved then the Iford or Farleigh Park Estate [Wiltshire] and associated properties to go, by deed, ultimately after his death to the Preacher's Fund. Further, the Broughton or Frying Pan estate [Wiltshire], if his just right to it is correct, should also go to the Preachers' Fund. All other income and personal property (bar £1000 for funeral expenses, legacies & debts) should also be left to the Preacher's Fund.
Hopes he has received £500 from Mr Drew and £100 from Joseph Loxdale. Discusses Holloway's poor eyesight and a cure suggested by Coke's wife which will be sent to him. Coke also suggests his cure, gives details and recounts its successes. Will send, with his remarks, Mr Paris's long letter. He & Mrs Coke have been visiting places on Cornish coast.
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Lawson Collection, John Rylands Univeristy Library Manchester
Copied, possibly by Frank Deaville Walker at Methodist Mission House, from the original letter in the possession of Rev Sidney Lawson, 1936.
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Thanks him for his letter and to also thank kind benefactors to African Schools among the Society of Friends and to inform them he shall print a report after [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference. Apologises for neglecting this in his last general report but was a result of the impact of the death of his wife. Needs at least £3000 before he sails to India to establish missions. Won't be able to visit but will send a printed address and hopefully be supported.
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Been informed by Mr McAllum and Mr James Wood that Ballinghall wants to go to India and Ceylon [Sri Lanka] with him. Stationary Committee have unanimously approved this and believes [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference will as well. When this happens will write to him but he will need to be ready to travel to London as soon as convenient. May want to learn Portuguese language as spoken by many in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] as well as on the Eastern & Western coasts of India. Easy language to learn and nine other missionaries will learn it too. Will not be in London for a few weeks as needs to raise £3,000 before January when he plans to sail. Should make for better weather than in October. According to Dr Buchannan there are about five hundred thousand 'nominal' Christians in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] which is about 39 miles from India. Highest honour to promote Methodism in a country [India] with sixty million 'British subjects' and about one hundred million in Asia.
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Mr Barber, etc, agrees with Coke that Banwell should be Superintendent in Sierra Leone where [Thomas] Hirst and [John] Healey are already and where there are 96 members of the Society. Governor [Charles William Maxwell] is supporting the mission.
Otherwise can accompany Coke to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and India. According to Dr Buchannan there are about half a million 'nominal' Christians in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] which is about 39 miles from India. Portuguese spoken there and on the Eastern & Western coasts of India and is an easy language to learn. Plan to sail in January. Coke will be as a father to him. Opportunity to spread Gospel among sixty million 'British subjects' in India. If Banwell does not go to Africa should go with Coke to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] which is a 'little Paradise'.
Postscript: Will he choose or should Coke choose for him?
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Presented to Wantage Methodist Church and accepted by a meeting of the Trustees of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, 5th Dec 1938. Transferred to Methodist Church Overseas Division, January 1983.
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Their letter [Leeds circuit] was read to those assembled from London East, London West and Deptford circuits and after a very long debate it was agreed by a majority of those present that something ought to be done immediately to support the missions and to ensure that promised funds aren't used elsewhere. However, as a specific plan was not agreed it was decided to meet with all the preachers of the London, Deptford and Brentford circuits next 'Monday sennight' [week Monday]. Therefore Leeds left to its own judgement as to what plan to adopt but will send some information, including from the October [Methodist] magazine.
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Thanks him for his letters and hopes progress is being made in missionary matters in Yorkshire. He is grateful for their efforts and understands that the Norfolk district will imitate their 'blessed Plan'. Received letters of recommendation from the Government to respective Colonial Governors and the Court of Directors of the East India Company in permitting them to travel via Bombay [Mumbai, India] on their way to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Lord Teignmouth [John Shore] was surprised at Directors' support but Lord [Henry] Bathurst had written to them on the Wesleyan's behalf.
Almost fitted out but will probably not sail until about Christmas. Understands reports that he is married but he is not and has no intention of being - will go to Asia a single man and please let others know this. Regards to colleagues and friends.
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Writing to express his joy that Bunting has entered into the 'mission-business'. Asks for him to pray for all of them and to pass on his regards to his wife, their brethren and Mr & Mrs Hague. Also glad that Mr [George] Morley has entered into the 'missionary-business'.
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Little to communicate at the moment but intends to keep in regular contact. Writing whilst ship is taking on Madeira wine. All is well but voyage has been slow but given them time to improve their Portuguese. Hopes to write again from the Cape of Good Hope and to pass on missionary news from there. Was concerned that the voyage would be tedious and tiring for him but has found it the contrary. His spirits have improved since leaving England.
Recounts the words of the Governor of Sierra Leone, Cha[rle]s W[ilia]m Maxwell, on the importance of evangelism there. Sends regards to friends and colleagues.
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Gave this letter to the captain of a 'Brig of War' leaving current fleet for 'Brazils' who will pass it on to the British Consul there. Unable to send a letter he planned from Madeira as unable to dock due to violent gales. Asks Bunting to use his influence with [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference to obtain a licence for Continental India for missionary work. They will need to apply to the Court of Directors [of the East India Company] and hopes for support from one of its number, Mr Charles Grant. If unsuccessful should apply to 'Board of Controul', where Lord Teignmouth [John Shore] will be supportive. Other support can be sought from Mr Wilberforce and the Earl of Liverpool [Charles Jenkinson]. Once the licence is obtained it should be sent on the first ship sailing for Calcutta [Kolkata, India] and be addressed to Rev Thomas Thomason, chaplain to the East India Company, and George Udney (a friend of Dr Buchanan).
Asks why shouldn't there be two missionaries for India? Will need further assistance and suggests Brother [John] Slater of the Redruth Circuit and Solomon Whitworth of the Penzance or Scilly Isles Circuit. Hopes to be in Calcutta [Kolkata, India] sometime in the next nine to twelve months. If so would hope to visit Maldai [Malda, India] and Rajamaughl (including the mountains). These areas were recommended to Coke by Mr Charles Grant, in 1794 or 1795, as the most likely to be successful for evangelism as the 'natives are not divided into Casts'. Correspondence for this appears in the [?Arminian] Magazine at that time and Grant confirmed his view again recently. If goes to India he needs support as even if successful will not be tenable. Offers his own funds to support this mission. Regards to colleagues and friends.
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Explains to Bunting that the following letter may be read at [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference and that this letter comes via St Helena (as well as copies to the President & the Missionary Committee). Asks if copies can be sent to other colleagues and sends regards to colleagues and friends.
Letter to Conference begins by request to obtain licence for Continental India. According to the new charter must first apply to Court of Directors [of the East India Company] and will be supported by Charles Grant, an influential member of the Court. Expects success but if not then should next apply to 'Board of Controul', where Lord Teignmouth [John Shore] will be supportive. Other support can be sought from Mr Wilberforce and the Earl of Liverpool [Charles Jenkinson]. Once the licence is obtained it should be sent on the first ship sailing for Calcutta [Kolkata, India] and be addressed to Rev Thomas Thomason, chaplain to the East India Company, and George Udney (a friend of Dr Buchanan). Asks for two missionaries for Continental India and offers to assist with funding. Suggests Brother [John] Slater of the Redruth Circuit and Solomon Whitworth of the Scilly Isles. Knows that the Government wishes that we do much in India in a discreet way and that these two preachers must be licenced to do so. They should meet him in Calcutta [Kolkata, India]. Hopes to visit Maldai [Malda, India] and Rajamaughl. These areas were recommended to Coke by Charles Grant, in 1794 or 1795, as the most likely to be successful for the establishment of missions. Correspondence for this appears in the [?Arminian] Magazine at that time and Grant confirmed his view again recently, particularly regarding Rajamaughl.
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Original letter with undated typed transcript of it.
Addressing the [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference Coke reminds them that he has written to them two or three times on the following but hopes they 'will honor this last Letter with a serious hearing'. Not able to take a direct ship to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] was advised to take a ship via Bombay [Mumbai, India]. However constant gales on journey to Madeira (seven ships of fleet missing, presumed lost) and then long calms at the equator means they are delayed by at least a month and still to reach the Cape of Good Hope [South Africa]. Hopes to arrive in Bombay [Mumbai, India] late May or early June and then will be delayed further by the monsoons. Has consent of the Court of Directors [of the East India Company] and letters of recommendation to go to Bombay [Mumbai, India]. Dr Buchanan, and others, have advised Coke not to concentrate the mission in one place as it would 'raise jealousy beyond what we can easily conceive'. Upon arrival intends to split missionary party leaving the Harvards and two single men in Bombay [Mumbai, India] whilst three other single men (Sister Ault having died) along with Coke will travel to Surat [India] which has about 150,000 inhabitants. Seven of the [East India] Company's soldiers on the ship and some other passengers are expressing interest in Methodism. Heard similar news from the 'Lady Melville' and the 'Elphinstone'. All will be in Bombay [Mumbai, India] and Surat [India]. If establish missions then two more missionaries will be required.
Coke, with the four remaining missionaries, will then travel to Colombo in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. The Harvards and one other to travel by sea whilst Coke and two colleagues will travel 500 miles by land and then 200 miles by the 'Back-Water' canal through the Portuguese settlements eventually arriving in Travancore [India]. Will witness the work of Francis Xavier and will leave, if possible, one missionary with the Syriack Christians (leaving four for Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and one for Java [Indonesia]). He intends to visit Tanjore [Thanjavur], Madras [Chennai], Calcutta [Kolkata] and Rajamaughl [all India]. The latter recommended by Charles Grant, in 1794 or 1795, and their correspondence for this appears in the [?Arminian] Magazine at that time and Grant confirmed his view again recently as 'The Natives are not there divided into Casts, and are a very docile people'.
However, he has no missionaries to leave behind. Asks for two missionaries to be sent by the second India Fleet in late January or early February to Calcutta [Kolkata, India] and upon arrival should ask for Rev Tho[mas] Thomasons, Chaplain to East India Company or for George Udney (a friend of Dr Buchanan). They should arrive in June so he will attempt to arrive beforehand else he should be contacted in Rajamaughl [India]. Coke asks for licences for himself and these two missionaries from the Court of Directors [of the East India Company] which will be supported by Charles Grant, an influential member of the Court. Otherwise to 'Board of Controul', where Lord Teignmouth [John Shore] will be supportive. Further support can be sought from Mr Wilberforce and the Earl of Liverpool [Charles Jenkinson]. Coke offers to lend or give the money to cover cost of mission 'along the Coast of Coromandel up to Rajamaughl' [east coast of India]. Suggests Brother [John] Slater of the Redruth Circuit, or Solomon Whitworth of the Scilly Isles, or Brother Sugden (if still unmarried).
Addressing the Missionary Committee Coke asks its Secretary to read above letter to [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference. Mentions previous letters via St Helena and 'Brazils' but present letter is the most comprehensive. Will send a copy of letter to President [of Conference] as well. In a postscript he asks for replies to his other letters to be sent to Thomason or Udney in Calcutta [Kolkata].
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Original letter with Photostat.
Sends Reece copy of his letter to the [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference. Coke reminds them that he has written to them two or three times on the following but 'for security's sake I write to you once more'. Not able to take a direct ship to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and advised to take a ship via Bombay [Mumbai, India]. However constant gales on journey to Madeira (seven ships of fleet missing, presumed lost) and then long calms at the equator means they are delayed by at least a month and still to reach the Cape of Good Hope [South Africa]. Hopes to arrive in Bombay [Mumbai, India] late May or early June and then will be delayed further by the monsoons. Has consent of the Court of Directors [of the East India Company] and letters of recommendation to go to Bombay [Mumbai, India]. Dr Buchanan, and others, have advised Coke not to concentrate the mission in one place as it would 'raise jealousy beyond what we can easily conceive'. Upon arrival intends to split missionary party leaving the Harvards and two single men in Bombay [Mumbai, India] whilst three other single men (Sister Ault having died) along with Coke will travel to Surat [India] which has about 150,000 inhabitants. Seven of the [East India] Company's soldiers on the ship and some other passengers are expressing interest in Methodism. Heard similar news from the 'Lady Melville' and the 'Elphinstone'. All will be in Bombay [Mumbai, India] and Surat [India]. If establish missions then two more missionaries will be required.
Coke, with the four remaining missionaries, will then travel to Colombo in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. The Harvards and one other to travel by sea whilst Coke and two colleagues will travel 500 miles by land and then 200 miles by the 'Back-Water' canal through the Portuguese settlements eventually arriving in Travancore [India]. Will witness the work of Francis Xavier and will leave, if possible, one missionary with the Syriack Christians (leaving four for Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and one for Java [Indonesia]). He intends to visit Tanjore [Thanjavur], Madras [Chennai], Calcutta [Kolkata] and Rajamaughl [all India]. The latter recommended by Charles Grant, in 1794 or 1795, and their correspondence for this appears in the [?Arminian] Magazine at that time and Grant confirmed his view again recently as 'The Natives are not there divided into Casts, and are a very docile people'.
However, he has no missionaries to leave behind. Asks for two missionaries to be sent by the second India Fleet in late January or early February to Calcutta [Kolkata, India] and upon arrival should ask for Rev Tho[mas] Thomasons, Chaplain to East India Company or for George Udney (a friend of Dr Buchanan). They should arrive in June so he will attempt to arrive beforehand else he should be contacted in Rajam[aughl] [India]. Coke asks for licences for himself and these two missionaries from the Court of Directors [of the East India Company] which will be supported by Charles Grant, an influential member of the Court. Confident of success but if not apply to 'Board of Controul', where Lord Teignmouth [John Shore] will be supportive. Further support can be sought from Mr Wilberforce and the Earl of Liverpool [Charles Jenkinson]. Coke offers to lend or give the money to cover cost of mission 'along the Coast of Coromandel up to Rajamaughl' [east coast of India]. Suggests Brother [John] Slater of the Redruth Circuit, or Solomon Whitworth of the Scilly Isles, or Brother Sugden (if still unmarried).
Addressing Revd Reece Coke informs him that they will not touch the Cape [of Good Hope, South Africa] but their Line-of-Battle-Ship will. Above is copy of letter sent to Conference as well as copies to President [of Conference], the [Missionary] Committee, Mr [Jabez] Bunting and Mr [?Charles] Atmore.
The Photostat was made at a time when the letter was in a better condition and had less text missing.
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Some of the text of this letter is missing due to its damaged state
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Original letter with typed transcript.
Sending this letter via a British Frigate which is going to the Isle of France [Mauritius] but letter unlikely to reach Smith before [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference concludes. Already sent letters via 'Brazils', St Helena and the Cape [of Good Hope, South Africa] where he has requested [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference to send him two licenced missionaries to work on the Continent [India] - as well as a licence for himself to Calcutta [Kolkata, India] in May or June next year. Should enquire for him with Rev Tho[mas] Thomason, Chaplain to East India Company or for George Udney. Asks Smith to write to him via one of these two.
Has letters of recommendation for Bombay [Mumbai, India]. Unless he has the two missionaries he requests then he will not have any missionaries for Travancore, Tranquebar [Tharangambadi], Tanjore [Thanjavur], Madras [Chennai], Calcutta [Kolkata] and Rajamaughl [all India]. Reiterates message in former letters that he will lend or give the money for the mission. Promises to write from Bombay [Mumbai].
In a postscript repeats need for two missionaries and Thomason and Udney as contacts. Will visit Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from Bombay [Mumbai]. Will be heartbroken if there is no one to take up his work. Passes on regards of companions.
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Reply to invitation to dinner.
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Deposited by H B Rattenbury with the Methodist Missionary Society, 19 August 1948
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Some of the text of this letter is missing due to its damaged state
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Photostat of letter (dated 7 May 1806) from Francis Asbury to Thomas Coke, then forwarded to Rev Benson for publication.
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Asbury reminisces about their travelling and working together. Travelling by wagon now with a fellow preacher (Asbury preaching in the day whilst colleague preaching at night). Membership is up in five of their seven conferences. Recently visited Delaware, Pennsylvania, Jersey, York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland and Vermont. Should only expect to hear from him about once a year. From June to September will go north west.
Americans 'are the greatest sinners upon earth'. Western Conference considering south west to Louisiana and Mississippi. Expresses his admiration for Coke and states that 'have never had more undisembled Friendship shown to you than in America'.
Postscript states that since he began letter has received Coke's letter of January 1st. Four days into camp meetings and about 20 miles north east of New York. About 100 of them travelling and preaching to about 3,000 people per night. By 4th day preaching day and night. Joyous but tired. Of the preachers only Iliff died this year. Asbury notes he is in the 61st year of his life and has spent 44 years on public labours and encountered good and bad preachers and people. If he has ever offended Coke it has been unwittingly and asks forgiveness. Regards to Mrs Coke.
Letter forwarded by Coke to Rev Joseph Benson at New Chapel, City Road, London, asking him to print it to show Methodists in Europe how he and Asbury have worked together. Sending more letters from Bristol in next few days. His and his wife's regards to Benson family.
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Including letters written by Coke's second wife, Anne, and by his colleagues travelling with him to Ceylon [Sri Lanka].
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Received letter via Coke regarding suggested changes in law which will remove some of the problems Methodists have had on Jersey. Suggests the consequences Dundas states regarding training the Scots on the use of arms on Sundays would not apply to the Methodists in Jersey. Not surprised by the fate of the bill given the vague wording. There are a few individual Methodists who would refuse to carry arms but he argues that no principle should subvert social cohesion. Offers his support.
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Had hoped to visit in the summer but at the intended time friends from Shropshire stayed and she failed to write as well. Last August Dr Coke suggested she went to Liverpool to be with him but after she initially declined she was convinced and they married on 16th of this month [December]. All relations happy except her sister who was reluctant to let her go. Will be travelling with her husband so she can watch over his health and contribute to his comfort and will be assisted by an attendant. Much of her husband's time is taken up with the missions to the extent that this precluded him from visiting Madeley [Shropshire] recently. Asks after the health of Miss Tooths [Mary Tooth].
In a postscript adds that they will be in Dudley, Worcestershire, until the 11th and then travelling to Bath [Somerset] so letters can be sent to the local Methodist chapel.
Coke writes that he apologies for not answering her last letters. Hopes to visit with his wife, probably next summer. They can then discuss her recommendation for a missionary.
In a postscript he is full of praise for his wife and looks forward to sharing more of his feelings in the future.
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Grateful for his kind attention and for the gift of a box of grapes from partner. Received many acts of kindness from their Whitby friends. Expresses her spiritual devotion and Christian love. Husband is well but busy. Passes on regards and will be in Newcastle on Tyne [Northumberland] on Saturday.
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Letter given to the Museum of Methodist Antiquities by Mrs [Mary] Punshon, 1882
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Explains last letter was unfinished as the boat was departing. Lists books required and suggests where some could be purchased - Dr Coke, through Mr Holloway, will pay. All in good health. The Perseverance returning to England now and should be joining fleet carrying letters. Since he last wrote has found amongst Mrs Ault [nee Sarah Bretnall] papers a 'meditation' which thinks should be reproduced in the [Methodist] Magazine as it gives an indication of her thoughts and piety. Transcribes these lines.
Recounts that when he was still in England, last December, he was asked to account by Mr [Thomas] Blanshard to the Committee for the cost of the mission with Dr Coke assisting him. Notes in detail the sums and colleagues involved. Believes the fatigue of preparing for the journey contributed to his wife's death.
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Explains that his letter is being sent, along with a letter to the Committee, via Sir Evan Nepean [Governor of Bombay]. (This first paragraph has been crossed through, with some names being blanked later in the letter as well).
Recounts death of Sister [Sarah] Ault and mentions Dr [Thomas] Coke's death on 3rd May and his burial at sea. He read burial service, Mr [William] Ault the exhortation and [James] Lynch a hymn then prayer. Coke's unexpected death has left them depressed and Coke had made no arrangement of what should be done in the event of his death. Have letters of introduction but no means to raise funds but the ship's captain [Birch] has assisted them greatly - including providing introductions to individuals in Bombay [Mumbai, India] which led to a meeting with the Governor, who was complimentary about Methodism and provided the party with a residence (ultimately staying at Parell House). Hope to depart for Ceylon [Sri Lanka] on 15th.
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Letter, with typed transcript, summarising events from before their departure from England on 31 December 1813 to their arrival in Bombay [Mumbai, India] in May 1814. Two accounts given: a general one and one by [Benjamin] Clough.
General account list events chronologically from their departure and noting (amongst other things): weather conditions; condition of the fleet; health of passengers; death of Mrs Ault; crew injuries; Coke's death and burial at sea.
Clough's account is also chronological and begins with their departure from London noting (amongst other things): Coke's preparations and comments prior to sailing; Coke's impact on his fellow passengers and Captain Birch; Coke correcting his proofs of the Bible in Portuguese as well as writing sermons, hymns, etc; concerns over Coke's workload and health; services by the missionaries; support of Captain Birch after Coke's death including in Bombay [Mumbai]; assistance provided by the Governor; gratitude to Captain Birch; Isle of France [Mauritius] would make a promising mission.
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Some of the text of this letter is missing due to damage
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Mainly correspondence relating to the acquisition of a few items within the Thomas Coke papers.
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Encloses inscription and sketch [not extant here] of Dr Coke's monument for the consideration of the [General Missionary] Committee. Mr Bailey, MP, left town yesterday and will return in a fortnight. Believes a subscription to pay for a marble statue in memory of Dr Coke in St Paul's Cathedral would meet with success. Will be happy to discuss details at their next meeting.
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The sketch mentioned in this letter appears to be the pen and Ink sketch by J E Thomas within this the Visual Material section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/04/02/01).
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Apologies for delay in reply but has been in the North of England. Grateful for the loan of the item [a letter by Coke] and asks whether her father would consider presenting the item to them. Would plan to display it.
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See also the letter to Miss Richmond, 20 Nov 1933, in this section (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/06).
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Encloses letter he received yesterday of which the second part might be of interest to him in his biography of Dr Coke. Written to Mr Hockling suggesting he should send it [sermon] to you. Thanks him for his missionary work and in particularly 'Still He Calls'.
Enclosed letter (8 Aug [19]27) from Hocking to Barratt which has first few lines crossed out (apologising for creating extra work). Mentions that Barratt lives in a house called Coke Villa and that he has in his possession a sermon dating from the time his father would have been minister in South Petherton [Somerset] or Kilkhampton [Cornwall] in 1862. Sermon preached by Dr Coke when at South Petherton [Somerset] and found in an unclaimed package in a carriers warehouse a great number of years ago. Text of sermon is Matthew 7.24 and is signed Thomas Coke. Thinking of giving it to the [Wesleyan Methodist] Missionary Society.
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This letter probably refers to the sermon on Matthew 7.24 in 'Manuscripts' section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/02/02/03).
See also letter of 17 Sep 1927 in this section (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/04).
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Their mutual friend, the Rev W O Barratt, forwarded his letter regarding the MS sermon by Thomas Coke. Being responsible for the archives at Mission House interested in everything concerning Dr Coke and is planning a biography. Would he lend him the sermon to read?
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This letter refers to the sermon on Matthew 7.24 in 'Manuscripts' section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/02/02/03).
See also letter from Rev Barratt of 11 Aug 1927 in this section (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/03).
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Noticed the enclosed sketch amongst his mother's old papers. Asks if memorial exists in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Says sketch is signed 'H W Austin. Nov. 1836' [actually N W Elliott]. Send it to them to keep if it is of interest. Comments on the quality of the sketch.
In a postscript states knows nothing of photographs of church and school.
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This letter refers to the sketch of the same date (by N W Elliott) noted in the Visual Material section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/04/02/01).
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Forgotten correspondence of 20 years ago but delighted to receive letter by Coke which will be displayed. Currently writing a life of Dr Coke. She will receive a more formal note of thanks from the [General Missionary] Committee.
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See also letter by F D Walker to Miss Richmond, 26 Jan 1914, in this section (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/02)
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Copy letter which may be incomplete.
Had an appointment with Mr Lamplough yesterday and showed him the things. He already has a copy of the silk picture of Wesley but doesn't have the sketch picture. Thinks £1 a fair price for both. Also offers £2 for Sutcliff's 'Life of Coke'.
After careful comparison of the journal with a number of Coke's letters have reluctantly come to the conclusion that it is a copy. Gives examples of differences in handwriting. Printed (albeit extracts) of Coke's journals are also fuller than the manuscript. Had hoped it was the original but would still like to study this copy.
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This letter refers to Thursby's copy of Coke's Journal in the 'Manuscripts' section of this list (MMS/17/02/00/03/02/01/01).
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Letter (12 June 1962) addressed to Brenda from John Vickers, The Bungalow, Vernon Holme, Harbledown, Canterbury, Kent. Journal quite safe and he has correlated it with the printed text of the 1816 edition. Some differences, most notably mentions Baxter's ordination as being in Baltimore [USA] in 1785. Hopes his wife will return journal in next few weeks else he will bring it down in the summer holdidays. Grateful to study journal and will be including it in his book.
Enclosure (?1962) is an annotated and corrected typescript detailing the variants between this manuscript and the printed edition of Coke's journal in 1816. Brief intoduction states that manuscript is an abbreviated copy of Coke's journal of his first visit to America in 1784 and 1785. Copy is in the hand of Francis Thursby and probably dates from 1793 with the addition of a letter of Coke's to William Thompson from 1794.
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This letter refers to Thursby's copy of Coke's Journal in the 'Manuscripts' section of this list (MMS/17/02/00/03/02/01/01).
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Letter (27 February 1986) from Rev J Alan Williams, Superintendent of the Leicester West Circuit of the Methodist Church to Rev A W Mosley, Methodist Church Overseas Division, 25 Marylebone Road, London. A friend lent him a letter dated June 1807 addressed to Dr Coke from preachers in the West India Mission. Encloses transcript and asks if there is any further information. Will send copy to the Wesley Historical Society.
Transcript of letter (24 June 1807) from F Hallet, St Vincent, to Reverend Doctor Coke or Mr William Jenkin, New Chapel, City Road, London. Addresses letter to Coke and the Committee of West India Mission and states he understands the Antigua District meeting through John Taylor will contact them suggesting that some preachers (including him) in the West Indies 'have adopted a System of Plunder'. Unable to attend said meeting but received a letter (which he quotes) stating that he has received too much quarterage and should return that above 'the common amount'. He replies (quoting his own letter) that he did not make changes but supports them. Previous allowances were not sufficient and rejects comparison with other islands. Unable to refund any sum as all of allowance already spent. Questions authority of district over individual circuits (cites [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference on this). Asks to be sent copy of minutes of district meeting. Returns to addressing Coke and states the Superintendent on the Island is Steward and has established quarterly meetings. Only received additional pay for last two quarters. Argues local conditions for larger rise in St Vincent's then Antigua. Hopes to return to England next spring but wife's present condition won't allow him to leave before then.
Reply (copy letter, 6 March 1986) from [Rev Mosley] to Rev Alan Williams thanking him for the copy of Dr Coke's letter. Passing it on to their Archivist.
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Photocopy of Hallett's letter available (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 1)
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Including a partial copy of Coke's journal recording his journey to and travelling in America during 1784 and 1785, sermons by him and his ordination certificate.
Subdivided into journals; sermons; ordination and similiar papers; miscellaneous. Where possible items have been catalogued within each section chronologically.
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A partial copy of Coke's journal to and in America for 1784 and 1785.
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Prior to the journal there is a copy of a letter written by Coke whilst in Liverpool on 7 Octob[e]r 1793 to the Methodist Missionary Society in Kingston, Jamaica, offering Francis Thursby as a minister appointed by [Wesleyan Methodist] Conference to serve in Montego Bay in place of Mr [William] Fish, with note stating that Coke ordained Thursby on 6 October 1793. Manuscript then has a copy of a letter written by Coke whilst in Hinckley, Leicester[shire], on 21 April 1794, to Mr W[illia]m Thompson, on religious division.
Partial copy of Thomas Coke's journal of his voyage to and travels in America from 8 September 1784 to 3 June 1785, probably in the hand of Francis Thursby.
After the journal there is a copy of a letter from 'the heathens of London and Westminster' at 'Infidel corner in Drury Lane [London]', 12 Aug[us]t 1788, suggesting missionary focus should be on the 'heathens' at home not overseas in Asia, America and Africa. Apparently copied from the 'London Chronicle'. Followed by a brief anecdote on a sermon on usury.
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Previously belonged to F A Watts of Northampton. Aquired by the Methodist Missionary Society, possibly in 1937.
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There are some items regarding the provenance and identification of this manuscript within the Correspondence section of this collection: a letter from 1937 (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/07) and a letter with enclosure from 1962 (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/08).
See also 1793 printed edition of 'Extracts of the journals of the Rev Dr Coke's five visits to America' in the 'Publications' section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/03/04).
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Sermons preached by Thomas Coke at South Petherton, Somerset.
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With typed transcript.
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Item given to the Museum of Methodist Antiquities by Mrs [Mary] Punshon, 1882.
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Manuscript damaged with some text lost
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With typed transcript.
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This item may have been acquired by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society from J P Hocking of Ludgershall, Wiltshire, in 1927
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Manuscript damaged with some text lost
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With typed transcript.
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Sermon was apparently found 'in a Package unclaimed at a Carriers Warehouse', 28 July [18]62. This item was acquired, probably in 1927, by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society from J P Hocking of Ludgershall, Wiltshire
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Further information on this manuscript is contained in two letters from 1927 within the Correspondence section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/03; MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/04).
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Coke's ordination as a priest in the Church of England, copies of John Wesley's appointed of Coke as Superintendent of America and Coke's certification of James Lynch to the office of Elder.
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Ordained by Charles [Moss], Bishop of Saint Davids whose episcopal seal is attached. With typed transcript.
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Label indicating once part of the holdings of the 'Museum of Methodist Antiquities'
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The ordination certificate of Thomas Coke as a deacon (10 June 1770) is held by the Museum of Methodism (accession 2014/1406).
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Photostat copy of John Wesley's appointment of Thomas Coke as Superintendent for America for those 'who desire to continue under my care, and still adhere to the Doctrines and Discipline of the Church of England', 2 September 1784.
With transcript of above and photograph of stylised printed version.
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Relating to property of Thomas Coke's in Breconshire and extracts from publications on Methodist missionary work amongst slaves in their West Indies districts.
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Dr Thomas Coke of the parish of Saint Luke's in Middlesex, being the son, heir and administrator of the late Ann Coke, widow, authorises Thomas Williams to act on his behalf with regard to the mortgage held by Thomas and Jane Prosser, and their son John, on the tenement know as Ywern Watkin with all associated buildings, a beasthouse (formerly a cottage known as Cre Eynon) with land and a messuage formerly inhabited by Charles John with associated buildings and land all in the parish of Llangattock justa Crickhowell in the county of Brecon.
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Extracts from Methodist missionary reports (some written by Coke) of 1804, 1809, 1816 & 1817 and the 'Colonial Journal' [1816]. Principally relates to evangelism amongst slaves.
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Publications by Coke with two printed circular letters regarding missions in Asia.
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Original was sent to Rev Mr [John] Fletcher at Madley n[ea]r Sheffnal Cheshire from Thomas Coke, near Plymouth [Devon], Jan[uary] 6 1784. Values of subscriptions have been added. Coke adds a note indicating recent subscriptions and hopes Fletcher can add some more. Been an 'Outpouring of the Spirit' in West of Cornwall so he will be preaching there outdoors during the winter.
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Facsimile supplied to Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society by S D Waddy junr, April 1870
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Printed in London.
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Printed by G Paramore, North-Green, Worship-Street [London]. Handwritten index added at front.
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Previously presented to the Musuem of Antiquities by Mr S D Waddy
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Printed at the Conference-Office, North Green, Worship-Street, London. Includes 'A statement of the receipts abd disbursements of the Methodist missions, in the years 1803 and 1804'.
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Once owned by Geo[rge] E Allen
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Outlines plan for missions in Asia: two missionaries to accompany and assist Coke; one to Java; three to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Outfitting missions will be expensive so asks for financial assistance. Indicates Ceylon [Sri Lanka] is a good prospect - Christian community established, with 'an uncommonly docile people', polygamy illegal, Portuguese spoken by many, close to Travancore [India] with its Syriac Christians and Tanjore [Thanjavur, India] where Mr Swartz laboured. Coke and his two associates will be itinerant on Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and he will report back home in writing and, if possible in person, on the mission. Requests financial assistance again.
In a postscript Coke indicate how subscriptions can be made.
Signed and part dated by Coke. Printed at the Conference Office, 14 City Road, London.
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Extracts or edited copies of the following letters:
Letter dated 14 July 1814, Point de Galle [Sri Lanka], from James Lynch, William Ault, George Erskine, T[homas] H[all] Squance and Benjamin Clough, with additional information provided by James Lynch and T[homas] H[all] Squance;
Letter dated 19 July 1814, Columbo [Sri Lanka], from A[ndrew] Armour;
Letter dated 9 Sept[ember] 1814, Jaffnapattam [Jaffna, Sri Lanka], from J[ames] Lynch.
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Restrictions Apply
The original letters are amongst the correspondence for the Ceylon District (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1).
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Some of the text of this printed letter is missing due to its damaged state
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Images of Thomas Coke and of places associated with him.
Subdivided into images of Coke; images of places associated with Coke; miscellaneous. Where possible items have been catalogued within each section chronologically.
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Three depictions of Coke and one of him meeting John Baxter in Antigua
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Image of Coke probably in his twenties.
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Item once belonged to John T Salisbury of Freshwater [?Pembrokeshire]. Deposited by H B Rattenbury with the Methodist Missionary Society, 19 August 1948.
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Some foxing
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Image of Coke probably in his thirties.
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Item once belonged to John T Salisbury of Freshwater [?Pembrokeshire]. Deposited by H B Rattenbury with the Methodist Missionary Society, 19 August 1948.
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Some foxing
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The description on the reverse of the photograph mistakenly attributes the miniature painting to Henry Edridge.
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Miniature (late C18th) with the Methodist Church.
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An image of Edridge's depiction of Thomas Coke can be viewed on the National Portrait Gallery's website (
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Memorials, buildings and other places named after or associated with Coke.
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Memorial tablet supine beneath a tree reads 'Sacred to the Memory of Revd Thos Coke DD Obt 1815'.
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Received by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society from Isaac H Holden of Southport, Cheshire, 7 Nov 1933
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Letter from Isaac H Holden, 1933, in the Correspondence section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/05).
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Inscription 'Monument Erected to the Memory of the Revd Thomas Coke L.L.D. in the Priory Church, Brecon'.
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Probably sent to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society on 12 May 1837 by J E Thomas.
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See letter by J E Thomas, 1837, in the correspondence section of this collection (MMS/17/02/00/03/01/04/01) which appears to relate to this sketch.
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[Photographed by Rev B Clutterbuck]
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Copyright held by Camera Press Ltd (APA)
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Photographer not known. Image used in lantern slide and script set 'The Sugar Islands'. Coke's meeting with Baxter took place on Christmas Day 1786.
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Photograph of seals, with brief notes, on families associated with Thomas Coke.
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Small packet labelled 'Dr Coke's seal' and 'Miss Longstaff'; photograph of the impression of three signet seals; note on the coat of arms of the Pyne family, with the motto of the Payne family.
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Album principally containing portraits, signed letters and signatures of notable C19th missionaries dating from 1824 to 1889.
Contents in following order:
James Calvert - Signed letter (1881)
William Arthur - Portrait and signature only
Daniel J Draper - Portrait and signed letter (1856)
John Shaw Banks - Portrait and signed letter (no year)
William B Boyle - Portrait and signed letter ([18]66)
John Brewster - Portrait and signed letter (1885)
Th[oma]s Coke - Portrait with newspaper pictures of Portsmouth re Rev Coke's embarkation point
James Calvert - Portrait and signed letter (1876)
Thomas Champness - Portrait and signed letter (1889)
Benjamin Clough - Portrait and signed letter (1845)
Samuel Hardey - Portrait and signed letter (1865)
John T F Halligey - Portrait and signed letter (1887)
Elijah Hoole - Portrait and signed letter (1849)
William Impey - Portrait and signed letter (1877)
E E Jenkins - Portrait and signed letter ([18]89)
John Kilner - Portrait and signed letter (1885)
William B Fox - Portrait and signed letter (1825)
William Moister - Portrait and two signed letters (1851 & 1859)
Joseph Nettleton - Portrait and signed letter (1884)
Robert Newstead - Portrait and signed letter (1839)
T H Squance - Portrait and signed letter ([18]52)
William Shaw - Portrait
Barnabus Shaw - Portrait
William O Simpson - Portrait
W B Simpson - Portrait and signed letter ([18]81)
John Thomas - Portrait
Samuel Leigh - Portrait with printed copy of the inscription on his gravestone
William Martin Harvard - Portrait and signed letter (1857)
W[illia]m J Shrewsbury - Portrait and two signed letters (1853 & [18]68)
William Wilson - Portrait and signed letter (1877)
John Waterhouse - Portrait and signed letter (1824)
Joshua Marsden - Portrait and signed letter (1834)
Walter Lawry - Portrait and signed letter (1839)
William Crookes - Portrait and signed letter (1840)
J Cameron - Signed letter (1851)
Th[oma]s Cryer - Signed letter (1848)
John Sunday - Portrait
There is also a loose piece of paper containing an English verse & Chinese characters signed (1923) by G Mathew Thomas which is clearly a later addition to the album.
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Gift from Titus Hardcastle to his daughter Lizzie
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Comprises the personal papers of a few missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessor the WMMS) in their districts in Europe. Papers relating to missionary work in Spain, Portugal and France are available as well as two accounts relating to military life and faith in Gibraltar. Includes the papers of William Thomas Brown (WMMS) and William Harris Rule (WMMS).
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the Europe districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
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Manuscript volume entitled 'The Christian Experience of Captain F.M. Tripp of the 26th Regiment' who served in Gibraltar, 1817-1820.
Manuscript account by Anne West (b. 5/11/1785) of Exeter, daughter of a soldier of the 18th Regiment and wife of Thomas Daniels, of her life and religious beliefs including for the period she lived on the island of Gibraltar, 1844.
Brief (12pp) draft manuscript account of the life of Pierre de Pontavice, Methodist minister in the Channel Islands and France, possibly written by the Rev Elijah Hoole, undated.
Diary of a visit to Portugal (13-18 January 1938) by George Edward Hickman Johnson [one of the General Secretaries of the WMMS], including report and notes on property.
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Born 26th December 1821; entered the service of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Hatton Garden, London; cared for Spanish sailors visiting the port of London and learnt Spanish; requested the Missionary Committee to send him to Spain; lay agent at Barcelona, employed in educational and evangelistic work; ordained 1879 and missionary to the Balearic Isles, 1879-1888; returned to England owing to ill health; served at City Road, London, 1888; Brighton, 1890; died 3rd July 1899.
Papers, 1861-1890s, of William Thomas Brown, including observations on Spain and religious matters, and comprising a journal, presumed to be Brown's, 1861-1863; journal with copies of letters sent and received, 1869-1870; manuscripts on 'Contributions towards a History of Methodist Schools in Spain', 1869-1873, and 'Glimpses of a Mission in Spain', including copies of letters, 1880s-1890s.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for William Thomas Brown (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/FBN 16-18 & 28). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Spain and Portugal district (MMS/Europe/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-3).
Catalogued
William Harris Rule was born on 15th November 1802 in Penryn, Cornwall. After a difficult childhood he was forced to leave home by his father, a naval doctor, and eventually entered the ministry in 1825. Upon ordination he was posted to Malta although after a year he re-located to the St Vincent's district in the West Indies. Through his preaching to slaves he became a vocal and ardent opponent to slavery. He returned to England in 1831 but after a short stay in Sevenoaks, Kent, he was posted overseas again but this time to Gibraltar. Here he remained for nine years making a significant contribution to the preaching of Methodism. He was responsible for erecting the first Methodist chapel for the garrison as well as a charity school. He attempted, in the face of strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, to preach in Spain and thereby visited Cadiz, Seville, Madrid and St Roque. All his attempts to establish Methodist missions in Spain were frustrated.
Returning back to England in 1842 he worked in a number of circuits including Louth, Plymouth and Aldershot camp. During this period he worked notably on two endeavours. Firstly, he was a Connexional Editor from 1851 to 1857 during which period (as well as for many years afterwards) he devoted himself to translating biblical texts into Spanish and writing books, mainly on Roman Catholicism. Secondly, he continued preaching to soldiers and campaigned for their right to be able to worship through the Protestant denomination of their choice. He also developed the concept of Methodist Chaplaincy and argued, successfully, for the establishment of a Soldiers' Home in Aldershot, Hampshire, in 1857.
Rule became a supernumerary in 1868 residing at Croydon, Surrey. He died in neighbouring Addiscombe on 25th September 1890. He married twice: firstly, Mary Ann Dunhill on 24th February 1826 and, secondly, Harriete Ehmed on 10th March 1874.
Further Reading (selective):
Rule, W H, Memoir of a mission to Gibraltar and Spain : with collateral notices of events favouring religious liberty, and of the decline of Romish power in that country, from the beginning of this century to the year 1842 (1844);
Rule, W H, The religious aspect of the civil war in China (1853);
Rule, W H, A Jesuit saint : St. Francis Xavier, first Romish missionary to India (1861);
Rule, W H, History of the Inquisition from its establishment in the twelfth century to its extinction in the nineteenth (1874);
Rule, W H, An account of the establishment of Wesleyan Methodism in the British Army (1878);
Rule, W H, Recollections of my life and work at home and abroad in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (1886).
Manuscript of Spanish Hymns, 1832.
Article entitled 'The Spanish Priesthood Rebuked', c 1856.
Manuscript entitled 'A series of Discourses relating to the principal subjects of controversy between the Romish and Protestant Churches originally delivered in Spanish in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Gibraltar', with accompanying letter from Rule to Rev J Beecham, 1/6/1834.
1832, 1834 & c1856
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Official correspondence (including extracts from his journal) written during his service in Malta and Gibraltar is extant (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Malta/FBN 25 & MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Gibraltar/FBN 15-18). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the European mission field (MMS/Europe/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). However, the survival rate for these is not good and some individual years for specific districts are not extant.
An account of Rule's visit to Gibraltar, the Balearic Islands, Barcelona, Madrid and Oporto written in December 1878 is available (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Gibraltar/FBN 17).
For his papers relating to the West Indies please see his entry within the West Indies section of the biographical series.
The odd letter written by William Harris can be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
His oath taken under an Act of 52 George III governing religious worship can be found within MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 8 (fiche 324).
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of mainly missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessor the WMMS) in their districts in the West Indies, including British Guiana [Guyana]. Includes the journals of Samuel Goodyer, Thomas Richardson, Thomas Kennington Hyde, William Dowson and John Brownell, the autobiography of J T Hartwell and William Solomon, as well as the notebooks of Rev & Mrs George Swinnerton. The miscellaneous material principally relates to slavery.
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the West Indian districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
3 volume manuscript entitled 'A Natural, Civil and Religious History of Montserrat in the West Indies....by a Wesleyan Missionary' (after 1826).
Letter from [John] Wiggins, Jamaica, to Messrs [George] Marsden & [Richard] Watson [General Secretaries of the WMMS], 77 Hatton Gardens, London, 28 August 1817, with enclosure entitled 'Remarks on the Slave Curates Bill' (27 August 1817).
Printed pamphlet entitled 'Accounts of the Earthquake in Antigua on the 8th February 1843'.
Transcript of correspondence between Jonathan Edmondson, Chairman of the [WMMS Jamaica] District, and Howe Philip, Marques of Sligo [Governor of Jamaica], re his Excellency's departure, as published in 'The Cornwall Chronicle', Jamaica, 31 August 1837.
Manuscript entitled 'The Substance of a Discourse Delivered at the opening of the New Chapel in Charles-Town Nevis Aug 1st 1802', being a sermon based on Exodus 20.24. With covering letter (20 September 1802) to Rev Doctor [Thomas] Coke attached.
Manuscript entitled 'The first decree being the Substance of a Funeral Discourse delivered in the town of Falmouth in the Island of Jamaica on Sunday 31st of May at Ochorios in the Parish of St Ann Sunday June 7th and in the Wesleyan Chapel Spanish Town Sunday the 14th June 1835 on the Death of the Revds Messrs Charles Wilcox, William Wood and Ja[me]s Corbitt Wesleyan Missionaries by John Corlett Wesleyan Missionary.
Printed final draft of the missionaries and districts of the Eastern Section of the West Indian Conference, 1893.
Untitled manuscript being a copy (scribe unkown) of Thomas Clarkson's 1845 'Review of the Rev Thomas B Freeman's Journals of Visits to Ashanti, etc: with remarks on the present situation of Africa, and its spiritual prospects', mid C19th.
Printed appendix (incomplete) to the report of the committee to enquire into the rebellion [in Jamaica, 1832] containing examinations of witnesses and confessions of those charged, c1833.
'An Act for relieving the Slave Population from the obligations imposed upon them by the recent Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland intituled "An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies; for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves; and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the services of such slaves"'. Antigua, 5th June 1834.
Copy of an address presented to the friends of Sir Fouell [Fowell] Buxton on the erection of a monument to his memory by Captain J F Dorvelas Dorval of the Haitian Army, May 1846. French with English translation.
Photograph of [West Indies Conference] with names of those depicted on the reverse, 1890s.
Power of attorney. William Bird, Jamaica, vesting said power in Edward Bird, Merchant, London. 21 October 1691.
Copies of three documents issued by the magistrates of St Mary, Jamaica, regarding the detention and subsequent imprisonment (until a fine of £10 is paid) of John Greenwood - 'of the Methodist persuasion' - for preaching without a licence and also revoking the licence for preaching at Robert Glover's house in Port Maria Bay, July 1832.
'The Antigua Standard', 1 April 1893, which includes an article on the loss of the 'Maria' mail boat in 1826.
Manuscript entitled 'A Review of the Anti-Methodistical Parts of "Medical And Miscellaneous Observations, Relative to the West India Islands. By John Williamson, M.D." etc. etc. Including An Account of the Designs and Proceedings of The Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries; Their Instructions from the "Managing Committee"; And their Doctrines and Discipline: And Also, A Refutation of the Changes preferred against them By Dr Williamson, Mr Marriat, and others. In a Letter To The Rev: Josh Benson, Editor of the Methodist Magazine etc. By A Missionary.' c1817.
Manuscript entitled 'Sketch of the Wesleyan Mission in the Island of St Bartholomew's', West Indies. Drawn up for the use of the Swedish Missionary Society', ?1830
Manuscript in 4 volumes entitled 'Series of Tracts for Slaves in the West Indies' by a 'Wesleyan Methodist Missionary', undated. Part I - 'A Conversation on Marriages between Quacco the Head Driver on an Estate and the Missionary who visits it'; part II - 'A Conversation on Marriage Between Quacco the Head Driver and Quasheba his companion; and the Missionary who visits the Estate'; part III - 'The Marriage of Quacco and Quasheba'; part IV - 'An Address to Quacco and Quasheba after their Marriage'. Mid C19th.
Manuscript volume, entitled 'Letters Respecting the Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries in the Colonies' containing copies of correspondence (1817-1818) from government officials, plantation owners, etc, in the West Indies in response to questions asked by Joseph Butterworth and Tho[mas] Thompson, MPs, as to the effect of the preaching to and teaching of slaves by WMMS missionaries, 1818.
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Copy of Clarkson's review of Freeman's journals identified by Garrett Nagaishi, June 2016
Catalogued
William Harris Rule was born on 15th November 1802 in Penryn, Cornwall. After a difficult childhood he was forced to leave home by his father, a naval doctor, and eventually entered the ministry in 1825. Upon ordination he was posted to Malta although after a year he re-located to the St Vincent's district in the West Indies. Through his preaching to slaves he became a vocal and ardent opponent to slavery. He returned to England in 1831 but after a short stay in Sevenoaks, Kent, he was posted overseas again but this time to Gibraltar. Here he remained for nine years making a significant contribution to the preaching of Methodism. He was responsible for erecting the first Methodist chapel for the garrison as well as a charity school. He attempted, in the face of strong opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, to preach in Spain and thereby visited Cadiz, Seville, Madrid and St Roque. All his attempts to establish Methodist missions in Spain were frustrated.
Returning back to England in 1842 he worked in a number of circuits including Louth, Plymouth and Aldershot camp. During this period he worked notably on two endeavours. Firstly, he was a Connexional Editor from 1851 to 1857 during which period (as well as for many years afterwards) he devoted himself to translating biblical texts into Spanish and writing books, mainly on Roman Catholicism. Secondly, he continued preaching to soldiers and campaigned for their right to be able to worship through the Protestant denomination of their choice. He also developed the concept of Methodist Chaplaincy and argued, successfully, for the establishment of a Soldiers' Home in Aldershot, Hampshire, in 1857.
Rule became a supernumerary in 1868 residing at Croydon, Surrey. He died in the parish of Addiscombe on 25th September 1890. He married twice: firstly, Mary Ann Dunhill on 24th February 1826 and, secondly, Harriete Ehmed on 10th March 1874.
Further Reading (selective):
Rule, W H, Memoir of a mission to Gibraltar and Spain : with collateral notices of events favouring religious liberty, and of the decline of Romish power in that country, from the beginning of this century to the year 1842 (1844);
Rule, W H, The religious aspect of the civil war in China (1853);
Rule, W H, A Jesuit saint : St. Francis Xavier, first Romish missionary to India (1861);
Rule, W H, History of the Inquisition from its establishment in the twelfth century to its extinction in the nineteenth (1874);
Rule, W H, An account of the establishment of Wesleyan Methodism in the British Army (1878);
Rule, W H, Recollections of my life and work at home and abroad in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (1886).
Notes, attributed to W H Rule, on some of the islands of the West Indies comprising: Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, Nevis, St Christopher, St Eustatius, St Bartholomew, St Martin, Anguilla, Tortola, St Vincent and Grenada.
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Official correspondence written during his time in St Vincent's survives (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 6-9). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the St Vincent's district (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). For his papers relating to Gibraltar and Spain please see his entry within the Europe section of the biographical series.
The odd letter written by William Harris can be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
His oath taken under an Act of 52 George III governing religious worship can be found within MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 8 (fiche 324)
Catalogued
Thomas Pennock was sent to the Antigua District of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 where he served not only on the island of Antigua but also the islands of St Christopher's, Tortola, St Eustatius' and St Martin's. In 1829 he moved to the Jamaica district where he was stationed at Kingston and served as chairman of the district in the early 1830s.
By 1833 his wife's and his own health had become poor (no doubt in part caused by the death of three children in quick succession) and they both were sent to New York to recover. Upon his return in 1834 he became embroiled in a disagreement over the status of indigenous ministers and church workers with colleagues leading to a split in the synod and the holding of two rival synods that year. The British Committee intervened and sent Vincent Ward to take charge but he unfortunately died not long after his arrival, so it was agreed that John Edmondson should take his place. Pennock continued working in the Jamaica District (at Morant Bay and Grateful Hill) although his preaching increasingly distanced him from his colleagues until he severed his connection with the WMMS in 1837 to form an Independent Methodist Church (with the assistance of Joseph Blythman and John T Parkyn). In 1838 this mission received support from the Wesleyan Association in Great Britain but the Church never lived up to its early promise, partly due to the deaths of its originators within a few years, including Pennock in the mid 1840s. The church eventually became part of the United Methodist Free Churches' mission in Jamaica.
Further reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 2, 1921);
Smith, Swallow & Treffry, The Story of the United Methodist Church (1932).
Manuscript entitled 'Charges Alleged Against The Sectarians By Certain Senators In the Jamaica House of Assembly on the 30th November 1830 Examined and Refuted By Thomas Pennock Wesleyan Missionary'. In addition to a general defence of sectarian missionaries he also refutes the specific charges of Lutherism, sedition, 'robbing the slaves', driving the slaves 'mad', 'exercising an undue influence over the minds of the slaves, ruinous to the property of the master', 'exercising a mode of discipline which leads to vice and immorality', preaching at unreasonable hours and assisting the Anti-Slavery Society and promoting emancipation.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for Thomas Pennock (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 2-12 & MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Jamaica/FBN 47-48). There are also a couple of letters written by him whilst recuperating in New York in 1834 (MMS/North America/Correspondence/FBN 4). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the West Indies districts (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2). However, this material will not include information on his work as an independent Methodist missionary in Jamaica.
There is one letter by Pennock within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Catalogued
James Cox was born in Bermuda and begun his career for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society there in 1823. For nearly the next twenty-five years he worked in the Antigua District (including for a period as Chairman of the District) serving in St Christopher's, Antigua, Dominica, Tortola and Nevis. In 1857 he relocated to Jamaica, initially being stationed at Kingston, but died two years later on 30 May 1859 at Highbury-Grove, Morant Bay, Jamaica.
Manuscript entitled 'Wesleyan Methodist Discipline for the Antigua District. Compiled for the use of the Missionaries in that District from The Minutes of Conference, The District Minutes, The Circulars, General Instruction and other communications of the Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society London'. Dedicated to the Reverend Thomas Morgan and other Wesleyan missionaries in the Antigua District.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for James Cox (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 5-12, MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Antigua/FBN 21-23 & MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Jamaica/FBN 49). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the West Indies districts (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-4).
Further brief papers relating to James Cox comprise 'Papers of the Antigua Mission' (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 45) as well as one letter by him within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Catalogued
John Shipman was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in 1788. He was accepted for the ministry in 1810 and worked for four years in home circuits. He married Ann Wills on 26th July 1814 and shortly afterwards the two of them sailed from Portsmouth on the 'Sir James Henry Craig' to Jamaica. However, Shipman found it difficult to obtain a preaching licence and when he did finally succeed in November 1815 he was restricted to where and when he could preach in Kingston. Later they both served in Montego Bay, Grateful Hill and Morant Bay with Ann teaching in Catechetical schools and John serving as Chairman of the District. Many years later John described how they had both 'suffered much from the hostile spirit of the planters and merchants of those days of slavery and darkness'. They left Jamaica in 1824 in the wake of the 'Jamaica Resolutions' and returned to Ann's native Aberdeen. Subsequently, they served in a number of districts and circuits including Kings Lynn [Norfolk], Loughborough [Leicestershire], Keighley [Yorkshire], Colchester [Essex], Yarmouth [Norfolk], Otley [Yorkshire], Cranford [London] and Belper[Derbyshire]. Anne died on 5th December 1846, aged 56. In 1850 John became a supernumerary in Cheddar, Somerset, where he was instrumental in the building of a new chapel which opened only days before his death on 19th December 1853.
Anne and John Shipman had at least 8 children. Three of them died in their infancy in Jamaica (including Susanna of measles in c1821). Their daughter Anne died on 26th April 1839 aged 15 at Keighley, Yorkshire, whilst their son, Alexander Innes, died on 18th February 1848 aged 22. Two other sons' names are known: Martin Luther and Samuel Annesley. The latter of these two became a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary himself, dying in service aged 24 at Accra, Ghana, on 22nd February 1842.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 2, 1921);
Shipman, J, The Missionary Child: a memoir of Samuel Annesley Shipman by his father (1846).
Manuscript entitled 'Thoughts on The Present state of Religion among the Negroes in Jamaica. A plan For their moral and religious Improvement suggested by which, a knowledge of the Christian religion may be communicated to them, with but (comparatively) little Clerical assistance; and without teaching them to Read. And The propriety and necessity of their Instruction considered in a variety of arguments. By John Shipman'.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Shipman (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 1-5). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, for the last couple of years he served in the Jamaica District (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). There is one letter by Shipman, with some brief biographical details, within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
The Methodist Missionary Society Library copy of 'The Missionary Child: a memoir of Samuel Annesley Shipman by his father' (MMSL MG 558) also contains a printed pamphlet on Mrs Thomas Henderson [Shipman's sister-in-law] as well as manuscript memoirs by Shipman on his father (William), his wife and his son (Alexander Innes).
Catalogued
Thomas Richardson began his religious career as a local preacher in York but soon expressed an interest in missionary work. He left Liverpool, Lancashire, for the Caribbean on 13th November 1802 arriving in Antigua on 1st January 1803. After preaching for a short time in Antigua he then travelled onto Dominica arriving on 2nd February 1803. Unfortunately Richardson's health suffered in his new surroundings and he contracted yellow fever on 4th October, dying five days later.
Journal of Thomas Richardson covering the period he served as a WMMS missionary in Roseau, Dominica. The journal begins on 6th February 1803 with the last entry dated 30th September. A postscript has been added by Rob[er]t Shepley stating that Richardson died on 9th October.
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There is no extant correspondence for Thomas Richardson within the archive. However, two of his personal letters (dating from February and April 1803) are reproduced within the Wesleyan-Methodist magazine of December 1803.
Catalogued
James Hartwell was born on 28th November 1817 at Ashbourne, Derbyshire. He became a Methodist in 1836 and was accepted as a candidate for the ministry in 1839, having been a local preacher in the Banbury circuit. The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society had planned to send him to India (Hartwell had even begun to learn Tamil) but as no position was available it was decided that his knowledge of French should be put to good use in Haiti. He and his newly wed bride left for Haiti in October 1840. He remained in Haiti for twelve years witnessing the devastating earthquake of 1842 and the revolution in 1843 that founded Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic]. During his tenure the mission expanded with new chapels being built in Port-au-Prince (1842) and at Cap Haitien. In 1853 he transferred to the Bahamas District remaining there until 1862 when he relocated to the Antigua District where he was involved in founding the High School. For part of his service in the Antigua District he served as Chairman; an office he also held in his last posting in the British Guiana District from 1873. Whilst resident in the Caribbean he was also involved in a number of public positions relating to health, education and libraries.
Hartwell returned to England in 1875 and served initially in Gloucester at the time that Northgate chapel was built. Later he served in Rawtenstall [Lancashire], Wath-on-Dearne [Yorkshire] and Merthyr Tydfil Glamorgan]. In 1887 he returned to Gloucester as a supernumerary, dying there on 24th June 1902.
Hartwell married twice. Firstly, to Anne Lewis at Bramham Church, Yorkshire, on 30th September 1840. She died, after complications caused by the birth of her daughter, on 18th November 1841. His second marriage in 1847 was to the sister of the Rev Joseph A Heureaux, his missionary colleague in Haiti.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 2, 1921)
Manuscript autobiography by J T Hartwell. Concentrates on his 35 years as a Wesleyan Methodist missionary in the West Indies Districts. With a few inserts including a newspaper obituary for him dated 10th July 1902.
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Given to the Methodist Missionary Society by Hartwell's grand-daughter Edith Heureaux Hartwell of Exmouth
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for James Hartwell (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Haiti/FBN 41; MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Bahamas/FBN 28; MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Antigua/FBN 23-25; MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/British Guiana/FBN 38-39). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the West Indies districts (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-7).
Catalogued
John Brownell was born near Stockport, Cheshire, in 1771. Whilst a local preacher he became interested in missionary work and was approved to be a missionary in the Caribbean in 1794. His missionary career in the West Indies districts included being stationed on St Christopher's, Nevis, Antigua, Providence Island, Demerara and the Virgin Islands (notably Tortola).
Brownell singular moral vision led to two incidents that had repercussions for both him and the WMMS. The first took place whilst he was stationed in St Christopher's and Nevis between 1796 and 1798. Brownell objected to preaching in estate buildings owned by what he considered immoral individuals (although he continued to preach to slaves in their accommodation on said estates). Some slave owners took exception to this and there were incidents of services being broken up, assaults (including one on Brownell) and even an attempt to set light to the Charlestown Chapel. The second incident occurred when a letter from Brownell to Joseph Butterworth criticising the behaviour of the local white population in Tortola was published in 1806. As a result of this Brownell was assaulted in the street but at the trial the jury refused to convict his assailant. Brownell's health was sufficiently impaired that he returned to Great Britain. The remainder of Brownell's career was spent in Home districts and circuits with his death occurring on 24th September 1821.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 2, 1921)
Manuscript entitled 'A Journal of the Methodist Mission in the Island of St: Christophers West Indies' by 'A Missionary'. Journal begins on 1st February 1801 and ends on the 26th January 1803. Includes some copies and extracts of John Brownell's correspondence and has a covering letter to Rev Dr Coke dated 1st February 1803
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for John Brownell (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 1), although there are only a handful of letters.
Thomas Coke's 'An Account of the Rise, Progress and Present State of the Methodist Missions' (1804) includes extracts of a couple of letters from Brownell (originals not held at SOAS).
Catalogued
Matthew Banks was born in Rotherham on 23rd February 1798. He began preaching in Yorkshire as a layman but after being accepted for the ministry his first posting was to Antigua, leaving England in late 1826 and arriving there in February 1827. Later he served in St Christopher's, Anguilla and St Eustatius. During his service in the West Indies districts he was a vocal opponent of slavery. He returned to Great Britain in 1837 and initially served in Layton. Over the next twenty years he served in a number of circuits particularly in Yorkshire including Thirsk, Selby, Tadcaster and Malton. He became a supernumerary in 1860 (whilst stationed at Bridlington-Quay) and died there on 15th June 1878.
Banks' journal for part of the period he was a Wesleyan Methodist missionary on the islands of Antigua and St Christopher's. The journal begins on 21st February - although applied retrospectively to 3rd February when he arrived on Antigua - and ends (mid-sentence) on 24th August 1828 whilst stationed on St Christopher's.
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A note at the start of the journal indicates there were earlier journals and presumably, from the way this journal ends, there were later ones as well. None of these journals are held at SOAS.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Matthew Banks (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 7-12 & MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Antigua/FBN 21). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Antigua District (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
There is one letter by Banks within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Catalogued
Thomas Kennington Hyde began and ended his career as a Methodist minister in the Antigua District of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Initially he worked on the island of Antigua itself but later he also worked on the islands of Montserrat and Nevis. He died, two days after his wife, on 19th January 1830. They left four children (one of whom was called Ann). The youngest child (eleven months old) was adopted by Mr & Mrs Otter of Romford in Essex.
Two volumes of his journal for some of the period he was a missionary in the West Indies Districts. The first begins with his departure from Bristol on 6th December 1819 and ends on 4th October [1825] whilst on Montserrat. The second begins on 9th July 1829 whilst he was stationed on Nevis, with the last entry being for 5th January 1830.
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Presumably there was at least one other volume of his journal for the period October 1825 until July 1829. However, no such volume or volumes are known to be extant.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for Thomas Kennington Hyde (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 3-8). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, for much of the time he was resident in the Antigua District (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
There is one letter by Hyde within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Brief summaries of his work appear in the printed annual reports of the WMMS for 1823 & 1824. An account of his and his wife's deaths is given in Wesleyan Missionary Notices (vol iv, May 1830).
Catalogued
Mary Smith was born at Bilston, Staffordshire [West Midlands] on 30th August 1835 whilst George Swinnerton was born on 9th October 1839 at Wellington in Shropshire. He converted to Methodism in 1855 and later became a local preacher. In 1862 he was accepted as a candidate for the ministry and began training at Richmond, Surrey. He was selected as a missionary to serve in the West Indies districts and departed Southampton on 18th December 1865 arriving in British Guiana [Guyana] on 8th January 1866. Mary Smith left Southampton for British Guiana [Guyana] on 17th August 1866 and, just under a month later, married George Swinnerton at Golden Grove on 9th September 1866. As well as being stationed at Golden Grove they also both worked at Friendship, Mahaica and Essequibo. During this period the Rev Swinnerton developed yellow fever three times with the third occasion (1870) being sufficently severe for him to have to convalesce in Barbados and then return with his wife to Great Britain during the Spring of 1871.
They intially took up a post at Lostwithiel in the Cornish circuit of Bodmin but Rev Swinnerton's health was still fragile and he had to spend much of that year convalescing before transferring to Downham in Norfolk in 1872. The Swinnertons continued to serve in a number of home circuits and chapels including Bungay [Suffolk], Cinderford [Gloucestershire], Masham [Yorkshire], Stainland [Yorkshire], Pateley Bridge [Yorkshire], Brynmawr [Gwent] and Harlesden [London]. Mrs Swinnerton died at Harlesden on 16th September 1914 with her husband becoming a supernumerary there three years later. Rev Swinnerton died at Harlesden on 8th December 1917.
Three notebooks compiled by Rev George Swinnerton and in some instances his child 'HHS' with one exercise book compiled by Miss Mary Smith (later Mrs Swinnerton) and her child 'HHS' [probably Dr Henry Hurd Swinnerton].
Notebook A: Entitled 'Notes on religious experience and work collected from loose pages' and being a journal compiled between 1896 and 1898 by George Swinnerton from 'letters'. Entries date from 13th October 1886 until 27th September 1889 and cover the period from his residency at Friendship [Guyana] until he is living at Dacre Banks near Pateley Bridge in Yorkshire. Includes one insert being the 'letter' for 8th July 1887 which the entry in the journal is based on.
Notebook B: Memoir of Swinnerton's life up to his departure for the West Indies districts as a missionary in 1866. Includes a summary of his missionary career in British Guiana [Guyana] and his later ministerial career in Great Britain until becoming a supernumerary. With brief timeline for him and his wife. Has 9 inserts including two circuit plans for Wellington [Shropshire] in 1860 and 1862 and original 'letters'. Much of the later material in the notebook was transcribed in the 1950s by 'HHS', a child of Rev Swinnerton.
Notebook C: Brief autobiography by Rev Swinnerton up to 1874 when he was resident in Downham, Norfolk (in the hands of Rev Swinnerton and 'HHS'). Overview of contents of all three notebooks with notes on the creation of each by 'HHS' who also recounts a few incidents from Rev Swinnerton's life. Has two inserts being a circuit plan for Essequibo [Guyana] for part of 1870 and one original 'letter'. Notebook compiled by Rev Swinnerton in 1890s and continued by HHS in 1950s.
Exercise book: Account by Miss Smith (later Mrs Swinnerton) of her departure from Great Britain to British Guiana [Guyana] in 1886. Similar account by Rev Swinnerton for 1865. Includes envelopes affixed to book containing a few copies of letters written by the Swinnertons to family and friends along with some notes. Some annotations added by 'HHS' in 1950s. Includes one insert being a circuit plan for Brynmawr [Gwent], 1892-1893.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for George Swinnerton (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/St Vincents/FBN 61-62 & MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/British Guiana/FBN 38). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the British Guiana District (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 5-6).
Catalogued
Born in Bulkington, near Coventry in Warwickshire, 7th March 1846; his parents were devout Calvinists, but he became connected with the Wesleyan Methodist Warwick Lane Church, Coventry; became a candidate for ordination, 1870; trained at Richmond, 1870-1873; married Elizabeth, c1876; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Jamaica, 1873-1886; returned to England for his wife's health, 1886; minister at Salisbury [Wiltshire], 1886-1889; Torrington [Devon], 1889-1892; Cadishead [Lancashire], 1892-1895; Padiham [Lancashire], 1895-1898; Northallerton [Yorkshire], 1898-1899; Bradwell [Yorkshire], 1899-1902; Withernsea [Yorkshire], 1902-1904; supernumerary at Longsight, Manchester, Lancashire, 1904-1905; supernumerary missionary to France, 1905-1907; supernumerary minister at Brunswick, Sheffield, Yorkshire, 1907-1915; City Road, Manchester, Lancashire, 1915-1916; minister at Earlsdon, Coventry, Warwickshire, 1916; died, 7th October 1927.
Journals, 1873-1890, of Samuel Goodyer, describing his training, preparations for missionary work in Jamaica, religious practices including preaching and praying, his reading, the journey to Jamaica, missionary work and impressions of Jamaica, and his return to England.
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The journals are numbered from number IV and there were presumably once earlier volumes.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Samuel Goodyer (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Jamaica/FBN 51-52). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Jamaica district (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 6-8). There may also be a record of his work whilst a supernumerary in France (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/France/FBN 10) and also in the synod minutes (MMS/Europe/Synod Minutes/FBN 3).
Catalogued
John Brown senior, who was born c1786, began his ministerial career in 1807 at Alnwick, Northumberland. After a few years working in a number of home circuits he was selected by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society to start a mission on the island of Hispaniola, in part due to his knowledge of French. He sailed, with James Catts, from Bristol on 22 November 1815 and originally landed in Tobago. After a short time preaching there they left for Port-au-Prince (arriving on 7th February 1817) but not before they recommended to the Missionary Committee that a mission should be established on Tobago (which it later was). Both Brown and Catts had a difficult time establishing the mission with Catts concentrating on education (founding a short-lived school) and Brown tending to pastoral matters and most of the preaching. Both of them were taken ill with fever in February 1817 which subsequently hampered their efforts.
An incident in November 1818 brought their mission to a rapid close (and led to no Wesleyan Methodist missionary returning for 9 years). A man, who had been seen in the past worshiping at the Methodist chapel, committed matricide. Some individuals, already antagonistic to the mission, used the opportunity to blame the missionaries for the incident, which in turn resulted in acts of violence against both people and property. The situation escalated to the point where President Boyer recommended both missionaries leave: Catts going to the Antigua District and Brown returning to England, landing in March 1819. The Methodist community continued in Port-au-Prince (albeit sometimes in adversity) and actually increased in numbers in the following years.
Brown briefly stayed in London before being sent by the WMMS to work in the Channel Islands for four years. The remainder of his career was spent in Home circuits with London featuring prominently and where he became a supernumerary in 1854. He died at Chelsea on 11th August 1867.
Further Reading:
Bird, M B, The Black Man; or, Haytian Independence (1869); [Haiti]
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society', (vol 2, 1921);
Pressoir, C, Le Protestantisme Haïtien, (1945-1977)
Journal (in four volumes) of John Brown, 26 October 1815 to 27th April 1819. Mainly covers the period he was a missionary in Haiti (principally Port-au-Prince) but also includes the period just before his departure and the immediate period after his return to Great Britain. Includes transcripts of a few of his letters.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Brown senior, as well as his colleague James Catts (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 2). Brown's correspondence for his period in the Channel Islands is also extant (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Channel Islands/FBN 3).
There are two letters by Brown within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
The WMMS printed annual reports for 1817 and 1818 contain some information on Brown's and Catt's work as well as some extracts from Brown's letters.
Catalogued
William Dowson was born c1787. He arrived on the island of Trinidad in 1810 to serve as a Wesleyan Methodist missionary but later transferred to the Bahamas, arriving there in March 1812 at the time it became a missionary district. Frequently suffering ill health, he served in New Providence until 1817 when he was compelled to return to England. Whilst resident in the Caribbean he married Elizabeth Jane Banks of New Providence at Christ Church, Nassau, on 21st Feburary 1814. He remained in England - working at Leigh [Lancashire], Newcastle-upon-Tyne [Northumberland], Barnard Castle [Durham] and Stockton [Cheshire] - until 1823 when he returned to the Bahamas District and, not long after his arrival, was made Chairman of the District. Initially he served on the island of Bermuda but later worked on Harbour Island and New Providence. In 1827 he transferred to the Jamaica District where he worked in Kingston and was Chairman of the District but soon moved on to the island of St Eustatius in 1828. Ill health forced him to move to cooler climes and in 1830 he began work in Canada, mainly in Nova Scotia but also briefly on Prince Edward's Island. By 1834 he was back in England and five years later he had become a supernumerary in Selby [Yorkshire]. However, in 1843 he returned to New Providence and whilst there remarried. He died, aged 59, on the island of Bermuda on 29th May 1846.
Journals and papers of William Dowson being:
1) Unbound manuscript entitled 'Journal and Recollections of a Mission to the West India Islands'. Journal begins on 20th April 1810 before his departure for Trinidad and ends upon his return to England at Liverpool on 29th April 1817. Includes transcripts of letters written and received by him as well as a few other documents at the end of the manuscript.
2) Unbound and incomplete journal. Begins mid sentence on [22] July [1823] on board a ship bound for the Bahamas District and ends whilst resident at New Providence on 18th December 1826. Includes transcripts of letters written and received by him.
3) & (4) Two files of loose leaves (may have once been one volume), a number of which are in a poor condition, comprising what appears to be a manuscript history of Methodism in the Bahamas and a personal memoir by Dowson. Probably written in the 1840s.
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Given to the Methodist Missionary Society by Dr A Deans Pegg on behalf of Mrs K M Cross of Nassau, Bahamas, 10th October 1964
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The first journal was edited and published in 1960 by A Dean Peggs as 'A Mission to the West Indies: Dowson's Journal for 1810-1817' (MMSL AM-BA5).
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Dowson (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 1-2 & 5-8). Unfortunately there is no correspondence extant for when he was a supernumerary in the Bahamas District. However, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the West Indies Districts in the 1820s and may mention his work as a supernumerary in the Bahamas District in the mid 1840s (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). Furthermore, there is correspondence written by him when serving in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (MMS/North America/Correspondence/Nova Scotia/FBN 4) as well as the accompanying Synod Minutes (MMS/North America/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
There are two letters by Dowson, with some brief biographical information, within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
A letter, dated 30th April 1811, from Dowson whilst in Trinidad to Rev Dr Thomas Coke is extant amongst some miscellaneous papers for the West Indies Districts (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 45)
A copy of a print by J Renton (based on an engraving by W T Fry) of Dowson is available (MMS/West Indies/Photographs/Box 1200, file 22).
Catalogued
The Rev Walter Garry had a long and eventful career in three major Wesleyan Methodist mission fields. He was born on the island of Grenada on 24th July 1823. Prior to his application to the ministry he was involved in the running of the day school in Tobago, being accepted as a candidate for the ministry in 1845. After having trained at Richmond, Surrey, he was sent in 1849 to serve in Sierra Leone, including being involved with the supervision of the Native Institution at King's Town Point. The climate caused him such health problems that he was compelled to leave although his trials were not over as not long after departing Sierra Leone in 1852 he was shipwrecked off its coast and rescued a day later as the only survivor, albeit suffering from fever. He returned briefly to England, where he married Sarah Ann Cozens on 17th August 1852, before they both departed for the Antigua District.
For the period he worked in the West Indies Districts he mainly served in the Antigua District working on the islands of Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat and St Christopher's. He was stationed on St Christopher's when the devastating fire of 1867 broke out in Basseterre destroying much of the town. Through his and his colleagues' labours the mission was spared but not without the Rev Garry being badly injured. He was granted a leave of absence but was delayed from reaching his original ship, the 'Rhone', by the crowd of well wishes who had come to see him off. He caught a subsequent ship which whilst battered by the fierce hurricane that tore through the Leeward Islands in October 1867 survived, unlike the 'Rhone' which sunk. He returned to Antigua briefly as a supernumerary before taking up a position in Canterbury, Kent, in 1869.
After a brief spell in England he agreed to travel to South Africa and served in Durban from 1872 until 1874 whereupon he again set sail for the Caribbean to serve in the St Vincent's District on the islands of St Vincent's, Trinidad and Barbados (becoming Chairman of the District in 1880). By 1887 his health had become sufficiently poor that he returned to England where he became resident in Clapham, London, as a supernumerary. He died on 3rd January 1893 whilst his wife Sarah lived on into the next century, dying on 10th December 1903.
Manuscript being in part journal (front) and in part copy letter book (back).
Journal is not continuous but has periodic, often brief entries for: April 1852 to July 1853 (departure from Sierra Leone, England, Antigua District); March 1859 to March 1860 (Montserrat); 1863 (Grenada); November 1871 to January 1872 (Dover circuit, England); 1875 (Trinidad); 1885 (Barbados).
Letter book contains transcripts of four letters written by Garry in 1860 from Montserrat.
Eight inserts: a copy (1963) of the marriage certificate (1852) for Walter Patrick Garry and Sarah Ann Cozens; copy of an extract (1860) from the Baptismal register of St John's, Grenada, for Garry; notes for sermon based on 2 Peter iii 10; five letters written by Garry between 1868 & 1885.
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Donated to the Methodist Missionary Society by Mr R E H Chapman of Hailsham, Sussex, 15th August 1974.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Walter Garry for the period he served in Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Sierra Leone/FBN 26) and the West Indies Districts (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Antigua/FBN 22-24 & MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/St Vincents/FBN 62-63). Unfortunately there is no correspondence extant for when he was in Durban, South Africa. However, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 7) and the West Indies Districts (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 3-8) and may mention his work in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 3-4).
Catalogued
Edmund Lockyer was born in Dartford, Kent, in 1813. As a child he moved to Manchester where he became a Wesleyan Methodist and later joined its missionary society. His desire was to be a missionary in Fiji but an opportunity arose to serve in the West Indies districts in 1839 so he set sail for St Anne's in Jamaica. Whilst in Jamaica he married Mary Ann Hills on 11 September 1842. After a decade's service in Jamaica he returned to England. Upon his return in 1849 he was initially stationed at Watlington in Oxfordshire but then spent the next thirty years in various circuits and districts around the country (although a number of these were in Lincolnshire). In 1880 he became a supernumerary in Clapton, Essex, and continued to preach until his health failed him. Lockyer died on 3rd April 1889 at Handsworth, Middlesex.
Small notebook (142 pages) of poems split into two parts with order of contents at very front of book. The book was begun on 13th April 1840 in Jamaica with the last entry dating from 1887. Contents comprise:
1-71 Part I. Miscellaneous. Original Pieces: poems written by Lockyer on love, friends, family members, his faith, his work and some places he visits. The poems were composed between 1841 and 1887.
72-80 Blank
81-113 Part II. Selected Pieces: Poems copied by Lockyer mainly from missionary publications (covering much of the C19th). Most of the poems are on theological matters, expressions of faith or eulogies.
114-136 Blank
With CD containing digital copies of the poems in the notebook.
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Accepted, on behalf of the Methodist Church, as a gift from Mrs Lynette Walker (nee Lockyer) and her family, December 2009.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Edmund Lockyer (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Jamaica/FBN 47-49). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, for much of the time he was resident in the Jamaica District (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-3).
Catalogued
William Solomon was born in Badseley, Shropshire, on 27 August 1878. He was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham and then at Bury High School. After a period as a teacher he became a local preacher and then entered the ministry in 1902. After two years training at Richmond College he undertook overseas service in the WMMS Haiti & Santo Domingo District on the island of Hispaniola. He was stationed at the missions of Samana and Sanchez in Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic] for eight years before his return to England (after the death of his son).
On his return to England he served in a number of East Midland districts before, due to a shortage of missionaries, he was asked to return to the Caribbean. In 1920, with his wife Miriam and their three sons and a daughter, he began work again in his former mission. However, after five years he and his family returned to England where they initially settled at St Mawes in Cornwall. Shortly afterwards Solomon was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. After further postings in the South-west and the East Midlands he became a supernumerary in 1948 in Blackwell, Worcestershire. In 1952 he relocated to the Tottenham & Stoke Newington circuit in London where he served as chaplain to the Hillside Old People's Home in Islington until his 90th year. Solomon died on 10th July 1972.
Corrected typescript (30 pages) entitled 'This is My Life' by William Solomon, with photocopy of same but with additional annotations. Overview of contents as follow:
Born in Badseley, Shropshire, on 27 August 1878, the son of an Excise Officer. Describes childhood and family (eventually becoming Methodists). Maternal grandfather John Randall, 'the Grand Old Man of Salop', archaeologist and geologist. Moves to Birmingham when two years old. Educated in part at King Edward VI Grammar School. Moves to Bury, Lancashire, when 14 and educated at Bury High School. Teaches and becomes a local preacher until qualifies as a lay minister and moves for a year to Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
Experience of procedure to become a Wesleyan minister. Attends Richmond College for two years instead of three due to a shortage of missionaries in the field. Discusses staff and fellow pupils. Informed will work in Haiti but actually is the Dominican Republic. Gives brief overview of its history. Describes journey to mission (leaving England in October 1904).
Illustrates what a typical week's work consists of in missions of Samana and Sanchez. In 1908 granted personal leave to return to England to marry. He and his wife Miriam return to Dominican Republic and start a family. Sons Leslie and Sydney born. Wife and son become ill and return to England. Sydney dies in 1911. Solomon returns to England. Work in Home circuits - Kidsgrove, Staffordshire; Measham, Leicestershire.
Asked to return to Dominican Republic in 1920 due to a shortage of missionaries. Impact of American occupation. Begins work preaching, etc, in Spanish. Indicates 'medical' care able to offer and education provided for local children. Describes some of his congregation and local people he knows. Very brief biography of early missionary (1820s) 'Father James'. Leaves with his family in 1925. Reminisces about supply work in Haiti in 1908 with description of country's history, people, etc. Relationship with American Free Methodists in Dominican Republic.
Work in Home circuits - St Mawes, Cornwall; Holsworthy and Tiverton, Devon; Marlborough [Wiltshire]; Towcester [Northants]; Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire; Maldon, Essex. After 44 years of service becomes a supernumerary in Blackwell, Worcestershire and then Tottenham & Stoke Newington, North London. Health issues in later life, including death of his wife, Miriam, on 30 May 1955.
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Presented by Ms Gaby Hardwicke on behalf of the Estate of Dorothy Margaret Solomon, 19 June 2008
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Solomon (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/FBN 43). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the West Indies districts (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 9-13).
Catalogued
Thomas Herbert Kidd was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, on 7 February 1870 and was privately educated. He trained for the ministry at Didsbury College and his first ministerial appointment was for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Honduras District in 1894. He joined one of only two West Indies Districts under London's supervision as the other districts of the West Indies had formed their own connexion in 1885 (which continued until 1904). Kidd was initially posted to Ruatan [Roatán] in Spanish Honduras [Honduras] but the rest of his service in the district was in British Honduras [Belize] and principally in the city of Belize itself. Throughout his tenure he was known for his criticism of the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1901 Kidd returned to England and served in home circuits including in the Midlands and Yorkshire as well as a period (1904-1907) on the island of Guernsey. He began his last ministry in Stafford in 1932 and became a supernumerary in 1936 residing in Wolverhampton, Warwickshire. Kidd died on 6 April 1958 leaving a wife (Marian Ada) and two children.
Bundle of correspondence regarding Kidd's appointment as a missionary and arrangements for his travel to the Honduras District, July-September 1894.
Small bundle of miscellaneous letters received by Kidd, 1897-1917.
Sermons by Kidd on 'The Conviction of the Spirit', 1892, and 'Prayer in Gethsemane', [18]95.
Certificate (1906) of his baptism (20 March 1870).
Copy of an extract from the will of B Smith, 10 July 1888, leaving his grandson (Kidd) furniture and personal effects.
War saving certificate for £130, 6 February 1917.
Savings account book, 1879-1888.
Bank account book, 1932-1936.
2 editions of 'The Monthly: The Organ of the Channel Islands Wesleyan Methodist Church' for February and March 1905. The February edition has an image of Kidd on the front cover.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Canon John N Greaves of Bucknell, Salop, May 2006
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Various copyrights
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Kidd (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/FBN 45). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Honduras District (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 8).
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessors) in their districts in West Africa. Papers relating to missionary work in Dahomey, Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], Gambia, Gold Coast [Ghana], Nigeria and Sierra Leone are available. Includes the papers of, or material relating to, Henry Badger (WMMS), William Turnbull Balmer (WMMS), Robert Fairley (PMMS), William Hare Findlay (WMMS), Thomas Birch Freeman (WMMS), John Henry Hirst (PMMS), William Broadbent Luddington (PMMS), Thomas & Nella Mckenzie (PMMS), Benjamin Tregaskis (WMMS), George & Harriet Wrigley (WMMS), Christopher & Margaret Eddy (WMMS) and William Garfield Waterworth (WMMS).
The majority of this material is only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the West African districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
Annotated preaching plan for Sierra Leone, March-May 1839 [FBN 4].
Typed list of papers relating to Rev Thomas Dove supplied by the Crowther College of Religion, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, April 1963 [FBN 4].
Oaths of William Harris Rule, 17th October 1825, and Henry Williamson, 6th January 1834, under an Act of 52 George III governing religious worship [FBN 8].
Rev Edmund Horler’s certificate of ordination (20 September 1916), letter appointing him to West Africa (20 May 1916) and his notes on Methodism in South-west Africa which formed part of a slide presentation (early C20th) [Box 1216].
Photograph album (dated 1938) containing sixteen images with captions relating to the Methodist mission at Bathurst, Gambia. Photographs were taken by Leonard H Saunders (d 1943) who was in the Colonial Agricultural Service in the Gambia from 1936 to 1943. Images comprise Rev G S Treleaven, prize giving at the Methodist High Schools, the Wesley bi-centenary service, John ‘the blind scholar', the Methodist Bazaar and the opening of the tennis court. [Box 1216]
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The Rev & Mrs George Wrigley set sail from Gravesend, Kent, for West Africa on 12th August 1836 on board the 'George Canning'. (Wrigley married Harriet Brown, probably in Sheffield, Yorkshire, before their departure but no earlier than August 1835). They arrived in Ghana on 15th September 1836. They worked in the Cape Coast including Elmina, Dixcove, Anomabu, Abura and Dunkwa as well as making indirect contact with the kings of Fante and Ashanti. Rev Wrigley introduced quarterly and missionary prayer meetings whilst both of them engaged in educational work amongst their parishioners, with Mrs Wrigley establishing a girls' school in September 1836. Rev Wrigley also began the building of the Wesley Church in Cape Coast in late 1836. Whilst nursing her dying colleagues, the Rev and Mrs Harrop, Harriet Wrigley became ill herself and died on 8th February 1837. That year Wrigley spent much of his time concentrating on learning Fanti, conducting services in that language and undertaking translation work. Unfortunately, on 6 November 1837 he was taken ill and died a few days later on 16th, probably of malaria. Both he and Mrs Wrigley were buried at the church they helped build.
Further Reading:
Bartels, F L, The roots of Ghana Methodism (1965);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 4, 1922).
Two journals being:
1) Journal of Rev Wrigley from 6th August 1836 (preparing to set sail from Gravesend) to 19th March 1837 (recovering from ill health).
2) Rear of volume: continuation of Rev Wrigley's journal from 23 March 1837 until 15th November 1837 (dying) with insert of draft entries for 28th June until 2nd July [1837]. Insert of incomplete letter, seemingly by Rev Wrigley, c1836. Insert stating Henry Longden of Sheffield will look after his 'little girl' and estate, 15th November 1837;
Front of volume: 'Album or Scrap Book the Property of Harriet Brown' containing copies of hymns and poems, messages from friends in Sheffield (August 1835), journal (now as Mrs Wrigley) from 6th August 1836 (leaving London) until 21st August 1836 (she and husband unwell at sea) with two inserts being draft journal pages for 13th-26th September [1836].
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for George Wrigley whilst in the Gold Coast District (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 9).
Catalogued
Studied at the Theological Institution at Hoxton, London. Upon completion of his studies he left England in late December 1841 and arrived on the Cape Coast [Ghana] on 4th February 1842. Became ill on a journey back to Kumasi, Ashanti [Ghana] and died there on 10th July 1842.
Journal beginning with his ordination on 19th December [1841] in Hackney Chapel, London, and ending on 20th May [1842] whilst travelling with the Rev Brooking over the Adanaza [Adanse] Hills in Ghana.
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Clarke left for Sierra Leone in November 1833. Not in perfect health when he departed the climate of West Africa only led to a further deterioration of his condition until he succumbed to consumption at 1am on 4th November 1834 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He was buried the same day with around 600 people attending his funeral.
Journal of Issac Clarke beginning with his departure from England on 1st November 1833 and ending with him believing he is recovering from illness in Sierra Leone on 23rd October 1834.
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An account of Clarke's death by Edward Maer was published in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, March 1835.
Catalogued
Henry Badger was born at Bilston, Staffordshire [West Midlands] on 6th October 1815. He became a local preacher in the Walsall Circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and was eventually accepted as an ordained minister. He was appointed to serve in Sierra Leone, departing on 13th October 1837, and arriving there on 19th November. In August 1842 he returned to England on furlough. During said furlough he married Sarah Hinsley (on 21 May 1843) and they departed England for Sierra Leone arriving in late July. Tragically, Mrs Badger's stay in Sierra Leone was short as she died at Hastings on 28th January 1844, just four days after having given birth to a baby girl. Rev Badger's continued commitment to education increased with him taking charge of the Institution for Training Native Teachers at King Tom's Point, Freetown, in April 1844. By the end of 1845 Rev Badger had become superintendent of the Sierra Leone district.
In late November 1845 Annie Rose Gordon (nee Challen, the widow of Rev E Gordon) arrived in Sierra Leone to work as a schoolmistress in Freetown (work she had undertaken in the West Indies even after her husband's death in 1835). Within weeks the Rev Badger had proposed to her and they were married on 6th January 1846. Both of them directed a great deal of energy towards their missionary work, in particular education, until their return to England in 1848. However, on 10th November they sailed from England aboard the 'Dale-Park' to take up new postings in the Gambia - Mrs Badger in education and Rev Badger as superintendent of the district - arriving there on 21st February 1849. Rev Badger also served as Colonial Chaplain, donating his wages to the missionary society. Their work continued until Mrs Badger's death at St Mary's on 13th November 1851, leaving two young children: Henry Wayte Badger (b.1847) - later to take the name of Henry Francis Gordon and, for a time, work as an agent of the Church Missionary Society in Mombasa, Kenya - and Mary Allen Badger (1850-1922). Rev Badger, not long after his wife's death, requested leave to return to England and departed in 1852.
Rev Badger was initially posted to Wimborne in Dorset, then Holsworthy in Devon and in a number of other chapels and circuits including Evesham in Worcestershire, Ludlow in Shropshire and St Neots in Cambridgeshire. On 23 October 1856 he married Hannah Marshall and they had four children - John Marshall (1857-1943), William Arthur (1859-1945), Joseph Herbert (b. 1861) & Anna (b c1863). In 1876 Rev Badger became a supernumerary and he died at Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire on 24th December 1877.
Journal of Henry Badger, dated 1840-1848, with list of missionary deaths at rear. Pen and ink drawing of the interior of the Wesleyan Missionary Chapel at Bathurst, Gambia, dated c1849. Correspondence relating to the donation of these items in 1951.
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Donated to the Methodist Missionary Society by W J S Bayliss of Oxford in August 1951.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Some of the information in the 'Administrative & Biographical History' field was supplied by Dr Silke Strickrodt of the German Historical Institute, London, and Mr David Fisher.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for Henry Badger for Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Sierra Leone/FBN 25-26) and The Gambia (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gambia/FBN 4). A small amount of correspondence by Mrs A R Gordon (later Badger) can also be found amongst these records. Furthermore, the synod minutes will mention their work, and the work of their colleagues, in the Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 7) and Gambia (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Gambia/FBN 1) districts.
Catalogued
Thomas Raston was born in Sheffield [Yorkshire] and ordained into the Methodist Church on 9th November 1841. He departed for Sierra Leone on 10th November 1841 onboard 'Charlotte Wyllie' and arrived a few weeks later. Much of his energy was directed towards education, including a period in charge of the Institution for Training Native Teachers at King Tom's Point, Freetown. In 1844 he left on furlough for England and returned to Sierra Leone, newly married to Jane Padley (b. 1815), in November 1845. Sadly Mrs Raston died a few weeks later on 27th December 1845. A second furlough followed in 1847 (again marrying whilst in England) and upon returning in December he became Chairman of the District. During this period he declined the offer of becoming Colonial Secretary.
In 1851 Raston returned to England where he remained until he was posted to Australia in 1852. However, during his journey he was shipwrecked off Brazil in December of that year and did not actually arrive in Melbourne until July 1853. In 1854 the Australians formed their own Methodist Connexion and Raston joined them. He served principally in Victoria but became a supernumerary in Adelaide in 1872. At the same time he became mission secretary and served in that post until 1892. He died in Kent Town, South Australia, on 17th July 1896.
An account written by Thomas Raston (at the request of Dr Bunting) of the Wesleyan Methodist mission in Sierra Leone.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Raston both in Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Sierra Leone/FBN 25-26) and the start of his career in Australia (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Australia/FBN 3). The latter letters are few in number but include an account of his shipwrecking off Brazil. Furthermore, the synod minutes will mention his work, and the work of his colleagues, in both Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 7) and Australia (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
There are also copies of two of his letters available - one regarding his return to Sierra Leone in 1845 and the other the death of his first wife in December 1845 (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Notes&Transcripts/FBN 1). Lastly, an obituary for Thomas Raston appears in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, 1896, pp 170-172 whilst an obituary for his first wife appears in William Fox's 'A Brief History of the Wesleyan Missions on the Western Coast of Africa' (1851).
Catalogued
Benjamin Tregaskis was born in Penryn, Cornwall, in 1814. He was ordained in 1836 and sent to serve in the Antigua district the same year. He remained there, serving mainly on the Leeward Islands, until 1864 when he volunteered to serve in West Africa. After initial reluctance the missionary society agreed and he was appointed as superintendent of the Sierra Leone district arriving, with his wife (the daughter of James Horne) and daughter, on 11 December 1864.
Tregaskis gained a reputation fairly quickly for being a strict disciplinarian and a passionate advocate of the importance of education in the mission field. He took charge of the Institution for Training Native Teachers at King Tom's Point, Freetown, and, realising its limitations, replaced it with the Wesleyan High School and Training Institution. His autocratic approach brought him into conflict with some of his colleagues (both European and African ministers) and also lead to the expulsion of a number of worshippers for infringements of Methodist rules. The mission secretaries received complaints but choose to agree with Tregaskis. In addition to his work on education Tregaskis left his mark by his involvement with the re-building of Rawdon Street Chapel and the construction of Murray Town Church (completed in 1875). However, his most popular achievement by far was his success in campaigning against the Hut Tax (a tax of 5s on every household regardless of size or the occupant's means) which was repealed in 1872. The subsequent thanksgiving service was attended by c4,000 people.
In 1868 Tregaskis also became superintendent of the Gambia district and his style of leadership brought him into conflict with some of his colleagues there (notably Rev Quilter). This situation wasn't helped by his being based in Sierra Leone and having to supervise mainly through correspondence, with visits being infrequent. However, there was a clear improvement in the administrative competency of the Gambia district under his scrutiny.
Tregaskis resigned as superintendent of both districts in 1874 and returned to England in 1875. He worked for a while at the diposal of the mission secretaries but became a supernumerary in 1877 at Hindle-St, London. He died in London on 13th January 1885.
Further reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vols 2 & 4, 1921-1922);
Marke, C, Origin of Wesleyan Methodism in Sierra Leone and history of its missions (1913);
Prickett, B, Island base: a history of the Methodist Church in the Gambia, 1821-1969 (?1969).
Paper created and collected by Rev Benjamin Tregaskis comprising:
List of missionaries resident in the Sierra Leone District each year between 1811 and 1877.
Chronological list of missionaries who served in Sierra Leone from 1811 to 1877.
List of missionaries who served in Sierra Leone which includes the date of their arrival and the date their residence ended, 1811-1850.
Rough list of the arrivals and departures of missionaries to Sierra Leone between 1811 and 1827.
Brief notes on the creation of the Sierra Leone District with a list of the missionaries who served there up to 1830.
Pamphlet entitled 'Notes on a "View of Sierra Leone, from the River; drawn by a Lady, and lithographed by A. la Riviere, London" (communicated by the Rev Benjamin Tregaskis, General Superintendent of the Missions in Sierra Leone and the River Gambia)', 1868x1875.
Newspaper cutting of an article by S Bannister entitled 'Suggestions for a System to Improve the British Settlements in Western Africa, to Promote the Civilisation of the Neighbouring Tribes, and to Prepare the Way to a Beneficial Emigration of Free Labourers to the West Indies'.
Copy of letter, dated 26th Nov 1844, written by D Coates at Church Missionary House [Church Missionary Society, London] to Lord Stanley re liberated Africans in the colony of Sierra Leone and the proclamation of its Lieutenant Governor William Ferguson, c1844.
Printed 'Regulations of the Sierra Leone Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society', c1877 (8 copies, 1 annotated slightly).
Two newspaper cuttings (one from 'The Watchman') being: the petition of 'liberated Africans and other British subjects residing at Sierra Leone' and a petition of the 'Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society' both regarding the ongoing problems of slavery conducted by other nations and the importance of the resident squadron, 1850.
'An Ordinance for vesting the lands on which the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was erected in Rawdon Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the Reverend Benjamin Tregaskis, General Superintendent of Wesleyan Missions in Sierra Leone, in Trust', 27 November 1872.
Pamphlet entitled '"And Next?" "The Questions of the day", on "the West Coast." A Critique. By the Rev. Benjamin Tregaskis', c1873.
Printed letters by Rev Tregaskis and others with copies of public notices regarding Road [Hut] Tax in Sierra Leone and its subsequent repeal, highlighted by the case of Sarah Cooper, 1869-1872.
A copy of the Freetown 'Independent' for 8th April 1875, which contains an article on 'Unfinished Buildings' (including the Wesleyan chapel at Rawdon Street [Freetown]).
Two printed letters written by the Rev Tregaskis re an application by the Church Missionary Society for a grant of £500 from the Legislative Council and the behaviour of the Rev James Johnson, 1872.
Three exercise books of copy letters written by Rev Tregaskis to Prince Anash of Kumasi [Ghana], 22 August to 21 December 1877.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Benjamin Tregaskis for his period in the Antigua district (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/Antigua/FBN 21-24) and whilst working in Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Sierra Leone/FBN 5-6 & 26-27). Furthermore, the synod minutes will record his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts of Antigua (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-5) and Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 7). An image of him can be found in MMS/West Indies/Photographs/Box 1200.
Catalogued
William Terry Coppin was born in Chelmsford, Essex, on 15th April 1854. After finishing his training at Richmond he was sent to serve in Lagos, Nigeria. Initially he was appointed as the first principal of the High School but later also took on the role of acting Chairman of the District. In 1883 he was appointed as Chairman of the Gold Coast District and looked sympathetically on the idea of greater local responsibility. His interest in education continued, particularly with regard to the creation of Sunday Schools. He encouraged further missionary work amongst the Ashanti and was a leading force in the golden jubilee fundraising activities of 1885 which lead to much restoration of church property. His tenure also included a tense period with the Basel Mission over mission methodology and differences in religious practice. Coppin's health had suffered during his time in West Africa and he left for Britain on 20 May 1887. However, in the same year he was posted to the island of Guernsey where he served until he volunteered for transfer to Gibraltar in 1890.
Coppin arrived, with his wife (Eva Marion Stevenson) and their young son, on the Gibraltar on 3rd September 1890. Whilst there he attempted to increase the mission's presence in Spain and endeavoured to maintain a Methodist School on the island (all the while his health was improving). During his tenure he also laid the foundations for what became the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. He left Gibraltar on 14th June 1896. He spent the next few years in home districts (Bradford, Haworth and Runcorn) before returning to oversees work by accepting the post of Chairman of the Lucknow District, India, in 1905. However, ill health plagued him again and his tenure was cut short with his return to England in 1907. After further service in home districts he became a supernumerary in Cardiff in 1918 moving to London two years later. He died in Sudbury, Middlesex, on 22nd December 1930.
Further reading:
Bartels, F L, The roots of Ghana Methodism (1965);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vols 4 & 5, 1922-1924);
Jackson, S I, The Shadow of a Mighty Rock: A History of the Gibraltar Methodist Church (2009).
Journal of a visit to Kumasi [Ghana] made by Rev Coppin between 14th April and 24th May 1885 during jubilee year. With covering letter from him to Mr Thompson, 8th December [19]22.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Rev Coppin for each of the districts he served in (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Nigeria/FBN 18; MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 12; MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Gibraltar/FBN 18). Furthermore, the synod minutes will record his work, and that of his colleagues, in each of the relevant districts (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Nigeria/FBN 5; MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Gold Coast/FBN 3; MMS/Europe/Synod Minutes/FBN 2).
Catalogued
The Rev Robert Dillon was ordained in 1854 and shortly afterwards sent to Sierra Leone where he arrived on 17th April 1854. Unfortunately throughout his entire tenure he suffered from bouts of malaria and was eventually invalided home in 1859. After spending some time recovering in Salcombe, Devon, he worked in a number of circuits and districts throughout Britain but principally in the South-West and West of England. He became a supernumerary whilst at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, in 1894. He died on 8th March 1907.
Memoir (205 pages with three hand drawn illustrations) by the Rev Dillon, c1903. Also six images comprising four photographs (c1903) taken by W S Johnston of Wesleyan churches in Freetown, Sierra Leone (Buxton Church, the former Zion Church & Mission House, Wesley Church and Portuguese Town Church) and two magazine images of Wesley Church in Cape Coast [Ghana] and an 'Old West Africa Mission Boat'. With correspondence (1903-1905), mainly written by Dillion to F W McDonald [editor of 'Work and Workers in the Mission Field'], enquiring into the possibility of the memoir being published.
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Probably sent by the British Records Association to the Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Robert Dillon (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 26). Furthermore, the synod minutes will mention his work, and the work of his colleagues, in the Sierra Leone District (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 7).
Catalogued
Born at Twyford, Hampshire, son of an English mother (Amy Birch) and Thomas ? Freeman (possibly a freed African slave), on 6th December 1809; joined the Methodists; moved to Ipswich and became a local preacher; head gardener at Orwell Park, a Suffolk estate, but lost his position owing to his Methodist activism; accepted by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, 1837; sailed to the Gold Coast [Ghana], West Africa, 1837-1838; missionary on the Cape Coast (where an indigenous Methodist church had been tenuously supported by a succession of English missionaries), 1838-1857; visited Kumasi, the Ashanti capital; married, for the second time, Lucinda Cowan (d 1841) at Bedminster, Somerset, 1840; visited England to appeal for funds and recruits, 1841; the publication of his journals made him a celebrity; his pioneering work in founding many mission stations and chapels in the area underpinned later Methodist success in Ghana, Western Nigeria, Benin and Togo; married for the third time, 1854; financial controversy and other difficulties caused him to retire from missionary work, 1857; civil commandant of Accra, 1857-1860; remained in the Gold Coast [Ghana], farming, writing, and preaching; returned as a missionary, to Anamabu, West Africa, 1873-1879; Accra, 1879-1886; retired and settled at Accra, 1886, dying there on 12th August 1890.
Further Reading:
Birtwhistle, N A, Thomas Birch Freeman, west African pioneer (1950);
Freeman, T B, Journal of two visits to the kingdom of Ashanti, in western Africa (2nd edition, 1843);
Freeman, T B, Journal of various visits to the kingdoms of Ashanti, Aku and Dahomi, in western Africa (2nd edition, 1844);
[Freeman, T B], Missionary enterprise no fiction. A tale founded on facts (1871);
Milum, J, Thomas Birch Freeman: missionary pioneer to Ashanti, Dahomey, and Egba (?1893);
Morrison, J A, The begnnings of Methodism in Ghana and Nigeria (1835-1885), with special reference to the role of the Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman (1985);
Walker, F D, Thomas Birch Freeman, the son of an African (1929).
Papers of and relating to Thomas Birch Freeman, comprising his journals, 1837-1845, including a manuscript account of a journey from Badagry to Dahomey, 1842-1843, perhaps prepared for publication, with a letter, 1843, from George Maclean concerning the manuscript; copy of Governor William Winniett's journal of a tour in 1850 through the recently acquired Danish territories in the Gold Coast [Ghana]; letter books, 1848-1864; correspondence with colleagues, friends and associates, in particular correspondence with Forster and Smith of London (1855) and correspondence re Beulah Gardens (1880); manuscripts recording the work of the WMMS in the Gold Coast District including Freeman's history of the rise and progress of Wesleyan missions in the Gold Coast district to 1838, and typed transcript [20th century], lacking chapters I-II, of Freeman's reminiscences [1884] of the Gold and Slave Coasts, including his extensive travels in the region; manuscripts and papers on finances or the raising of funds in the Gold Coast District; copy certificate, 1928, recording Freeman's marriage to Lucinda Cowan (1840).
Only to be viewed on microfiche (with the exception of Box 597B).
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Papers transferred with main deposit in 1978 except for Box 597B which was received by SOAS in March 2003.
The material contained within Box 597B was given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts and the odd paper) for Thomas Birch Freeman (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 9-12). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Gold Coast district (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Gold Coast/FBN 2-3). Additionally, SOAS holds a transcript of a letter from Freeman to the Wesleyan missionary Robert Brooking, 1855, describing the work of the Cape Coast mission (MS 380587).
Catalogued
Three journals recording Freeman's missionary work between 1837 and 1845; journal of visit to Badagry and Dahomey [Benin], 1843; copy of Governor William Winniett's journal of tour of former Danish settlements in the Gold Coast [Ghana], ?1850.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
With memoranda of contents pencilled into rear of volume.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
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With memoranda of contents pencilled into rear of volume.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Probably a draft copy as it has a number of corrections. Dates from 19th September 1842 until 30 March 1843. With letter (24 May 1843) from George Maclean, Cape Coast Castle [Ghana], to Thomas Birch Freeman, commenting on the events depicted and the work of the WMMS in Dahomey [Benin], etc.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Manuscript copy (in Thomas Birch Freeman's hand) of a journal describing a tour through the newly acquired British territories in the Gold Coast during March 1850. The manuscript begins with a copy of a letter written, from Cape Coast Castle on 30 March 1850, by the journal's author [Governor William Winniett] which explains that Thomas Birch Freeman is accompanying him as his secretary.
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Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
The document is very feint in some parts.
Copy also in the Gold Coast District correspondence (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 10).
Catalogued
Letters books and correspondence with or by colleagues, friends and associates.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters including some financial papers and the odd report. Most volumes have an index of contents.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. Most of the letters were written between May and December 1848. With index of contents at front.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
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Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. Volume has a few financial records followed by correspondence beginning on 10 March 1851. With index of contents at front.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Thomas Birch Freeman's outgoing copy letters. With index of contents at front and rear.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Including correspondence with colleagues, friends and associates and in particular correspondence with Forster and Smith of London (1855) and correspondence re Beulah Gardens (1880).
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Catalogued
Dated 2 March 1849 and 19 June 1849
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of this item
Letter sent to Freeman in Pentonville, London, from someone in South West England (post marked 'NO27 EXETER'). Letter details seeds, plants and flowers - including dahlias, roses, figs, wheat, barley and rhubarb - presumably destined for the mission field in West Africa.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
1840 file?
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of this item
Beecham recounts to Martin [a Fanti evangelist] recent accusations regarding his purchase of a pawn. Beecham expresses his trust in Martin and assures him he will not face censure but instructs him not to engage in such a transaction again.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Additional informational supplied by Scott Anderson, 12/2005
Catalogued
Informs Freeman that Mrs G [Annie Goulstone] has decided to terminate their engagement.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of these items
Costs of provisions and supplies. However, a number of the letters discuss business interests, the Colonial Office and West Africa, the war in the Crimea, mutual friends, the death and estate of Mr Sinclair (for whom Freeman is an executor) and occasionally British politics. Most of the more discursive letters were written by J Forster.
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Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of this item
Notifying Freeman of the arrival of the [Rev Daniel and William] West, Mrs W West and Mr Martin. Confirmation of the [British and Foreign] Bible Society's agreement to supply Bibles to Freeman.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
With regard for the need for Bibles see also published extract of letter by Freeman, dated 9th August 1856, in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, November 1856. The original letter can be found in MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 10.
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of this item
Letters from Henry Knolleke and L B Boyne both of the British and Foreign Bible Society
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
With regard for the need of Bibles see also published extract of letter by Freeman, dated 9th August 1856, in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, November 1856. The original letter can be found in MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 10.
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of these items.
One letter is written by J[ulian] Briand whilst the other is written by A Palmer (and may have been an enclosure to the first).
Briand's letter mentions he will travel with Randolph to ?Agunntse re taxes, complains Freeman has not written to him with instructions recently and requests supplies of paper and envelopes. With note re court case.
Palmer's letter mentions the hiring of labourers, assistance received from Mr Briand, expenses and salaries.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Details supplies received and goods dispatched as well as general repairs to buildings. He also comments occasionally on his and his colleagues' health.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Including works by Freeman recording the history of the Wesleyan missions in West Africa and papers on finances or the raising of funds in the Gold Coast District.
Open
Catalogued
Original manuscript comprises 52 pages. With later C19th handwritten transcript.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
Catalogued
Originally written in about 1884. Incomplete as lacking chapters I & II. With microfilm copy of typescript.
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Open
Catalogued
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of these items
All reports include Badagry and Abeokuta but only the 1852 report includes Lagos.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
With subscription list recording names and amount of donations.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Accounts cover the years 1855 & 1856 and include work on the chapels at Arkrah, Assafa [?Asafo], Beulah, Cape Coast and Dunkwa [all Ghana].
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of this item
Request that Andrews ensure that the practice - initiated by Freeman in 1857 when he was the Civil Commandant of the Eastern Districts of the Protectorate - of visiting all the local chiefs, kings, rulers, etc, is resumed.
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Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Some text is missing due to the condition of this item
Appears to be a manuscript version of chapter thirteen of 'Reminiscences and incidents of travels and historical and political sketches in and of the countries bordering on the Gold and Slave Coasts and in Ashantee, Dahomey, etc, by T. B. Freeman, forty six years a resident on the Gold Coast'.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Additional informational supplied by Scott Anderson, 12/2005
Published in the 'Gold Coast News' and '[Cape Coast] Western Echo', 1885-1887
Catalogued
Freeman's responses to twelve questions (which are not recorded on the manuscript) concerning the navigation of the river Volta, and the practicalities of launching an attack on Ashanti from the east.
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Additional informational supplied by Scott Anderson, 12/2005
Catalogued
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
For £35 3s and signed by George Cleland, treasurer
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Contains very brief summaries of letters received between 26 September and 7 December (year not recorded).
Open
Transferred to SOAS, March 2003
Given to the Methodist Church by Mrs H Birtwhistle of Worcester
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
Certified copy of Freeman's marriage certificate (1840)
Open
Catalogued
Records the marriage of Thomas Birch Freeman to Lucinda Cowan on 25th November 1840.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
Catalogued
Robert Fairley was born at Dalkeith in Scotland ca. 1855. He became an ordained minister of the Primitive Methodist Church in 1876. He married Margaret Dickson in 1880 and, in 1883, he and his wife began the first of five terms of service in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]. Because of the high rate of mortality among Europeans in West Africa two years was set as the maximum period for one term of service. The Fairleys worked in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] until c1904 although Robert Fairley also made a pioneer journey to what was then known as the Oil Rivers Protectorate, now part of Nigeria. Here he was instrumental in establishing a mission at Akwa Effy in Eastern Nigeria. Margaret Fairley died on 3rd March 1928 aged 71. Robert Fairley later remarried (Emily Calder) and died, aged 82, on 5th January 1937.
Bundle of miscellaneous letters, some official, and papers relating to the mission in Fernando Po including Fairley's contribution, 1881-1937. Illustrated scrapbook entitled "Missionary articles and letters, 1883-1904, Rob. Fairley". 2 volumes entitled "Journals of Fernandian Life and Work" 1883-85 and 1902 to 1904. Letters (some copies) in English, dated 1898-1905, from local residents to Rev and Mrs Fairley at the Methodist Mission house, Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]. 2 photographs taken in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], one of Rev Fairley with a fathers' class and the other of Mrs Fairley with a mothers' class, n.d. Volume containing press-cuttings "Partly missionary, mainly general", early C20th. Scrapbook "Personal, Domestic and General" which includes a few family photographs, obituaries, marriage notices etc, early C20th.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
Open
Donated to the Methodist Missionary Society by Mrs Fernella Mary Burling in 1978.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Extant correspondence for Fairley from Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] should be within MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/Fernando Po/ FBN 6).
Catalogued
William Broadbent Luddington was born at Brampton in Lincolnshire on 9th March 1843, the son of the Rev William Luddington (1819-1888), a Primitive Methodist Minister. Initially as an adult he worshipped and preached locally as a Wesleyan but returned to Primitive Methodism at Malton in Yorkshire in 1864. In 1868 he married Ruth Hannah Mitchell. From 1873 until his death in 1888 Luddington divided his life between missionary work in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], particularly among the Bubi people, missionary deputation work and ministerial work in England. He and his wife returned from their third term in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] in a very poor state of health. Mrs Luddington died on 21st August 1888 and her husband on 25th November in the same year.
Diary in two volumes, entitled "Journal of our Mission at George's Bay, Fernando Po", dated 1 April 1873 to 4 October 1873 & 5 October 1874 to 11 March 1875. Both volumes are indexed.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Two copies of the 'Bubi na English primer' compiled by William B. Luddington & William Napoleon Barleycorn in 1875 are available for consultation in SOAS Library. A small number of photographs taken by Luddington can be found in MMS/West Africa/Photographs/Box 1195B (file 29).
Photocopies and transcripts of letters, dated 1887-1888, from Mr and Mrs Luddington to their daughter have recently been received but are not yet available for consultation. Apply to SOAS Archives for further information.
Catalogued
Born at Barnoldy-le-Beck, Lincolnshire, in 1787, Beecham entered the Wesleyan ministry in 1815. Between 1815 and 1830 he worked in a number of Home circuits including Winterton [Lincolnshire], Snaith [Yorkshire], Barnsley [Yorkshire], Howden [Yorkshire], Warrington [Cheshire] and Liverpool South [Lancashire]. Towards the end of this period, in 1829, he wrote 'An Essay upon the Constitution of Wesleyan Methodism'. In 1831 he became one of the general secretaries of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and continued with distinction in that role until 1855. During his tenure he was involved in the creation of new Methodist Connexions in former missionary districts, most notably in Canada. He also in 1841 wrote a book on the Ashanti and two years later edited for publication the Rev Thomas Birch Freeman's journals of his visits to Ashanti. In 1850 he held the post of President of Conference. He died in London on 22 April 1856.
Further Reading:
Beecham, J, Coates, D, and Ellis, W, Christianity the means of civilization: shown in the evidence given before a committee of the House of Commons, on aborigines (1837);
Colonization: being remarks on colonization in general, with an examination of the proposals of the association which has been formed for colonizing New Zealand (1838);
Beecham, J, Ashantee and the Gold Coast: being a sketch of the history, social state, and superstitions of the inhabitants of those countries, with a notice of the state and prospects of Christianity among them (1841);
Beecham, J, The claims of the missionary work in western Africa, and the importance of training a native ministry (1842);
WMMS, Report of a visit of the Rev. John Beecham, D.D., to British America, undertaken at the request of the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society (1856).
Manuscript version of Beecham's 1841 publication 'Ashantee and the Gold Coast: being a sketch of the history, social state, and superstitions of the inhabitants of those countries, with a notice of the state and prospects of Christianity among them'. With notes and brief drafts for the above.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Any extant correspondence for John Beecham whilst a missionary secretary will be amongst the outgoing correspondence (MMS/Home/Outgoing Correspondence/FBN 24A-24B).
Beecham's enquirers 'as to the customs of people at Cape Coast' is amongst the Gold Coast correspondence (MMS/Gold Coast/Correspondence/FBN 9).
Catalogued
William Turnbull Balmer was born at Philadelphia, a mining village near Durham on 16th October 1866. He was educated locally, was trained as a teacher at Westminster College, Oxford and became Headmaster of the Wesleyan School at Tenby in South Wales. In 1899 he became an ordained minister of the Wesleyan Church and in 1901 went out to West Africa as an educational missionary. He taught at Richmond College in Freetown, at the Mfantsipim High School, Cape Coast, Ghana and at Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone. He also carried out evangelical work. In 1921 he was forced to resign from overseas service due to ill-health but, on his return to Britain, was appointed to the post of Editor and Secretary of The Atlantis Press, which sought to provide Christian works in a number of West Africa languages. He also made valuable contributions to the study of less well-known West African languages, including providing a grammar and primer for Fante-Akan language. This work he continued right up to his death on 15th May 1928 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
Further Reading:
Balmer, W T, A history of the Akan peoples of the Gold Coast (c1925);
Balmer, W T, A catechism of Christian experience (c1953).
Letters and papers of, to and about WT Balmer put together for a proposed biography.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
Open
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Turnbull Balmer for Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Sierra Leone/FBN 6-7) and the Gold Coast distict (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 14). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Sierra Leone (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Sierra Leone/FBN 8) and Gold Coast (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Gold Coast/FBN 4) districts.
Photographs taken by WT Balmer whilst in West Africa are also available (MMS/West Africa/Photographs/Boxes 1194 & 1195a).
Catalogued
Thomas John McKenzie was born at Littleborough, near Rochdale, England in 1893, the son of a Methodist minister. In 1914 he entered Hartley College, Manchester to begin his training as a Primitive Methodist minister. After a period in the home ministry he went out to Nigeria as a missionary in 1919. Most of his service was spent at the mission station of Oyubia, near Oron . Here he was joined by his wife Nella, daughter of Robert Fairley, missionary to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], whom he married on 2 March 1922. Nella Fairley had been a missionary teacher in Nigeria since 1920. During their time at Oyubia, the station expanded to comprise 53 preaching places and 35 schools run by 40 native teachers. In 1926 the McKenzies returned to England on furlough, with T J McKenzie in a poor state of health. He died on 24th December 1926. Nella Mckenzie continued her missionary work until 1944.
Diaries of Thomas John McKenzie 1919-1923, including reports of his work in Nigeria. Bundle of typescript articles written by T J McKenzie between 1919 and 1921. Diaries of Nella McKenzie 1920-1923. Draft article by Nella McKenzie entitled 'Survey of Girls Education 1893-1943' [in Eastern Nigeria], c1943. Typescript article, dated 1943, on the history of the Primitive Methodist Mission in Eastern Nigeria, 1893-1943, by G H Hanney.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
Open
Donated to the MMS by Mrs Nella McKenzie in 1958.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Extant correspondence for Rev & Mrs Mckenzie from Nigeria can be found within MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/Nigeria/FBN 10. Reports may also be extant (MMS/PMMS/Reports/Foreign/FBN 1-2).
Further material written by T J Mckenzie is also available within the Notes and Transcripts section comprising: 'Notes on the customs of the Efik people of Eastern Nigeria' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 1) and his three volume ms work 'A few words of interest relating to Missionary Life in Southern Nigeria', 1919-1927 (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 18). A copy of volume one of this work (1919-1921) is also available in MMS Box 1204.
Catalogued
George Mason was born at Scarborough, Yorkshire, on 10 July 1855. After having trained at Richmond College in Surrey his first appointment was to undertake educational work in Sierra Leone in 1879. However, he suffered several malaria attacks and was invalided home after a year. Once recovered he returned to work in North Yorkshire and spent the remainder of his career working in circuits the length and breadth of the country. He became a supernumerary whilst stationed at the Sussex mission in 1919. He died at Hucclecote near Gloucester on 12 March 1926.
Diary of George Mason, 18 October 1879 to 13 December 1880. Covers the period from his departure from England, his work in Sierra Leone, his illness, his recovery in England and his return to work at Loftus near Cleveland in North Yorkshire. At the end of the diary entries and at the rear are quotes from the scriptures with some brief notes. Volume also contained a number of inserts (now in a separate folder) including additional notes, cuttings from Methodist newspapers and magazines, and a photograph of (presumably) the Rev Mason and his congregation in Sierra Leone; c1879-c1882. With letters re the acquisition of this material, May 1960.
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Open
Sent by Miss N Mason of Gloucester via the Rev Alan E Wide to the Methodist Missionary Society, May 1960
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
William Garfield Waterworth was born in Yorkshire, England on 21st September 1881. After serving as a Lay Evangelist in Northern Ireland he was accepted as a candidate for the Irish Methodist Ministry in 1909. Following the death of a missionary friend in the Gold Coast [Ghana] in 1910 he applied to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society to be sent out as a missionary to West Africa. Probably the most significant event during his period of service was the mass conversion of Ashanti people to Christianity in response to the preaching of the prophet Sam[p]son Opong during the years 1919 to 1921. Waterworth was largely responsible for the building of Wesley Church and Wesley College at Kumasi. In 1932 he retired due to ill-health but later returned to West Africa as Chairman of the West Nigeria District where he served until 1947. He died in England on 6th October 1956.
For further information about the Ashanti movement see: Hans W. Debrunner, The story of Sampson Opong, Accra, 1965.
Letters from William Garfield Waterworth in Ireland, dated 1905-1909, to his family.
Letters from William Garfield Waterworth, dated 1910-1912, to his family, and to the Cornwall District Guilds who were sponsoring him, mainly written from Tarkwa mission station in Gold Coast [Ghana].
Letters, dated 1913-1932, from William Garfield Waterworth to his family mainly written from Kumasi, Gold Coast [Ghana].
File of correspondence, dated 1957 to 1960, concerning a proposal for a book about William Garfield Waterworth and the mass movement in Ashanti.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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Waterworth's letters were deposited with the Methodist Missionary Society by Waterworth's widow, Mrs Anne Waterworth
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society are the official correspondence for William Garfield Waterworth for the Gold Coast (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 14-16) and Nigeria (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Western Nigeria/FBN 22 & box 1253) districts. Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Gold Coast (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Gold Coast/FBN 4 & 11) and Nigeria (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 13-15 & boxes 1241-1242) districts.
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Born at Alconbury, Huntingdon [Cambridgeshire] in 1807. His first ministerial appointment was to Sierra Leone in 1835. He survived the difficult working conditions for two years before being sent home due to worsening ill health (in the first two months of his tenure three colleagues died). The remainder of his career was spent in home circuits principally in the Home Counties and South-West of England. He became a supernumerary whilst at South Petherton, Somerset, in 1872 and died at Exeter, Devon, on 10 March 1882.
Microfilm of journal whilst working in Sierra Leone, 1835-1838. Includes copy of ordination certificate and oath of allegiance, 1835. With file of paperwork (some copies) regarding deposit (1956) and withdrawl (1979).
1835-1838, 1956 & 1979
Via Archivist
Restrictions Apply
Deposited with the Methodist Missionary Society by J F Sanders, March 1956.
No copying allowed
Original items withdrawn from SOAS by J E Sanders on 23 June 1980. Postive and negative microfilms retained.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Sanders (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Sierra Leone/FBN 25).
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Joseph Rhodes Dunwell was born in 1807 and grew up in Pool-in-Wharfdale, Yorkshire. A disagreement with his parents over his faith meant he moved out of the family home and travelled to London. He continued his association with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, becoming a local preacher in Southwark in 1831, whilst earning a living as tea dealer. He was accepted as a minister in 1834 and answered, at short notice, a request by a group of Ghanaian Christians for a missionary and Bibles to be brought with him. Arriving at Cape Coast, Ghana, on 1 January 1835 he began ministering to both European residents and indigenous people, formed Sunday Schools and Society Classes as well as beginning the process of founding a viable mission. However, within 6 months of arriving he developed 'fever' and died at Cape Coast Castle on 24 June 1835. Spurred on by Dunwell's success, and despite the known high mortality rate amongst Europeans in West Africa, the WMMS continued to send missionaries and found new missions upon the coast and into the interior of West Africa.
Further Reading:
Bartels, F L, The roots of Ghana Methodism (1965);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 4, 1922);
Mission 200 Committee, Mission 200 1786-1986. A record of 200 years of Methodist missionary activity, with special reference to the part played by the Leeds District of the Methodist Church (1986).
Journal (15 October 1834 to 15 June 1835) begins just prior to his departure from England and ends a few days before his death in Ghana. With six letters written by various individuals to Rev John Kilner containing biographical information on Dunwell, 1884-1885.
1834-1835 & 1884-1885
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Joseph Rhodes Dunwell (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gold Coast/FBN 9).
An account of Dunwell's last days and his death - based on extracts from the journal of Joseph Smith - is published in Wesleyan Missionary Notices (November 1836).
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William Hare Findlay was born at Malton in Yorkshire on 17th May 1857. He was educated at Woodhouse Grove and New College, Eastbourne and at Merton College, Oxford. In 1879 he was accepted as a candidate for the Methodist Ministry. Following a year at Richmond College he was appointed to the Madras District of India as an educational missionary. He married Alice Hellier in 1884. He served as Principal of the Negapatam High School for twenty years and founded what was later known as Findlay College, Mannargudi. In 1900 he was appointed one of the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and attended the World Missionary Conference at Edinburgh in 1910. In 1915 he returned to India where he had been appointed Director of a Survey of Missions for the National Christian Council of India. He died on 28th November 1919 before this work was completed.
Further Reading:
Findlay, W H, The Wesleyan Methodist Church, India and Ceylon. Reorganization of the District Synods (1899);
Findlay, W H, Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society: Report of a Visit to the Sierra Leone and Gambia District (c1900);
Findlay, W H, On the threshold. The challenge of the coming century (1913);
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, Report of Visitation of India and Ceylon missions ... 1904-5 - deputation Rev W H Findlay ... Mr J Vanner Early
Brief diary and journal of visit by W H Findlay, as an MMS Secretary, to the Lagos district of Nigeria, Oct 1900 to Jan 1901. More detailed account of the above. Informal journal of Secretarial Visit by W H Findlay to Gambia and Sierra Leone, Nov 1901 to Feb 1902. Official account of Secretarial Visit by W H Findlay to Gambia and Sierra Leone, Nov 1901 to Feb 1902.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Official correspondence by W H Findlay whilst a missionary in India can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive. Correspondence from both the Madras (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 25) and from the Trichinopoly (MMS/India/Correspondence/Trichinopoly/FBN 39) districts are extant. Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in India he served (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-4).
For his period as one of the Secretaries of the WMMS there may well be extant correspondence in the 'Home outgoing correspondence' as well as information on the work he was involved in amongst the relevant committee minutes.
Correspondence about W H Findlay and his work on the Missionary Survey of India is located in the Joint IMC/CBMS (India) Archive available at SOAS on microfiche.
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Thompson was born in Glastonbury, Somerset, to Wesleyan Methodist parents (the Rev & Mrs Thomas Thompson) on 8th May 1871. After being educated at Woodhouse Grove and Kingswood he graduated from Aberystwyth. He attended Richmond College in 1893 but his training was cut sort in 1894 due to an urgent need for missionaries in India. For the next 25 years he worked in the Mysore District developing a reputation as an evangelist, debater and effective administrator as well as cultivating a keen interest in Indian history and Hinduism. He was superintendent of the Mysore Press for a number of years as well as editing 'The Harvest Field' (c1900-1904) and Dr Haigh's weekly newspaper, 'Vrittanta Patrike' (contributing regularly to both of these in addition to other mainly missionary publications). Knowledgeable in both Canarese and Sanskrit his evangelical work included being involved with the mass movements in Hyderabad and Trichinopoly as well as a period of residency at the United Theological College in Bangalore [Bengaluru]. He was also an ardent opponent of Theosophy and in particular the form espoused by Mrs Annie Besant.
In 1911, whilst on furlough in England, he suggested changes to the constitution and administration of the missionary society which were accepted and remained in place up to and beyond Methodist Union. In 1919 he became one of the general secretaries of the WMMS, initially having responsibility for Home Organisation but later being responsible for India, West Africa and the West Indies districts. Whilst at the Mission House he served for four years as Chairman of the Officers' meetings. In 1934 Thompson became a supernumerary but remained active in Church affairs, most notably playing a key part in the creation of the Methodist Church's conference declaration on racial policy in 1950. He died in London on 28th January 1963.
Further Reading (selective):
Thompson, E W, The Methodist Mission House: its history and its treasures
Thompson, E W, A history of India for high schools and colleges (1908);
Thompson, E W, The call of India: a study in conditions, methods and opportunities of missionary work among Hindus (1912);
Thompson, E W, The theosophy of Mrs. Besant: being a statement upon the teaching of Mrs. Besant and Mr. Leadbeater with an account of the recent law-suits and a foreword by the Bishop of Madras and others (1913);
Thompson, E W, The word of the Cross to Hindus (1933);
Thompson, E W, The Methodist doctrine of the Church (1939).
Notebook recording a deputation tour to West Africa and specifically Sierra Leone.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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Copyright mostly held by Methodist Missionary Society.
A few of Rev Edgar Thompson's deputation or visitation reports were published including a 'Report of West African Visitation by Rev. Edgar W. Thompson, and Dr A.W. Hooker. January 18th to April 7th 1928' (MMSL AF-WE1425) & 'The West Indies, 1929-1930: the report of two tours by the Rev. E.W. Thompson' (MMSL AM-CR19). Further works by him can be found within the Methodist Missionary Society Library.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Edgar Wesley Thompson whilst stationed in India (MMS/India/Correspondence/Mysore/FBN 34-36). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Mysore District (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 4-8 & MMS/India/Synod Minutes/South India/FBN 12-13). Correspondence written by Thompson whilst a General Secretary of the WMMS can be found within outgoing correspondence.
Finally, there is also an article on Governor MacLean and Thomas Birch Freeman by Thompson available (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 1, item 22) and a memorandum on the name 'Methodist Missionary Society' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 5, item 51).
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The Rev J H Hirst was born in 1871 into a family that had been involved for the previous three generations with the Primitive Methodist Church. He grew up under the care of both his parents and grand-parents and after a brief stint as a pupil-teacher he began an apprenticeship in a pharmacy. However, his involvement in Methodism continued and he became a local preacher in Whitby in Yorkshire. After being ordained his first posting was to Derby in 1892. The next year he moved to Clay Cross in Derbyshire and married Alice M Evans in 1895. From 1896 until 1914 he worked in a number of chapels and circuits in Yorkshire. After 1902 he refused to pay the newly introduced education rate and found himself briefly imprisoned on a few occasions. After nearly two years in Staffordshire he moved to Birmingham in 1916. Whilst still at Birmingham he undertook his first overseas missionary deputation (to West Africa) in 1920 & 1921 in the company of the Rev J T Barksby, Foreign Missionary Secretary of the Primitive Methodist Church. In 1923 he took over from Rev Barksby as the Foreign Missionary Secretary and remained in this post until 1928. His last positing was to Birkenhead, Cheshire, where he also served as a governor of Hartley College in Manchester. He died in August 1929.
(The above is in part based on a biographical note by his daughter, Marjorie E South, which can be found within these papers).
Papers mainly relating to Hirst's involvement with a missionary deputation to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and Nigeria by the Primitive Methodist Church including diaries (November 1920 to April 1921); collected papers relating to the missions in Fernando Po and in Nigeria (particularly Nara, Uzuakoli and Oron), 1920s-1930s; photographs of Hirst and his colleagues, 1920s & undated; biographical notes on Hirst by his daughter, ?1990.
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Transferred to SOAS by the Methodist Church in June 1990.
Deposited with the Methodist Church Overseas Division in May 1990 by Mrs Marjorie E South of Windsor, Berkshire.
Copyright held by various
Correspondence by or relating to the Rev Hirst can be found within the Primitive Methodist section of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Archive, including condolence letters upon his death (MMS/PMMS/Home/Correspondence/FBN 2).
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Recording his trip as part of a Primitive Methodist Church Foreign Mission deputation to Nigeria and Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]
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Recording his departure from England and his arrival in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and the beginning of his work there.
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Begins with reports and notes on visitation to Fernando Po (December 1920-January 1921). Diary starts on 10 January 1921 and initially ends on 22 January 1921 recording his departure from Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and his arrival in Nigeria. The diary also records his 'Homeward Journey' from 5 March 1921 until 6 April 1921.
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Visitation work in Nigeria. With notes at rear on education in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and Nigeria.
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Visitation work in Nigeria. From page 30 there are extensive notes on a conference at Oron Institute.
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Papers collected by Rev Hirst prior to, during and after his return from his depuation to West Africa
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Two sketch maps of the Nara mission and surrounding area with notes; typescript entitled 'History of Uzuakoli' (2 pages covering 1911 to 1918).
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Expresses concerns over his salary.
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'LML Pamphlet, New Series No 1' entitled 'The Function of the Missionary in a New Country' by C P Groves. With postcard, dated 31 December 1921, from Groves in Stockport [Cheshire] to Hirst in Edgbaston [Warwickshire] re borrowing a book and his general welfare.
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Note, dated 7 March 1935 from Rev G[eorge] Bell to Mr Hirst saying he thought Hirst might like the enclosed baptsim slips from when he visited Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]. With 6 baptismal slips each dated 2 January 1921 at San Carlos.
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Images of Hirst and some of his colleagues.
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Studio of Albert E Perkin, Hull
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One of the individuals depicted is probably Rev Barkby.
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Rev Ward was Home Mission Secretary for part of the period Hirst was Foreign Secretary of the Primitive Methodist Church.
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Notes compiled by Hirst's daughter, Mrs Marjorie E South
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Information from these notes have been used as the basis for the entry in the 'AdminHistory' field in the overview of Hirst's papers - MMS/17/02/03/22.
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Copy of 'The Continuation of the narrative' of James Will, dated 19th March 1839, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Begins with him being sold into slavery and the mistreatment (chained, beaten, little food and water) he and his fellow slaves endure. Transported to the coast (many slaves dying on the way) and forced onto a slave ship. During voyage ship captured by the British and taken to Sierra Leone, arriving in October 1830. Freed but 'given' [apprenticed] to Thomas Will. Works in a Hawker's shop (effectively running it from 1834). A dream leads him to convert to Christianity. Finishes apprenticeship on 19th October 1837. Narrative ends with Will learning to read the gospel.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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The first part of James Will's narrative can be found within the Memo book of W Fergusson in MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 44 (item 58).
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Amelia Isham Jackman was born in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, in April 1863 the daughter of Susannah and Albert (the latter a teacher). In 1871 the family were residing in the Parochial School in St Peter, Jersey (her mother's birthplace). By 1891 Amelia Jackman had begun her teaching career as an assistant school mistress in Tonbridge, Kent.
Having been accepted as a candidate for the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society she departed England on 25 August 1894 as one of the first women sent by them to West Africa. She arrived at Accra [Ghana] in September 1894 and initially taught in the Girls' School. In November she relocated to the Cape Coast [Ghana] to continue her teaching to girls and was due to work in the new facility at Aburi [Ghana] but she contracted 'West Coast Fever' and was taken ill on 6 December. She died on 13 December 1894 having been in West Africa less than three months.
Letters written, mostly from Cape Coast Castle [Ghana], to her parents; two letters of sympathy to her parents from colleagues; a few Methodist publications which comment on her death; four photographs - two of Amelia Jackman and two of her grave.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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Material sent to the Methodist Missionary Society by William Thomas Jackman, 5/1/[19]60
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Various copyrights
Some of the information in the 'Administrative and Biographical History' field was supplied by Ann Cotterrell.
A typed transcript of Amelia Jackman's diary - covering the period of when she departs from England (25/8/1894) to just before her death (2/12/1894) - is available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 6 (item 63)).
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Elizabeth Golby was born in Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, on 24 May 1908 and grew up at Castle Wharf, Hertfordshire. Her father, who worked in local government, was a Methodist lay preacher as well as the chapel steward for the Banbury Circuit. Golby was educated at Dashwood Road Day School but, after her mother's death, she took over domestic duties for the family at the age of twelve. As a child she was a member of both the Band of Hope and the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Juvenile Missionary Association and as a teenager was involved in lay preaching for the Wesleyan Methodist Girls' League.
In 1928 Golby began four years of training as a nurse at St Luke's Municipal General Hospital, Bedford, culminating in a Staff Registered Nurse certificate and a certificate in midwifery from the Central Midwives Board. Golby's application to the Women's Work section of the Methodist Missionary Society was initially rejected so she agreed to temporarily assist at a foot clinic for pottery workers in Longton, Staffordshire. However, upon re-application to the MMS she was successful and then she spent three terms at Kingsmead, Birmingham, preparing for her role as a medical missionary. On 8th August 1934 she set sail from Liverpool for Nigeria aboard the MV Accra.
After initially being stationed at the hospital at Ikot Ekepene Golby was asked to work at a 'Bush Hospital' at Oburo Idua, near Oron, in January 1935. The compound was not fully complete so Golby found herself having to supervise its finalisation and then run a clinical practice. After a brief furlough she returned to Nigeria in the spring of 1936 and was again stationed at Ikot Ekepene. During this period a seriously ill baby was brought to Golby but died under her care. She was charged with murder but found not guilty, with the judge criticising the village for its original neglect of the child. She then temporarily relocated to Uzuakoli Leper settlement before returning to England on furlough. Whilst on furlough she married her colleague, the Methodist missionary and minister Rev Norman Green, at Banbury on 21 July 1938.
Golby, now a married woman, was not able to continue in her official post and no longer worked directly for the Women's Work section of the MMS. However, as a missionary wife her medical skills were still in constant use albeit this time at Ebukhu and with no formal recognition or remuneration. She also found herself involved in training nursing staff as well as some involvement in her husband's evangelical work. However, the combination of pregnancy and war meant that she returned to England in 1940.
In 1945 she went back to Nigeria to be with her husband at Ibiaku and assisted him with his work (as well as raising their two sons) before returning to England again in 1949 where she remained. Her husband continued working in Nigeria until ill-health forced his return in 1963 (he died on 1 December 1967). Elizabeth Green maintained a keen interest in Nigeria and mission work (being involved in Women's Work activities in Britain) until her death on 7 February 1993.
Further Reading:
Atkinson, Christine, Wesley's child: the life story of Elizabeth Green (1988)
Dorothy (Doris) Alice Coe (1901-1986) served as a medical missionary in Nigeria for the (Primitive) Methodist Missionary Society from 1929 to 1934, principally at Ikot Ekepene.
Principally comprising photographs of staff, patients and facilities in Methodist missionary medical institutions in Eastern Nigeria. With a small number of letters and newspaper cuttings.
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A small number of items originally belonged to Doris (Dorothy) Coe. Donated to the Methodist Church by Elizabeth Green, 27 October 1982.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by various
Any extant correspondence written by Elizabeth Golby whilst a medical missionary in Nigeria will be amongst MMS/Womens Work/Correspondence/Africa/FBN 4-5). A brief autbiographical account of her work and life (under her married name of Green) is available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1206).
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Letter of request for treatment and letter of thanks for treatment to Miss Golby at Ikot Ekpene [Nigeria], 1936.
Circular letter from Betty & Norman [Green] from Ebukhu, Oron [Nigeria], dated Christmas 1938, summarising their recent work (including a tour of the Circuit) and social activities.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Photographs and postcards of Nigeria, the majority of which depict (Primitive) Methodist medical missionary work.
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Copyright held by various
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Postcard with drawing of the Primitive Methodist mission station at Kanchindu [Zambia], 1920; postcard of canoe on Mbo river in front of mangrove trees; people crossing river; children playing in river; postcard of market day; first hospital at Oburo Idua [?Oboro, Nigeria], August 1933.
Envelope noting that some photographs and newspaper cuttings previously belonged to Miss Dorothy Coe.
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Some of these items originally belonged to Doris (Dorothy) Coe
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Activity: postcard depicting the crossing of a river by raft (with car on-board).
Groups: EG [Emily Godfrey] with 2 month old triplets at Ikotek Pene [Ikot Ekpene] hospital; nurse with 12 month old triplets; mother with triplets; postcard entitled 'Rescued twins with their mothers'; Christmas postcard of children at the leprosy service, Uzuakoli, 1963; outpatients outside new 'fulchings', 1937; Boys' brigade training and dedication course at bible school, 1958; postcard of mothers with babies; shield awarded to best 'bush' nurse, Ikot Ekpene, 1937; nurse (?Hesfi) with rescued babies at Ikot Ekpene, 1937; staff with babies outside maternity unit at Ikot Ekpene, Christmas Day [19]37; Dr Scott & Miss Stead with 'native' staff outside Ikot Ekpene hospital, July 1932; nurses Mollie, Efion, Ima, Udi, Golby, Adiala, Nicholson and Grace with triplets outside Ikot Ekpene hospital, ?1936.
People: Rev S[unday] E Nwacukwu, 1963; four images of a patient named Ugacju from Bende, suffering from a large cyst, showing her condition before, during and after treatment, 1934-1935.
Buildings: chapel and hospital, 1950; theatre at Amaetchara [Ama Achara] hospital, [19]35; ward at Amaetchara [Ama Achara] hospital, [19]35; outside of Amaetchara [Ama Achara] hospital, [1935]; missionary rest house and matron's house at Ikot Ekpene hospital.
Envelope with additional information on a few of the photographs.
Prints taken/received by B Umo Ephraim, Rev S[unday] E Nwacukwu, CMS Bookshop, Elizabeth Golby.
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Copyright held by various
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Newspaper article on Elizabeth Bennett from the Beds & Bucks Observer, 29 March 1977.
Newspaper cutting (including photograph) on Rev Dr Egembe Idwe, c1980.
Inventory of 'plates' sent to Rev F E Enelamah, Methodist Manse, Umuahia [Nigeria], ?1957.
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Some of these items originally belonged to Doris (Dorothy) Coe
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Christopher Thackray Eddy was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, on New Year's Day 1906. Born into a Methodist family (his grandfather was the Rev John Thackray) he attended Holgate Grammar School in Barnsley, Yorkshire, before studying at Queen's College, Cambridge. During his second year (whilst studying Natural Science) he heard the Rev W J Platt speak on Methodist missions and the Prophet Harris in West Africa and he realised this was where his future lay. Encouraged by the WMMS he changed his degree to English Literature and then undertook a postgraduate course in teaching. After two years teaching at the Newcastle Royal Grammar School he joined the WMMS in 1930 and was sent, with little missionary preparation, to their Gold Coast District.
His first appointment was at Wesley College, Kumasi, where he was involved in teacher training. During his first furlough (1932) he married Margaret Liversidge (born 23 November 1908), a teacher who had trained at Southlands College and who became immediately involved with her husband's work until she returned to England in 1945 to raise their family. By 1935 Eddy was Vice-Principal of the college and responsible for teacher training until the end of the war (he was also a local preacher and served as an officer in the Home Guard). In 1945 he was appointed as Supervisor of Methodist Schools in the Ashanti being promoted five years later to General Manager of Methodist Schools with oversight of some 650 schools. During this period he also served two brief spells as headmaster of the Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, in 1947 and 1949. In 1952 he was seconded to Kwame Nkrumah's pre-independence administration as Assistant Director of Education and tasked with developing a teacher training programme. In 1957 he returned briefly to the MMS as Vice-Principal of Komenda College before being seconded as Principal to the government's training college at Winneba. Whilst there he oversaw an expansion in teaching services (including a substantial building programme) and established the National Teacher Training Council, serving as its first president. During this period his brother Geoffrey, a minister serving in the district, became its chairman in 1955 leading the church to form its own Methodist connexion in 1960.
In August 1960 Christopher Eddy returned to England but remained in education, initially at a teaching training college for students from Malaysia in Kirby, Liverpool, and later as Vice-Principal of Westminster College, Oxford. Eddy continued his work as a local preacher and in retirement spent three years as a part-time educational consultant for the MMS including visiting Kenya, Zambia and Rhodesia [Zimbabwe]. Margaret died on 11 May 1984 with her husband living for another fifteen years until 1 November 1999. One of their sons, also named Christopher, is a Methodist minister, who served for seven years in Sierra Leone.
Further reading:
Bartels, F L, The Roots of Ghana Methodism (1965).
Collection includes a volume of transcribed correspondence of Margaret Eddy; articles and cuttings on the work of the Eddys and others in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Misssionary Society Gold Coast District; images of educational establishments they worked at along with their colleagues and students (notably at Wesley College, Kumasi, and Winneba Training College) as well as images of Ashanti including the coronation of Prempeh II, King of the Ashanti and the golden stool.
The collection has been arranged into four sections: Manuscripts, Visual material, Published material and Objects.
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Collection accepted as a donation on behalf of the Methodist Church from Antony Eddy, March 2012
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mainly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Christopher Eddy (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/FBN 16-18 and boxes 1249 & 1250). Further information on Eddy's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, should be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 11-12 and boxes 1241-1244). Further images taken by him are also available (MMS/West Africa/Photographs/Box 1195A, files 17 & 18).
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Including material relating to the M.V. 'Adda'; presentation volume given to C T Eddy on the occasion of his retirement from his office as Principal of Winneba Training College; 2 letters to Margaret Eddy; volume of transcribed letters written by Margaret Eddy.
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Copyright mostly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Material collected by Christopher and Margaret Eddy regarding the M.V. 'Adda' which transported them to England when on furlough in 1934. Includes passenger list, crew list, menu and programme of music cards, information on voyage, and postcard depicting the ship. Also with postcard of surf boats in Accra [Ghana].
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Copyright held by various
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Discusses lack of servant help, Harvest Festival service at Wenchi, new servants, staffing at school, Harvest Festival at Berekum, explains mission is funded locally, Christmas, other missionaries, New Year, synod (including discussions on church union). Handwritten part adds thanks for letter, Pat Nicholas pregnant, increase in attendance at Women's fellowship.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Comprises photographs of C T Eddy, students and staff and then lists of their names and signatures. At rear unidentified loose image, possibly of an idol or fetish.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Thanks her for her note and suggests the following as news flashes (for a newsletter): Dr Peter Mackeray at Wenchi Hospital [Ghana]; church union in Ghana; Northern Ghana mission; latest coup attempt in Ghana.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Transcripts of the letters written by Margaret Eddy, whilst stationed with her husband Christopher, at Wesley College, Kumasi, Gold Coast [Ghana], between 1932 and 1944, written to family, friends and supporters. Also includes an obituary and biographical information on Christopher Eddy and copies of a few images of the Eddys, the college and its staff and a village dispensary.
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The original letters are assumed to be still with the family.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Images taken by or collected by the Eddys during their service in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society Gold Coast District. Includes images of them, of education establishments they worked at along with their colleagues and students (notably at Wesley College, Kumasi, and Winneba Training College), church members, the coronation of Prempeh II - King of the Ashanti, the golden stool as well as more generic images of Ashanti and neigbouring areas.
This series has some commercial images including postcards produced by the Methodist Book Depot, Cape Coast, Gold Coast [Ghana].
Photographs received in some disorder. Where groups of photographs were together and they clearly relate to each other then those groupings of images have been retained. Otherwise photographs arranged as best as possible in the files listed here, broadly in chronological order. With regard to leaves which were once part of a photograph album these have been placed together as best as possible to try to recreate said albums. However the albums are incomplete and the original order of each album is not known.
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Principally commercial postcards of the harbour at Takoradi [Sekondi-Takoradi], Anamabu [Anomabu] Castle and Elmina Castle. With photograph of students and Rev A G Simon in Wesley College grounds [Kumasi]. Photographs have captions
Loose leaves placed together where images form same sequence but otherwise not possible to recreate original order of what remains of this album.
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Photographs and commercial postcards. Includes images depicting staff, students, buildings and the grounds at Wesley College, Kumasi; staff and students at Kumasi Junior Sunday School; staff and students at Mbofraturo [?Mmofraturo], Kumasi (including Girls' Boarding School and Training College for Women Teachers); catechists and church members; magazine image of burning of Naa Adjale's fetish Odente at Nsawam; landscapes and people in Ashanti (including golden stool); commercial postcards of Elmina Castle.
Photographs captioned and in a few instances individuals have been identified.
Loose leaves placed together where images form same sequence but otherwise not possible to recreate original order of what remains of this album.
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Photographs and commercial postcards. Includes images depicting staff, student and visitors at Wesley College [Kumasi]; staff and students at Mbofraturo [?Mmofraturo], Kumasi; missionary staff in the Gold Coast; the Ashanti (restoration of confederacy, golden stool, chiefs, etc); a few images of the Hausa as well as commercial postcard images of buildings and places in the Gold Coast [Ghana].
Photographs captioned and in a few instances individuals have been identified.
Loose leaves placed together where images form same sequence but otherwise not possible to recreate original order of what remains of this album.
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Includes photographs depicting theatrical events by Wesley College Staff, Kumasi; staff and students at 2nd Girls' Boarding School, Mbofraturo [?Mmofraturo], Kumasi; new chapel at Abrepo; Kumasi centenary procession; images of travel and Ashanti areas.
Photographs captioned and in a some instances individuals have been identified.
Loose leaves placed together where images form same sequence but otherwise not possible to recreate original order of what remains of this album.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
See also file 7 in Box 1403
Catalogued
Principally group photographs of staff and students at Wesley College, Kumasi, in the 1930s. Also group photographs of Aburi College staff and students (?1940), Education Department staff (c1952 & c1954) and attendees at the Ghana Methodist Conference (1971). Many of the images were captured by commercial photographers.
Photographs captioned and in some instances individuals have been identified.
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Photographs depicting the Eddy family with colleagues and their families. Named individuals comprise Rose Dade, Beatrice Isiboe, Francis Banks, Tom Beetham and possibly Laurence Creedy. Few captions. With one negative.
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'Merchant of Venice' and 'Twelfth Night' productions by Wesley College staff. Only one caption.
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Original envelope noted 'Twelfth Night' as a production.
See also File 4 in Box 1403
Catalogued
Photographs (some produced as postcards) including depictions of students at Mbofraturo [?Mmofraturo]; staff and students at Wesley College, Kumasi; staff at Winneba Training College; Eddy family; Suckley family. Many of the photographs do not have captions.
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Copyright mostly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Commercial photographs, probably removed from an album, of the coronation of Prempeh II, King of the Ashanti, with attending dignatories, restoration of the golden stool and crowd scenes. Photographs have captions.
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Copyright holder uknown
See also Files 2-4 in Box 1403
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Produced as postcards with some annotated on rear, occasionally mentioning participants.
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Postcards of groups, scenes and buildings including [Conference of Red Cross Links, Wesley College], Kumasi Methodist Church, Axim Castle, Accra Post Office and Sham Castle many being produced in the 1930s by the Methodist Book Depot, Cape Coast, Gold Coast [Ghana]. Also postcards of Livingstone College (London) and Madeira. Some have captions. With greeting card depicting six Adinkra symbols and brief handrwritten explanation of each.
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Photographs of college buildings (exterior and interior), construction of new buildings, students in Arts and Crafts Department, students in Housecraft Department and students involved in sport and physical education.
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Photographs of a visit, probably to Wesley College, Kumasi, by a European visitor, 1950s.
Photographs of a large social event, probably the 50th anniversary of Wesley College, Kumasi, 1972. With negatives.
None of the photographs have captions but were probably taken by Christopher or Margaret Eddy.
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Uncaptioned image of Eddy with colleagues observing male pupils at study; Eddy with two female students at the Malayan Training College, Kirby, Liverpool, 1961; four captioned but undated images of fisherman, etc, at Lake Bosomtwe [Ashanti, Ghana] which are stuck on a sheet of paper; young girl named Arba Amissah [about 2 years old].
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Photograph album contains images of Eddy's colleagues and some former students principally at Wesley College, Kumasi, but also Mfantsipim, Komenga Training College and Winneba Training College, Ghana, between 1926 and 1960. Each image has a caption identfying the individual, the organisation they worked for or studied at, their connection to said organisation and the dates they were there. At rear of volume is an overview of Eddy's career and a dedication to him.
Also at rear of volume (now in separate folder) are some loose photographs which mostly have information on their reverse similiar to the captions found within the album. In two instances there are letters accompanying photographs.
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Copyright holder unknown
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Articles and extracts from articles on C T Eddy's work, the Methodist mission in Ghana and Ghanaian independence. Also as a poster on 'Stools Symbolism'.
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Annotation identifies Evelyn Bellamy and Dorothy Turnbull.
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News page where C T Eddy has annotated article that 'all passed through Wesley College, Kumasi [Ghana]' and identifies each individual alluded to (F L Bartels, S G Nimako, Theodora Bartels, Mr Winful, S H Amissah, Edward Teye Botchwaye).
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
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Copyright held by The Illustrated London News
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Newspaper cuttings mounted on paper. Cutting of 12 April 1959 on Gloria Addae as the first female Ghanaian diplomat. Cutting of 19 Nov 1959 on Miss Comfort Stevens meeting Princess Margaret at the Commonwealth exhibition in Liverpool [Lancashire].
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Copyright holder unknown
Catalogued
Cuttings, including one from the Methodist Recorder, praising the work of Eddy as a missionary and educationalist in Ghana.
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Catalogued
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
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Depictions of stools with brief explanation of each. Includes overview by Glover on the importance of chiefs' stools representing the authority of leaders as well as the beliefs and aspirations of ethnic groups in Ghana.
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Copyright held by author
Catalogued
Shield with the crest of Wesley College [Kumasi, Ghana] commerating its golden jubilee.
Restrictions Apply
Catalogued
Please speak to an archivist regarding access to this item
Restrictions Apply
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Catalogued
Dennis Williams was born in Acton, Middlesex [London], on 7 February 1929 and studied part-time for a degree in chemistry and physics from the University of London. After his ministerial training at Wesley House, Cambridge, he remained in the city to serve his first ministry in 1951. A year later he was posted by the Methodist Missionary Society to serve in Sierra Leone where he took an interest in the Mende language (including translating the Methodist Book of Offices). During his first furlough in England he married Brenda Lewis on 4 December 1954 and then they both returned to Sierra Leone where they served in a number of circuits including Segbwema, Kailahun, Sumbuya, Tikonko and Bunumbu. At Segbwema Williams was involved in the bible school (later training centre) which produced a number of works on the Mende language as well as providing training for lay leaders and preachers.
In 1965 they returned to England being posted first to Basingstoke and then Eastbourne from 1970 to 1976. For part of this period (1969-1974) Williams was a member of the Central Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society. In 1976 he accepted the Chair of the Oxford and Leicester District where he remained for thirteen years before spending the last five years of his active ministry in the Barry Circuit in South Wales. Rev Williams died on 1 August 1996 leaving a widow, Brenda, and three children (Rebecca, Helen and David).
Publications and manuscripts created and collected by Rev Williams relating principally to the Mende language but also to cultural activities. As well as Rev Williams other authors and contributors include Rev J R S Law, Rev Tom Harris, Rev Stanley Brown, Sister Mary Mawson, Samai Bundo Sunga, Rev W R E Clarke, Rev P F Jibao and unnamed Mende catechists.
Material arranged as manuscripts and published works
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Collection accepted as a donation on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mrs Brenda Williams of Northampton, February 2004
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Copyright mainly with the Trustees for Methodist Churches
Catalogued
Manuscripts on the Mende language (proverbs, alphabets, etc) and culture.
Manuscripts have been divided into language and culture.
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Typescript manuscripts (some hand annotated or corrected) relating to grammar, alphabets, proverbs etc
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Typescript manuscrpt containing 325 proverbs many of which have an English translation. Some annotations and corrections made by hand.
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Copyright with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Typescript manuscrpt containing 314 mende proverbs with explanations in English. Heavily annotated and corrected by hand.
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?Copyright with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Typescript manuscript containing 323 Mende proverbs with English translations. A few annotations and corrections made by hand.
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164 entries probably being proverbs or phrases.
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19 phrases or proverbs.
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Conversations being: 'Hale Wɛlɛi Bu / In The Hospital'; 'Ndola Jialoi / A Child A Toddler'; 'Hiindo Yila / A Man'; 'Ko-Nyahanga / Expectant Mothers'.
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Handwritten list of letters - including disputed letters and letters from the Galinas [Gallines] alphabet.
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Typescript manuscript arranged in 20 lessons. A few annotations and corrections made by hand.
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Manuscripts relating to inhertitance, first fruits and etiquette with drawings of Mende maskers.
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Rev William Thomas Harris (1904-1959) served the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1930 to 1943 and 1946 to 1959.
Possibly written by Rev W T Harris.
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Typed list, principally for the training of children, comprising instructions on: respect to Elders, eating, parents, hygenie, general.
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Catalogued
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Drawings in ink pen or felt pen of Mende maskers including: Yomayomei, Lani Bɔwɔɛi, ?Yafii, Gpini [Gbini], Ngavɛi , Jobulii, Landɛi [Landai], Falu [Falui], Joobail [?Jobai].
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Catalogued
Works on language, history of Methodism in Sierra Leone, proverbs and childcare.
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Mender reader entitled (in English) 'Some of Our Proverbs' and published by The Protectorate Literature Bureau, Bo, Sierra Leone.
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Crown copyright
Catalogued
Gordon Innes (1924-) was appointed in 1953 as Lecturer in West African Languages at SOAS and taught there until 1984 when he departed as Emeritius Professor of West Africa Languages. During the Second World War Dr Innes served as a wireless mechanic for the RAF, including a posting in the Gambia.
Published by Macmillian and Co, London.
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Produced by the Methodist Church, Segbwema [Sierra Leone].
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Catalogued
Rev Stanley Brown (1913-2003) served the Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1940 to 1948 and 1968 to 1975.
Sister Mary Mawson (1918-2016) served the Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1951 to 1980.
Produced by the Methodist Training Centre, Segbwema [Sierra Leone].
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Copyright with The Methodist Church of Sierra Leone
Catalogued
Produced by the Methodist Training Centre, Segbwema [Sierra Leone].
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Copyright with The Methodist Church of Sierra Leone
Catalogued
Rev Stanley Brown (1913-2003) served the Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1940 to 1948 and 1968 to 1975.
Sister Mary Mawson (1918-2016) served the Methodist Missionary Society in Sierra Leone from 1951 to 1980.
Translation of 'Ma Ye Ndengɛsisia Bawo?'. Produced by the Methodist Training Centre, Segbwema [Sierra Leone].
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Copyright with The Methodist Church of Sierra Leone
Catalogued
Olive Margaret Osborn was born on 4th October 1923. In 1948 she began her missionary training at Kingsmead College, Birmingham, and was appointed in 1950, by the Women's Work Committee of the Methodist Missionary Society, to teach in Nigeria. Her first posting was to the Methodist Girls' High School, Yaba, Lagos, where she remained until 1960. As well as teaching in the school her role included some outreach work in neighbouring villages and supporting evangelical work. In 1960 she transferred to the Methodist High School in Ilesha (which had opened in 1956). In 1962, she resigned from the Methodist Missionary Society and became a direct employee of the school where she remained until 1965. Osborn died on 10th June 2008.
Photographs of her colleagues, students and schools she worked at as well as images of Lagos, Nigeria. There are also a few photographs of her time whilst training at Kingsmead College, Birmingham.
Retained original bundles (no discenable order within them) of photographs and listed them as files in chronological order. A numbering system was used on the rear of many of the photographs which probably corresponded with a list identifying them (which is not extant in this collection).
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ruth Osborn, April 2005
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Copyright mainly vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
A small group of papers relating to the Osborn family are available (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Home/Box 1215).
Catalogued
Comprises images of Kingsmead College and its grounds in Birmingham as well as staff and students. Official group photographs of Upper Kingsmead staff and students for Autumn 1948, Spring 1949 and Summer 1949. Some photographs are dated and/or have information on the rear: group photographs have the names recorded for all those depicted. With original photograph packet.
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Some commercial copyrights otherwise Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Photographs depict the Methodist Girls' High School, Yabba, including exterior and interior of buliding; staff including Mrs Okuyemi, Miss Odeinde, Emily Davis and D[orothy] Verney; students - including some identified 6th form students - at study, play and competing in sporting events; the Yaba compound including the old and new church; local area and people. Some photographs are dated and/or have captions.
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Catalogued
Items dated but no captions except one miscellaneous item labelled 'Cyril's wife carrying home her new sewing machine'.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Comprises 'Royal Visit' [1956] depicting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, parade and crowds attending; Methodist Girls' High School including group photographs of students and staff; images of Victoria Beach; waterfront and lagoon; harbour and ships (including SS Sweden and Derwent Hall). Some photographs have captions and/or dates. Envelope with very brief overview of photographs.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes with odd commercial image
Catalogued
Photographs are not dated with very few captions. Includes images of Olive Osborn and her colleagues, one (probably more) images of Creek village and its inhabitants at work; possibly the church with congregation at Yaba; images of spiders in their webs.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Photographs taken by Olive Osborn (with some by her colleague Ruth Musson) and used for talks (and display) by Osborn to illustrate her missionary education work in Nigeria. Most of the photographs date from the early 1950s. Most photographs have captions on rear with many very detailed (including occasionally identifying individual students). Some images are copies of those in other folders (albeit sometimes enlarged).
Images include those of Osborn and her colleagues (Ruth Musson, Emily Davis, Mrs Okuyemi, Mrs Martin); group photographs of students, sometimes with staff, at Methodist Girls' High School, Yabba, Lagos, and two group photographs (1961) of staff and students at Ilesha Methodist High School; classrooms and the building of the Methodist Girls' High School; students sitting entrance exam for Methodist Girls' High School; depictions of Lagos - marina, stalls and shops, lagoon, Victoria beach, markets (Alakoro, Obalende Bridge, Ebute Ero); buildings, people and activities in Pedro and Creek villages; Methodist churches at Mosafejo, Yabba and Ajegunle; Methodist maternity centre at Oyo.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Osborn notes for classes at Ilesha, Nigeria. Each class date is recorded with topic of discussion and bible passages to be used. At rear of volume is a list of class members and their attendenace during 1964.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Published work with illustrations, lists of former staff and statistics on student results. Includes at least two images found within this collection.
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Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessors) in their districts in South Africa (including Bechuanaland and Namaqualand). There is a small amount of material relating to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Ireland. Includes the papers of, or material relating to, Samuel Broadbent, Thomas Jenkins, Sergeant John Kendrick, Jacob Links, Samuel & Sarah Palmer, Barnabas Shaw and William Shaw.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the South African districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
Manuscript entitled 'The Late Revd Nathanael Matebule Native Minister. Sketch of his life, labours and death', no author or date (18 pages).
Photostat copy of a report (13 January 1883) sent by Henry S Barton to J Kilner on the Moloppo Mission.
File of articles from 'The South African Weekly' including one on the first Methodist martyrs in South Africa and one on Robert Mashaba (March to April 1849).
Letter from ?J[ohn T] Daniel, Queen's Town [South Africa] to Rev J Kilner re steel bracelets given to him by 'widow Queen Christina' which had been owned by Chief Moroka [?Barolong tribe], 14 June 1880.
Butterworth circuit plan, July-December 1885.
Shawbury circuit plan, 1892-1893.
News sheet entitled 'Imvo Zabantsundu (Native Opinion)' (No 29), King William's Town, Ngomvulo, 18 May 1885. English and Xhosa.
Note on the 'Chimers Bell', Hill House, Sandown, I[sle] O[f] W[hite], June 1922.
Print of Wesley Chapel, [Burg Street], Cape Town, South Africa, after 1830.
2 typescript manuscripts entitled 'Reminiscences of Early Missions in South Africa' (5 pages) by W Shaw Caldicott, C20th.
Notes on South African mission stations, C19th (fiche 382).
File containing typescripts of papers relating to Rev John Ayliff copied (?1951) from papers lent by Rev L A Hewson of the South African Methodist Conference. Material copied dates from 1833 to 1862 and includes correspondence with the editor of 'The Watchman' in London and Ayliff's son; extracts from Ayliff's journal; notes (including on Healdstown); and deed of settlement (1833) re Thaba 'Nchu [FBN 10].
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Catalogued
Francis Gladwin was born in Derbyshire in 1807 and began his ministerial career at Holt in Norfolk in 1836 before moving to Spalding in Lincolnshire in 1838. In 1839 he began his missionary career in South Africa when he was posted to Clarkebury in the Eastern Cape and whilst resident there he learnt Xhosa. In 1845 he transferred to Butterworth but his work there was often interrupted by the Kaffir [Xhosa] Wars. In 1852 the situation became particularly difficult when the protection of the Kreila was withdrawn and he and many others abandoned the area around Butterworth (which was destroyed not long after their departure). Along with 5,000 other people and 30,000 head of cattle they were escorted to King William's Town by the British Army. However, the journey was difficult and dangerous and resulted in the death of his newborn son and his 32 year old wife. After a furlough in England Gladwin returned to the Eastern Cape to preach in the Mount-Coke district where he died on 30 December 1855. His second wife, E S Gladwin, died on 20 February 1883.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol 4, 1922);
Whiteside, J, History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa (1906).
Journal, kept infrequently, covering the first few years of his missionary work in South Africa (Clarkebury and Butterworth). With letter, dated 29 August 1910, from Rev Cotton to Rev G Findlay sending Gladwin's journal.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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Received, on behalf of the WMMS, by Rev G Findlay from the Rev Henry Cotton of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa, 1910
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Unfortunately there are no letters extant by the Rev Gladwin within the official correspondence for South Africa in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society. However, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
Catalogued
Robert Snowdall became a member of the Methodist Church in 1813 with his first appointment as a minister to Pembroke, Wales, in August 1822, where he remained until he transferred to Chelmsford, Essex, in 1823. He expressed a formal interest in missionary work and was examined by the missionary committee in February 1824 and selected to serve in South Africa. On 25 April 1824 he departed Gravesend, Kent, aboard the brig 'Mary', to serve in Delagoa Bay [Maputo Bay, Mozambique]. In 1825 he relocated to the Cape where he remained until 1829 when he moved to Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. After a brief tenure preaching to 'Chaka's Tribe' [Zulu?] in 1830 he took up residence in Grahamstown. Here in late February 1831 he was taken ill and subsequently died of dysentery on 24 March 1831.
Journal begins with his departure from England and ends on route to Somerset in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Contains a draft manuscript entitled 'Some account of my Xtian Experience'.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Robert Snowdall whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1, MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 2 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
An extract from a letter written by Snowdall and William Shaw appears in the WMMS annual report for 1826. Shaw mentions Snowdall's illness and death in a letter partially reproduced in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, September 1831.
Catalogued
William Henry Garner's missionary career began in 1835 in South Africa and involved him preaching to a number of different peoples including the Mantatees, Fingoes, Kaffir [Xhosa] and Ncapai's tribe [AmaBhaca]. He was personally acquainted with Ncapai and on occasion administered medical treatment to him and his people. He was involved with the establishment of the mission at Shawbury and served there himself in 1844. From 1845 he worked in Clarkebury, Morley, Durban, Annshaw and Grahamstown. He died at Grahamstown on 29 March 1864.
The first volume begins at the end of July 1841 with Rev Garner and his family departing Buntingville, Eastern Cape, to preach amongst the Amabatca [AmaBhaca] and ends on 18 July 1858 still working in the Eastern Cape (from 4 November 1858 entries are written over (vertically) the earliest entries in the volume). The second volume begins on 24 July 1858 with the Rev Garner preaching at and near Alice in the Eastern Cape and ends on 28 February 1864 with him preaching at West Hill [near Grahamstown] and feeling unwell.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Henry Garner whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 3, MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Bechuana/FBN 4 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Kaffraria/FBN 14). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
Catalogued
John Kendrick was born in Wokingham, Berkshire, in 1778. The son of a sergeant in the British Army he also enlisted in 1797 with the Provincial Cavalry but was discharged two years later. Shortly afterwards he enlisted as a Sergeant (at one point becoming a Troop Sergeant Major) in the 21st Light Dragoons. He converted to Methodism whilst in Leeds, Yorkshire, under the guidance of the Rev George Morley.
Kendrick left for South in April 1806 arriving at the Cape in mid July. He was posted fairly quickly to Saldanha Bay and it was whilst stationed here that he made contact with George Middlemiss of 72nd Regiment, who had been enquiring as to the location of other Methodists in the British Army within South Africa. Kendrick began organising Methodist classes and by 1810 he had 50 members. Meetings in Cape Town were often held in the open air at the foot of Table Mountain whilst at Wynberg (in 1811) he used an empty barracks room as a place of worship but this proved unpopular with his superiors who took a dim view of his evangelical activities. This ultimately led to his relinquishing of the rank of Troop Sergeant Major (which he had attained in February 1810) in March 1812 although he and his comrades' religious observances were still discouraged. At around this time classes numbered about 140 members but stiff competition from Calvinists lead to a decline to around 75 members by the end of 1813. Kendrick's health also began to decline during 1813 until on 18 November (after an illness of twelve days) he died and was buried in the military cemetery at Green Point in Cape Town.
Kendrick had repeatedly written to the Wesleyan Methodist Church in London imploring them to send a minister to the Cape and this was finally agreed to by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference of 1814 when the Rev John M'Kenny was dispatched.
Further Reading:
Mears, W Gordon, Sergeant John Kendrick.
Copy (possibly made by Barnabus Shaw) of an account of the life of Sergeant John Kendrick of 21st Light Dragoons. The orginal was completed by Kendrick, shortly before his death, on 9 November 1813. His account begins with explaining his background, his former 'wicked' behaviour, his conversion to Methodism, his service in the Army (both at home and abroad, particularly South Africa) and his attempts to hold Methodist classes with his comrades in the Cape.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society are the letters written by Sergeant John Kendrick requesting for a minister to be sent to the Cape (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/South Africa/FBN 1).
Catalogued
Samuel Palmer: Wesleyan Methodist minister in Weymouth, Dorset, 1826-1827; Melton Mowbray, 1827-1828; Oakham, 1828-1829; married Sarah Ann Dunman in Dewlish, Dorset, 1829; ordained in Islington chapel, London, 1829; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in Salem, South Africa, 1829-1832; in Morley, South Africa, from 1832; died when suddenly taken ill while leading people away from fighting towards his mission station at Buntingville, 15th May 1846. Palmerton in the Eastern Cape is named after him.
Following her husband's death, Mrs Palmer founded a girls' school at Butterworth, South Africa, in 1849-1850, where local girls could learn to read the Scriptures and were catechised and taught other elementary subjects. Owing to wars in the region which hindered travel, she did not return to England until 1853.
Further Reading:
Whiteside, J, History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa (1906).
Papers, 1828-[1933], of Samuel Palmer and his wife Sarah, comprising memo book, dated 1828, including diary entries on the journey to South Africa, 1829, various accounts, lists of equipment, and other notes, many entries undated; letter from Samuel Palmer to John Dunman concerning his wife, preparations for the voyage to Africa, and ordination, 1829; account of travels in southern Africa [by Mrs Palmer], 1830; letter from Mrs Palmer to her family following her husband's death, 1846; manuscript copy of an obituary notice of Samuel Palmer from the Watchman [1846]; account of journey from South Africa to St Helena [by Mrs Palmer], 1853, with a short inventory of children's clothes appended; typescript copy [1933] of the couple's marriage certificate (1829); manuscript notes (2 pages) on the lives of Samuel and Sarah Palmer [early 20th century]; letter acknowledging gift of these papers, 1933.
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Donated to the MMS in 1933 by Mrs Harold Jones of Truro, Cornwall
Apply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Samuel Palmer (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 2-3). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Catalogued
Samuel Young was born in Pristolee, near Bolton, Lancashire, in 1797 and became a Methodist in 1816. He was accepted by conference in 1821 with his first posting being to Brighton, Sussex, in 1822. A year later he was sent to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape of South Africa to replace the Rev William Shaw. In 1827 he moved to Mount Coke and began preaching to 'Slambie's tribe' [Xhosa]. In 1830 he relocated to Wesleyville but shortly after his arrival his wife and two of his children died. Young returned to England in 1835 and served in a number of chapels and circuits in London and the Home Counties. In 1850 he accepted the position of Superintendent of Irish Mission Schools. After 5 years he returned to preaching in London and the Home Counties until he became a supernumerary at Maidstone, Kent, in 1865. He died at Bognor Regis, Sussex, on 28 June 1884.
Further Reading:
Young, Samuel, A missionary narrative of the triumphs of grace; as seen in the conversion of Kafirs, Hottentots, Fingoes, and other natives of South Africa (1842).
Manuscript entitled 'A Journal of my Circumstances and of the General Nature of my Experience' by Samuel Young. Begins with an explanation of why he became a missionary followed by dated entries beginning with his ordination on 15 November 1823 and ending in September 1867. Journal is kept in some detail until after the end of his missionary career when the entries become more summary and less frequent. Rear of volume also contains brief notes or summaries on topics of interest to Young.
Small manuscript notebook (with some added printed pages) entitled 'The form of service in the Caffre Language And Hymns Used by Samuel Young when a Missionary in That Country. Mount Coke Caffreland 1827 to 1832'.
Manuscript entitled 'A Lecture on the Diversities of the Human Race - or the Characteristics of Nations' by Young, 24 February 1848.
One sheet of notes on Young and [Richard] Haddy whilst in 'Tambookie Country', undated.
Receipt for the drawing up of Mrs Young's will, 7 November 1884.
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Gift from Miss E M Ward, London, to the Methodist Missionary Society, September 1944.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Samuel Young whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 2-3). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
An image of Rev Samuel Young can be found within MMS/Africa/Photographs/Box 1194 (file 1).
Catalogued
Barnabas Shaw - one of six children with only himself and his brother James (c1784-1817) surviving infancy - was born in Elloughton, near Hull, Yorkshire on 12 April 1788. He was accepted as a candidate for the ministry in 1810 and spent four years before full connexion in home circuits (Lincolnshire and Yorkshire). Whilst at Bridlington he married Jane Butler on 24 July 1814.
In 1815 he entered missionary service and was destined to serve in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] but was instead sent to South Africa to replace Rev M'Kenny (he went to Ceylon instead). Shaw and his wife departed England onboard the 'Eclipse' on 20 December 1815 and arrived in Cape Town on 14 April 1816. Having travelled over 6,000 miles to preach in South Africa he felt he should concentrate on slaves and indigenous peoples rather than European settlers and soldiers. Meeting with the Rev Schmelen of the London Missionary Society he was intrigued by his work in Greater Namaqualand and petitioned the authorities to permit him to accompany Schmelen. On 6 September 1816 Shaw and his wife left Cape Town with Schmelen but on route encountered Jantje Wildschot [Haaimaap], chief of Little Namaqualand, who was seeking a Christian teacher. Shaw agreed to accompany him and soon after founded the mission at Lily Fountain in Khamies-berg [Lilifontein, Kamiesberg, Northern Cape Province].
In 1826 he returned to Cape Town before taking a furlough in England in early 1827. Whilst in England he undertook a tour delivering speeches and preaching about his missionary efforts in South Africa. In particular he was keen to raise funds for a new chapel in Cape Town and to this end acquired £700. He and his wife returned to South Africa in the summer of 1829. He continued to work in Cape Town and was involved with the construction of the Wesley Chapel in Burgh Street which opened in 1830. In May 1837 he left South Africa, partly in response to failing health and partly as a desire to educate his children in England, and worked in home circuits until he was asked to serve in South Africa once again. Departing England on 5 September 1843 aboard the 'Persia' with his wife and children (including his eldest son the Rev Barnabas J Shaw) he initially served in Stellenbosch so that colleagues could preach to the Namaqua [Nama] and Damara.
In 1850 Shaw moved to Rondenbosch and became a supernumerary there in 1854. For the last few years of his life he suffered greatly from rheumatism. He died on 2 June 1857 and was buried at Green Point Cemetery.
Further Reading:
Marrat, J, Missionary veterans in South Africa: biographical sketches of the Revs. B. Shaw, T.L. Hodgson, and J. Edwards (1894);
Moister, W, Barnabas Shaw: the story of his life and missionary labours in southern Africa, with a brief account of the Wesleyan missions in that country (1877);
Shaw, B, Memorials of Southern Africa (1841);
Whiteside, J, History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa (1906).
'Reading Made Easy, A large Collection of Verses Out of the Psalms, & New Testament' b W Weald, ?1752. Owned by both Barnabas Shaw (1793) and his brother James (1789). Inside back cover has the following inscription "This is the Book in which my Brother James (who was about four years older than myself) and I learnt to read in. Barn[aba]s Shaw Born April 12 1788 Wynberg April 12 1837'.
'Godsdienstige Ovedenkingen voor Alle Dagen Des Jaars' by W G Reddingius, 1814. Heavily annotated by Shaw as explained on first page 'This Book contains many excellent Sermons &c - There are also the Register of the births of our Children & several other things worthy of being noticed by me or mine. B.S.'
Shaw's copy of his 'Memorials of Southern Africa', 1841. With a few annotations and inserts.
Certificate (dated 25 September 1822) issued by the Office of Land Revenue Cape of Good Hope [South Africa] stating that Heimanus Englebrecht on 13 October 1810 transferred the lease of land on the north-west side of Camiesberg [Kamiesberg, South Africa] to Barnabas Shaw [and others] of the Wesleyan Missionary Society.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for Barnabas Shaw whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1, MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape & Albany/FBN 3 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7-8). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
One letter by Barnabas Shaw, along with some biographical material, can be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46). Extracts from letters written by Shaw appear in the WMMS annual reports as well as Wesleyan Missionary Notices. Images of Shaw can be found within MMS/Africa/Photographs/Box 1194 (file 1) and MMS Box 1203.
Catalogued
Born at Baistow, Skircoat, near Halifax, Yorkshire, England, 27th October 1794; converted in early life and began to evangelise; ordained, 1815; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Ceylon [Sri Lanka], 1815-1820; missionary to southern Africa, 1820-1826; his health failed and he returned to England; minister at Penzance, Cornwall, 1826-1827; Ashby-de-la-Zouche, 1827-1830; Hereford, 1830-1833; Douglas, Isle of Man, 1833-1836; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1836-1839; Carlisle, 1839-1841; Newark, 1841-1844; Bramley, 1844-1846; Doncaster, 1846-1848; Warrington, 1848-1851; Grimsby, 1851-1854; Midsomer Norton, 1854-1857; Retford, 1857-1859; Darlington, 1859; became a supernumerary and settled at Lytham, continuing preaching and pastoral work, 1863; married firstly Louisa Wynn (1801-1832) and secondly Sarah Burton (c1804-1865); he died at Lytham, Lancashire, on 3rd June 1867.
Further Reading:
Allcock, J W, Centenary memorial to the Rev. Samuel Broadbent, pioneer missionary of the Transvaal, 1823 (1922);
Broadbent, Memoir of the Rev. Samuel Broadbent. By his daughter (1870);
Broadbent, S, The missionary martyr of Namaqualand. Memorials of the Rev. William Threlfall, late Wesleyan missionary in South Africa; who was murdered in Great Namaqualand, together with two native converts, Jacob Links and Johannes Jager (1860);
Broadbent, S, Louisa Frances : or, An authentic account of the escape of an Anglo-Indian girl, from the arrogant claims of Romanism, in consequence of the rashness and cruelty of a priest of Goa, East Indies (1865);
Broadbent, S, A narrative of the first introduction of Christianity amongst the Barolong tribe of Bechuanas, South Africa : with a brief summary of the subsequent history of the Wesleyan mission to the same people (1865);
Mears, Mason & Evans, Methodist missionaries no. 4. Herbert Louis Bishop, John William Househam, the Bechuana mission, Samuel Broadbent, Thomas Laidman Hodgson, James Archbell, John Edwards, Thomas Jenkins, James Scott (c1958).
Papers, 1815-1894, of and relating to Samuel Broadbent, comprising his ordination certificate, 13 November 1815; notes for a sermon preached in Greetland before leaving for Ceylon [Sri Lanka], 1815; letters between Rev & Mrs Broadbent and family & friends, 1818-1872; printed Encyclopaedia of Knowledge [before 1826] belonging to Broadbent, vestige of his possessions destroyed at Maquassie in 1826, with a manuscript note by him [after 1826] concerning its history; volume containing manuscript English-Bechuana vocabulary and Lord's Prayer, undated, and other loose Bechuana texts; South African scalping knife; account [after 1832] of the life of Louisa Frances Broadbent; notes of Broadbent's journey to southern Ireland on missionary deputation with the Rev W Toase, 1833; printed article by Broadbent on agriculture in South Africa, 'Incidental results of Christian Missions', 1850; Dorothy Hinckman's manuscript account of the 'Maria Mail Boat', 1852; printed map of south-eastern Africa, 1857; 3 volume manuscript entitled 'Reminiscences and Incidents of Missionary Travell in South Africa' by Samuel Broadbent, undated; manuscript entitled 'Autobiography of Revd S Broadbent', undated; file of autobiographical notes, one set of which entitled 'Memorials', undated; photograph of Samuel Broadbent, unframed, and another, framed (with copy negative), both undated; manuscript copies [19th century] from letters of Miss Broadbent concerning the last hours of Samuel Broadbent, 1867; remembrance card for Samuel Broadbent, 1867; the Rev T A Chalker's 'The Story of an African Mission', from the Methodist Record (1894), mentioning Broadbent; undated photograph of the gravestone of Samuel and Sarah Broadbent; manuscript transcript [19th century] of the epitaph on the gravestone of Louisa Frances Broadbent.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Official correspondence by Samuel Broadbent whilst a missionary in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and South Africa can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive. Correspondence from the Ceylon districts can be found within MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1. Correspondence written from the districts within which he worked in South Africa can be found amongst MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1, MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 2 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7. Furthermore, the synod minutes should detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). There are no extant synod minutes for Ceylon [Sri Lanka] between 1815 and 1820. The odd letter by Samuel Broadbent can be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Catalogued
Thomas Jenkins was born in c1807 of Welsh parentage (only learning English when he was about 10). He emigrated to South Africa, along with his sister Anne and her husband James Kidd, departing England aboard the 'Aurora' in February 1820. They became resident in the British settlement at Kaffraria [Eastern Cape] and Jenkins joined the Methodist Church whilst living in Salem. Jenkins initially worked as a missionary assistant but became a missionary himself in 1832 when asked to evangelise amongst 'Vossanie's tribe' [Vusani, Xhosa]. However, much of Jenkins' missionary career was dedicated to evangelising (principally in Kaffir [Xhosa]) to the Amampando [Pondo] under the chiefdom of Faku (born 1780) including at Buntingville, Morley, Palmerton and Emfundisweni. In fact Jenkins would follow Faku and his tribe in their migrations, leading to the foundation of Palmerton (1844) and the founding of a Wesleyan Methodist mission at Emfundisweni (c1862). Jenkins became a trusted advisor of Faku (who named Jenkins 'Marwanqana') and became familiar with the tribe's customs and practices. Faku himself never converted to Christianity but did assist the mission with resources and a number of his tribe did convert (including his mother). Faku died on 29 October 1867 with Jenkins dying the following year at Emfundisweni on 2 March. Mrs Jenkins continued to work at the mission at Emfundisweni until her death in 1880.
Further Reading:
Hewson, L, An introduction to South African Methodists (1950);
Methodist missionaries no. 4. Herbert Louis Bishop, John William Househam, the Bechuana mission, Samuel Broadbent, Thomas Laidman Hodgson, James Archbell, John Edwards, Thomas Jenkins, James Scott (1958);
Whiteside, J, History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa (1906).
Typescript (2 copies) of an 'Inventory of Autograph Letters and Original Documents in the Jenkins - Shaw Collection 1838 to 1880' compiled by Dr C J Uys at Pietermaritzburg in 1935. Contains index to and then transcriptions of letters written by or to Thomas Jenkins. Much of the correspondence is with William Shaw.
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Location unknown
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Jenkins whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 3, MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Becuana/FBN 4 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Natal/FBN 17). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-3).
Catalogued
William Impey was born in Whitby, Yorkshire, on 22 February 1816. He was ordained as a Wesleyan Methodist minister on 24 October 1838 and departed for South Africa two days later (arriving 17 January 1839). He initially served in Grahamstown but also in Wesleyville, Mount Coke and Fort Beaufort. On 8 April 1841 he married Mary Elizabeth Shaw (1821-1915), the daughter of Rev William Shaw, at the Wesleyan Chapel in Grahamstown. In 1853 he returned to Grahamstown and three years later he was appointed as the superintendent for the WMMS district of Albany and Kaffraria. Measures he suggested to the civilian authorities for the 'improvement' of indigenous people were implemented amongst the Xhosa in 1858 and in 1865 he served as President of the Native Affairs Commission.
After 13 years in Grahamstown he accepted the position of President of the Healdtown Missionary Institution where he remained until his retirement in 1875. Three years later Impey, along with his son (Rev B S H Impey, 1853-1900), resigned from the Methodist Connexion due to a disagreement in doctrinal views over eternal punishment. Joined the Anglican Church and preached at Christ Church in Grahamstown. He died there on 25 September 1896.
Further Reading:
Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa (Vol 6, 1972).
Typescript (2 copies) of Impey's Journal beginning on 25 October 1838 the day before he sets sail for South Africa onboard the Brig 'Vixen'. His journal ends on 21 September 1847 whilst preaching amongst the Fingo in and around Fort Beaufort [Eastern Cape].
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Location not known
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Impey whilst working in South Africa. Unfortunately correspondence for the first part of his career is not extant but correspondence by him does exist from the late 1850s onwards (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Kaffraria/FBN 14, MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Bechuana/FBN 5 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Grahamstown/FBN 12-13). The Grahamstown correspondence (FBN 13) includes Impey's correspondence regarding his resignation from the WMMS as well as a copy of his pamphlet 'Why I leave the Wesleyan Methodist Church', 1878 (fiche 477-478). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-5).
An image of Impey can be found within MMS Box 1203.
Catalogued
William Shaw was born in Glasgow on 8 December 1798, the 11th child of a sergeant in the North York Militia. After his father retired he became the charge of two of his brothers (both sergeants in the said militia) and became a soldier himself. His conversion to Methodism in 1812 may have hampered his army career and whilst serving in Ireland in 1815 he, with a large number of other soldiers, was discharged. He returned to England and became a local preacher in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire, setting up a day school in 1816 and marrying Ann Maw (1788-1854) on 30 December 1817. His marriage prohibited him from being ordained for ministerial work in Britain but not in her colonies and he therefore answered an advertisement to be the chaplain to Sephton's party of British settlers to South Africa. After some initial reluctance the MMS agreed and he was ordained on 25 November 1819 and departed for South Africa aboard the 'Aurora' in February 1820.
Shaw and the settlers arrived at Algoa Bay in April 1820. From there they travelled over 100 miles to the Assagi Valley and founded the settlement of Salem. Shaw preached to the settlers not only in Salem (where a chapel was built in 1821) but to the wider community of colonists (of many denominations) in an area covering c1,500 miles of the Eastern Cape. Grahamstown, although quite a small settlement at that time, became the administrative centre for his work and he founded the 'Yellow Chapel' there in 1821. However, whilst Shaw was preaching to the colonists he was also planning on how to preach to the Kaffir [Xhosa] tribes in the area. He suggested to the WMMS in London that a 'chain' of missions be built from the coast of Kaffraria to Natal & Delagoa Bay [Maputo Bay, Mozambique] to enable him (and others) to preach to the indigenous peoples. The first of these missions, Wesleyville, Shaw began in 1823 with Mount Coke following in 1825 and then Butterworth (1827), Morley (1829), Clarkebury (1830) and Buntingville (1830). In 1829 Shaw again took up residence amongst the colonists, although in Grahamstown this time, but still maintained overall control of the missions to indigenous peoples.
In 1833 Shaw returned to England and preached in Leeds. However, after 4 years he returned to South Africa (arriving March 1837) settling in Grahamstown with responsibility for the 'Albany and Kafferland District'. Under Shaw the Methodist mission continued to expand creating new chapels - including in Bathurst, Fort Beaufort and Port Elizabeth in the 1830s - as well as additional missions being added to his 'chain' (including Shawbury in 1839 and Palmerton in 1845), with others having to be rebuilt due to damage caused during the various conflicts that broke out. Throughout his period in South Africa Shaw often acted as an aid to communication between the colonial administration and the local indigenous peoples (and vice versa). In 1854 Shaw's wife Ann died and by 1856 his health had significantly deteriorated forcing him to leave in March of that year. The contrast of the Methodist mission (in what was commonly known as the Albany and Kaffraria district) between when Shaw had arrived and a few years after his departure is stark. In 1820 Shaw had 63 church members, no colleagues, no chapels and only a reserve of 10 pounds sterling. In 1860 there were 3 sub-districts comprising 51 circuits with 74 chapels and 183 preaching stations containing 36 missionaries, 96 assistants and a membership approaching 5,000 with an annual income of 3,500 pounds sterling.
As Shaw's health recovered he worked at the discretion of the missionary committee. In April 1857 he was part of a missionary deputation to Ireland. Upon his return he took up residence in Croydon, Surrey, where he worked on his revised translation of the New Testament into Kaffir [Xhosa], promoted missionary work and undertook some preaching locally. On 12 March 1857 he married again this time to Elizabeth Ogle (nee Shaw) at Liverpool Road Chapel, Islington, London. Although eager to return to South Africa his health prevented him from doing so and thus he began preaching in home circuits (for the best part of a decade) beginning in Liverpool (1860) followed by Bristol (1863), Chelsea (1865), York (1868) and Brixton (1869). In 1865 he was President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference. However, his connection to the mission in South Africa remained strong and in 1860 he suggested to the missionary committee of the WMMS that an independent Methodist connexion be formed in South Africa comprising of five districts. The committee declined this advice on the grounds that such a connexion would not be fiscally self-sufficient. Just over twenty years later such a connexion was formed, partly based on Shaw's advice. Shaw became a supernumerary in 1869 and died on the 3rd (possibly 4th) December 1872 in Brixton, Surrey.
Further Reading:
[Boyce, W B], Memoir of the Rev. William Shaw, late General Superintendent of the Wesleyan missions in south-eastern Africa (1874);
Davies, H, Great South African Christians (1951);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol 4, 1922);
Hammond-Tooke, W D, The Journal of William Shaw (1972);
Hewson, L, An introduction to South African Methodists (1950);
Sadler, C, Never a young man: extracts from the letters and journals of the Rev. William Shaw (1967);
Shaw, W, A letter to the Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, K.C.B., one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, etc, on the subject of the late irruption of the Caffres, into the British settlement of Albany, South Africa (1835);
Shaw, W, A defence of the Wesleyan missionaries in southern Africa: comprising copies of a correspondence with the Reverend John Philip, D.D., an introduction and appendix (1839);
Shaw, W, The story of my mission in south eastern Africa: comprising some account of the European colonists; with extended notices of the Kaffir and other native tribes (1860);
Whiteside, J, History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa (1906).
Typescript of two of the journals of William Shaw (1816-1819 & 1820-1828).
The transcript to the first volume (1816-1819) has a brief introduction stating that the original is the property of Mrs M Gordon of Cape Town and that the transcript was made by Rev Leslie A Hewson. The journal begins on 15 November 1816 and ends on 14 January 1819 and principally records the period Shaw spent at Long Suttton. However, the first fourteen pages of this journal (up to its starting proper on 15 November) summarise Shaw's early life.
The transcript to the second volume (1820-1828) has no introductory note regarding the original. Prior to the journal entries there is a copy of Geo[rge] Middlemiss's letter, 16 September 1807, (as published in the Methodist Magazine of 1808) recording Methodist Worship in the British Army and a copy of the minutes of the Bechuana District, 31 August 1837. Journal entries begin on 3 February 1820 on board the 'Aurora' departing Deptford, London, and ends on 23 May 1828 whilst preaching in the eastern circuits of the Kaffraria District [Eastern Cape].
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Probably held by the Cory Library, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Shaw whilst working in South Africa. Unfortunately little correspondence by Shaw is extant for after 1840 but earlier correspondence can be consulted (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1-2 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Albany/FBN 3). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2). A small amount of correspondence written by Shaw whilst recuperating from ill-health and then working at the discretion of the Missionary Committee (1856-1861) is also available (MMS/Home/Correspondence/FBN 12-14).
Other correspondence by Shaw can be found amongst the Jenkins papers (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/South Africa/FBN 10-11). A letter (23/3/1838) from Shaw to John Beecham regarding complaints made against him can be found in the Jackson Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 45, item 132).
Images of Shaw can be found within MMS/Africa/Photographs/Box 1194 (file 1) and MMS Box 1203.
Catalogued
John Kilner was born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1824. His involvement with Methodism began with sabbath schools and he was accepted as a ministerial candidate in 1847. His first appointment was in the same year to Batticaloa in North Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. However, after two years he was relocated (due to a change in funding priorities as a result of 'the Reform Agitation') to India and served first in Negapatam [Nagapattinam] and then Mannargudi in the Madras District. During 1852 he returned to Batticaloa and in 1856 transferred to Trincomalee. From 1859 until his departure (excluding a brief furlough in England for part of 1865 and 1866) he worked in Jaffna and was the chairman of the North Ceylon District. During this period Kilner encouraged the development of the indigenous church through securing land for church property and increased the number of Tamil ministers and missionary assistants, as well as improving the quality and quantity of education available. Kilner firmly believed that missions should be as self-supporting and self-governing as possible and his work from Jaffna exemplified this. Kilner (along with his wife) actively supported women's work in both the Indian and Ceylon districts encouraging open day and boarding schools for girls, the employment of bible-women and the establishment of training institutions.
In 1876 Kilner returned to England and replaced the Rev William B Boyce as a missionary secretary in the WMMS (later he would also serve as deputy treasurer). Kilner, possessed of a strong personality, proved himself to be a capable strategist, public advocate and astute manager of funds. However, the most lasting achievement of his tenure as a missionary secretary was his deputation to South Africa between 1879 and 1881 which lead to the creation of the South African Methodist Church. Kilner spent a year visiting all of the South African districts (a tour described by the Rev Frederick Mason as 'a kind of deputational hurricane') where Kilner's approach often proved effective if not diplomatic. His deputation culminated in a meeting at Queenstown [Eastern Cape] in June 1880 where under his direction the constitution for the South Africa Methodist Conference was written (with autonomy taking place in 1882 and the first conference held in 1883).
Kilner retired as a missionary secretary in 1888 and died on 11 October 1889 at Crouch Hill in Dorset just a few months after his wife.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vols 4 & 5, 1922 & 1924);
Hewson, L, An introduction to South African Methodists (1950);
Kilner, J, A summary report by the Rev. John Kilner, Deputation to the South African Mission Field, Presented to the Missionary Committee February 11th, 1881, and on subsequent dates (c1881);
Whiteside, J, History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of South Africa (1906).
Papers relating to Rev John Kilner's deputation to the South African districts of the WMMS in 1880 comprising:
Volume entitled 'Mission House London' containing two letters, dated 29 December 1880, regarding Kilner's arrangements to return to England;
-3 volumes of copy correspondence, each entitled 'Chairman of District', containing Kilner's correspondence for the deputation beginning before his departure from England (27 November 1879) and finishing on the eve of his departure from South Africa (3 January 1881);
File of papers relating to the Natal District including minutes, reports, correspondence and notes, 1879-1880;
File of papers relating to the Cape District including correspondence and membership lists, 1879-1880;
File of papers relating to the Grahamstown District including minutes and correspondence, 1878-1880;
File of papers relating to Kimberley and Bloemfontein District including correspondence, notes, summaries of expenditure and reports, 1879-1880;
File of miscellaneous papers which consists of: reports, correspondence, etc, re Queenstown District, 1877-1880; Education account (general) from January 1876 to February 1880; various correspondence (including with the Secretary of Native Affairs), 1879-1883; plans, maps, etc, including land and property at Kamastone [Eastern Cape], an annotated 'Herald' railway map, a missionary map of Queenstown District (1868) and a map of Peddie District (after 1875).
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Kilner whilst working in Sri Lanka (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 4-6) and India (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 22). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in Sri Lanka (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2) and India (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1) in which he served. Any extant correspondence for Kilner whilst a missionary secretary will be amongst the outgoing correspondence in the Home section of the MMS collection. One letter by John Kilner can be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Letters (some edited) dating from 1861 to 1876 and written by Kilner, as well as a few by his wife, appear in the Ladies Committee of the WMMS publication 'Occasional Papers'.
An image of Kilner can be found within MMS Box 1203.
Catalogued
William Threlfall was born in Hollowforth, Lancashire, on 6 June 1799, the son of Richard Threlfall, a tanner. Threlfall, when eighteen, believed he had been called by God to evangelise in Madagascar and sought thereafter to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, his desire did not meet the then needs of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society who persuaded him that his service was required in South Africa. Consequently, Threlfall was ordained on 25 October 1821 and departed for South Africa aboard the 'Sun' at the end of December 1821 (arriving at Cape Town on 4 April 1822). He joined William Shaw at Salem [Eastern Cape] in June 1822 and assisted him with his work amongst the British settlers. As his desire to preach in Madagascar was unlikely to be met in the near future [in fact the WMMS never succeeded in founding a mission to Madagascar] he requested to be allowed to preach amongst the indigenous population and he was sent to assist Barnabus Shaw at Lily Fountain in Khamies-berg [Lilifontein, Kamiesberg, Northern Cape Province]. However, not long after his arrival an opportunity arose to start a new mission at Delagoa Bay [Maputo Bay, Mozambique]. Shaw and Threlfall, despite the belief that an 'unhealthy' climate existed in the area, agreed that Threlfall should go and, without having obtained the formal permission of the WMMS in London, he reached his destination on 21 July 1823. The mission did not proceed well. Threlfall became ill in August (probably malaria) with his condition worsening when he contracted dysentery in October. Work became impossible and he deteriorated rapidly with one ship refusing to relocate him due to the severity of his condition. However, he secured passage on the 'Nereid' and finally left for Cape Town in April 1824.
By the end of 1824 Threlfall had returned to Lily Fountain and was recovering well. For some time there had been a desire, and even the odd attempt, to preach north of the Fish River in Namaqualand [Great Fish River, Namibia]. On Threlfall's recovery it was agreed that he would lead a party to assess whether a mission would be possible. Threlfall left in late June 1825 with Rev Jacob Links, an indigenous minister, and Johannes Jager, a local missionary assistant. On route they were discouraged from progressing further and found it increasingly difficult to procure a guide. However, at Warm Bath [Warmbad, Namibia] they acquired the assistance of Nauwghaap (alias Hans Jantje) as a guide. One or two days after leaving Warm Bath (around 10 August) they were joined by a group of local bushmen and whilst camping that evening, at the instigation of Nauwghaap, Threlfall and his two companions were murdered for their possessions. Nauwghaap, along with his conspirators, were tried and executed at Silver Fountain [Silverfontein, Cape Province] on 3 September 1827.
Further Reading:
Birtwhistle, N A, William Threlfall: a study in missionary vocation (1966);
Broadbent, S, The missionary martyr of Namaqualand : memorials of the Rev. William Threlfall, late Wesleyan missionary in South Africa, who was murdered in Great Namaqualand, together with two native converts, Jacob Links and Johannes Jager (1860);
Cheeseman, T, The story of William Threlfall, missionary martyr of Namaqualand, with some account of Jacob Links and Johannes Jager, who fell with him (1910);
Hardyman, J T, Methodist plans for a mission in Madagascar 1816-1828 (1969);
Moister, W, Missionary martyrs; being brief memorial sketches of faithful servants of God who have been put to death whilst endeavouring to propagate the Gospel of Christ, chiefly among the heathen, in different ages and countries (1885).
Journal, beginning on 7 December 1821 whilst Threlfall is at Gravesend [Kent] awaiting departure for South Africa and ending in Apr 1823 having just attended a quarterly meeting [Cape Town, South Africa].
6 letters written by or to Threlfall whilst resident in Lancashire and South Africa between 1820 and 1823. With image of Threlfall.
Miscellaneous correspondence comprising 3 letters written by or to Threlfall, 1821 & 1825; letter by B[arnabus] Shaw regarding Threlfall's death, 4 July 1826; two letters written by W[illia]m Arthur and John Farrar to Ben. R Vickers commiserating with him over his wife's death, 1871, with an image of Rev Farrar.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with journal extracts) for William Threlfall whilst working in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in South Africa he served (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Typescript copies of correspondence (1820-1825) between Threlfall and his family, friends & colleagues are also available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1, item 8)
A privately produced brief history of William Threlfall's family in Lancashire is available (MMSL MSS 061).
A typescript manuscript written by J T Hardyman on Threlfall and Madagascar can be found within PP MS 63 Box 5.
Catalogued
Jacob Links, the son of Keudo Links, was born about 1800. His father was an important member of his tribe in Little Namaqualand [Cape Province, South Africa]. He grew up around Lily Fountain in Khamiesberg [Lilifontein, Kamiesberg, Northern Cape Province] along with his brothers Peter, Robert and Barnabus. He converted to Methodism in 1816 (most of his family also became Methodists) and when he was about 17 he assisted Barnabus Shaw as an interpreter (he learnt both Dutch and English) and as a lay preacher. Links also took on responsibilities as a schoolmaster.
In 1818 it was agreed that he should became a candidate for the ministry by the Wesleyan Methodist Conference and he became an assistant missionary working with Barnabus Shaw and James Archbell (the latter in Greater Namaqualand [Namibia]). Both Archbell and Links attempted to preach to the Bushman, particularly around Warm Bath (sometimes referred to as Nisbett's Bath) [Warmbad, Namibia], but with little success. Unable to cope with the harsh living conditions both men had to give in with Links returning to Lily Fountain. In 1822 Links was ordained.
In 1824 the Rev William Threlfall arrived in Lily Fountain to recover from illness. On Threlfall's recovery it was agreed that he would lead a party to assess whether a mission was possible north of the Fish River in Namaqualand [Great Fish River, Namibia]. Threlfall left in late June 1825 with Links and Johannes Jager, a local missionary assistant. On route they were discouraged from progressing further and found it increasingly difficult to procure a guide. However, at Warm Bath they acquired the assistance of Nauwghaap (alias Hans Jantje) as a guide. One or two days after leaving Warm Bath (around 10 August) they were joined by a group of local Bushmen and whilst camping that evening, at the instigation of Nauwghaap, Links and his two companions were murdered for their possessions. Nauwghaap, along with his conspirators, were tried and executed at Silver Fountain [Silverfontein, Cape Province] on 3 September 1827. Jacob Links left a widow. Two of his brothers, Peter and Barnabus, continued to be heavily involved with the Methodist mission in Little Namaqualand.
Further Reading:
Birtwhistle, N A, William Threlfall: a study in missionary vocation (1966);
[Boyce, W B], Memoir of the Rev. William Shaw, late General Superintendent of the Wesleyan missions in south-eastern Africa (1874);
Broadbent, S, The missionary martyr of Namaqualand : memorials of the Rev. William Threlfall, late Wesleyan missionary in South Africa, who was murdered in Great Namaqualand, together with two native converts, Jacob Links and Johannes Jager (1860);
Cheeseman, T, The story of William Threlfall, missionary martyr of Namaqualand, with some account of Jacob Links and Johannes Jager, who fell with him (1910).
Brief (17 pages) manuscript describing the life and work of Jacob Links, possibly written by Barnabus Shaw, after 1825; article on Links, with portrait, from the 'Paper relative to Wesleyan Missions and the State of Heathen Countries' (No XVIII, December 1824); manuscript copy, probably made by Links, of Rev Schmelen's catechism for the 'use of the Great Namaquas' with insert of notes by Links for sermon [1820s].
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Unfortunately there are no letters written by Jacob Links extant within the official correspondence for South Africa in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society. Some of his work is mentioned by his colleagues Barmabus Shaw, James Archbell and William Threlfall in their correspondence (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/General/FBN 1 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 7). The synod minutes for the Cape District may mention some of his missionary work (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). An additional image of Links can be found within MMS/Africa/Photographs/Box 1194 (file 1).
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessors) in their districts in Central Africa. Papers relate mainly to missionary work in Rhodesia [Zambia and Zimbabwe]. There is also a small amount of material relating to South Africa. Includes the papers of Arthur Baldwin (PMMS), William Chapman (PMMS), S D Gray (WMMS) and Edwin W Smith (PMMS). Mostly in English but also Ila, Afrikaans, Mashukulumbwe and Shona
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the Central African districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
Born at Otley, Yorkshire, of devout Methodist parents, June 1864; educated at Otley Collegiate School; entered the Primitive Methodist ministry, 1887; minister at Barrowford, 1887-1888; Halifax, 1888-1889; sent by the Primitive Methodist Missionary Committee on a pioneering mission to Northern Rhodesia, 1889-1902; his time in Africa affected his health and he returned to England, 1902; minister at Halifax, 1902-1903; Brighouse, 1903-1908; Nottingham, 1908-1911; Gainsborough, 1911-1916; Leeds, 1916-1919; Financial Secretary to the Missionary Department, 1919-1924; Kingston, 1924-1925; Secretary of the Chapel Aid Association, 1925-1936; supernumerary, 1936; married Elizabeth Anne Smith (1874-1902) on 14 September 1898; later married Harriet Wright; Baldwin died on 26th July 1937.
Further Reading:
Baldwin, A, A missionary out-post in central Africa: the story of the Baila Mission.
Papers, 1889-1902, of Arthur Baldwin, comprising 16 diaries, 1889-1899, describing his journeys, work and life in Africa, including domestic activities and agricultural concerns; 2 files of letters from Baldwin to his mother, 1889-1902, recounting his activities; letters from F Coillard to Baldwin, 1893-1895, concerning missionary work and his concerns; undated manuscript notes on Coillard; undated map marked 'Proposal for a new mission Moomba' [Zambia]; letter to Mr Baldwin from F Pickering, 1897; letter to Mrs Baldwin from Mrs C Thackeray in New Zealand [1908]; nine photographs of Zambesi and Kapui rivers, Batokaland Hills [all Zambia] and mission staff, c1899.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Extant correspondence for Arthur Baldwin can be found within MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 14-15. Furthermore, transcripts of Baldwin's journals and diaries made by Edwin W Smith are also available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 2, item 11).
Catalogued
Born at Aliwal North, Cape Colony [South Africa], 7th September 1876; son of the Rev John Smith (1840-1915) and his second wife Fanny Jeary (married 1874), Primitive Methodist missionaries; studied at Elmfield College, York; accepted for the ministry, 1897; Primitive Methodist missionary in Basutoland [Lesotho], South Africa, 1898-1889; Aliwal North 1899-1902; married Julia Anne (née Fitch), 3rd October 1899; joined the mission to the Baila-Batonga in northern Rhodesia [Zambia], 1902; at Nanzela [Zambia], 1902-1907; at Mexborough, Yorkshire, 1908-1909; pioneered the mission at Kasenga [Zambia], 1909-1915; reduced the Ila language to written form, made a grammar and dictionary, and translated most of the New Testament; returned to England, 1915; military chaplain in France, 1915-1916; seconded to the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1916-1939; initially its secretary in Rome, Italy; later at the Society's headquarters giving editorial supervision to Scripture translations in many languages; editorial superintendent, 1933-1939; a prominent anthropologist and pioneer of the study of indigenous African religious beliefs; founder member of the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures (later the International African Institute), 1926; President of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, 1933-1935; retired from the church, 1939; taught in north America, at the Kennedy School of Missions, Hartford Seminary, and at Fisk University, 1939-1944; editor of Africa, journal of the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures, 1945-1948; honorary Doctor of Divinity from University of Winnipeg, c1937; honorary Doctor of Divinity, University of Toronto, 1942; died at Deal, Kent, 23rd December 1957.
Further Reading (selective):
Smith, E W, A handbook of the Ila language (commonly called the Seshukulumbwe), spoken in north-western Rhodesia, south-central Africa : comprising grammar, exercises, specimens of Ila tables, and vocabularies (1907);
Smith, E W, and Dale, Capt A M, The Ila-speaking peoples of northern Rhodesia (1920);
Smith, E W, The religion of lower races : as illustrated by the African Bantu (1923);
Smith, E W, The Christian mission in Africa : a study based on the work of the international Conference at le Zoute, Belgium, September 14th to 21st, 1926;
Smith, E W, The golden stool : some aspects of the conflict of cultures in modern Africa (1927);
Smith, E W, The way of the white fields in Rhodesia : a survey of Christian enterprise in Northern and Southern Rhodesia (1928);
Smith, E W, The secret of the African (1929);
Smith, E W, Exploration in Africa (1929);
Smith, E W, The shrine of a people's soul (1929);
Smith, E W, African beliefs and Christian faith : an introduction to theology for African students, evangelists and pastors (1936);
Smith, E W, The Mabilles of Basutoland (1939);
Smith, E W, Knowing the African (1946);
Smith, E W, The blessed missionaries : being the Phelps-Stokes Lectures delivered in Cape Town in 1949 (1950);
Smith, E W, Great lion of Bechuanaland : the life and times of Roger Price, missionary (1957);
Smith, J A, Sunshine and shade in central Africa (1907);
Young, W John, The quiet wise spirit : Edwin W. Smith, 1876-1957, and Africa (2002);
Young, W John, They Have Laid Hold of Some Essential Truths: Edwin W. Smith (1876-1957), A Wise Listener to African Voices (2004).
Papers, 1877-1949, of Edwin W Smith, comprising Smith's typescript and manuscript translations from religious texts into the Ila language, 1905-c1915, manuscript account of Ila, 1902, and manuscript account of Primitive Methodist missions in Africa, c1929; Smith's general official correspondence files, 1901-1914, the subjects including mission activities and finance; press cuttings, notes, and manuscript by Smith on the Baila-Batonga mission [Zambia], 1890s-1910s; press cuttings on African, missionary, and Methodist affairs, 1897-1907, Smith's journal, 1898-1901, notes, typescripts and printed material, 1877-1924 and undated, by Smith and others on Ila and missionary work, and two manuscripts in Afrikaans, 1877 and undated; copy letters of the Rev John Smith, 1885-1886; undated photographs of misionary work in Aliwal North [South Africa], Basutoland [Lesotho], Nanzela and Kasenga missions [both Zambia]; a letter from Smith in Aliwal North [South Africa] to his mother, 1900; diary concerning Smith's journey to Kasenga [Zambia], 1909; Smith's diaries and journals recording his travels in North, Central & Southern Africa, Middle East and North America, 1929-1949.
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Copyright held by the Smith family and the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Correspondence involving Smith, largely comprising letters from Smith relating to his time as a missionary in Africa, 1898-1924, are available (MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 16-17) - see handlist. Reports written by Smith may also be extant within (MMS/PMMS/Reports/Quarterly/FBN 3-4). Smith's annotated bible, including brief information on sermons preached, is also avaiable (MMSL MSS 066).
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Notebooks, manuscripts and typescripts on Ila or translations of Christian texts into Ila. Also a manuscript on the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society in Africa.
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Apparently the first service book in the Ila language
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First Ila Hymn book
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The Gospel of St Mark. Formed the basis for the version published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1907.
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Translated from the Greek into the Ila by Edwin W Smith. Comprises the gospel of St Matthew and the book of St James.
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Translated from the Greek into the Ila by Edwin W Smith. Comprises the gospel of St Luke.
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Translated from the Greek into the Ila by Edwin W Smith. Comprises the books of Revelation, 1 + 2 St Peter, 1 + 2 Thessalonians and Colossians
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Translated from the Greek into the Ila by Edwin W Smith. The books of Romans, Hebrews and 1 Corinthians
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With accompanying correspondence
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Correspondence, mainly received by Edwin W Smith, mostly from officials on the General Missionary Committee of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society as well as from other missionary colleagues. There are also a few letters written by Smith and a few general papers. Topics, mainly relating to Central Africa Mission, include: health of missionaries, finances and expenses, land and property, expansion of mission and opening of new mission stations, translation work and general evangelical work.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Correspondence involving Smith, largely comprising letters from Smith relating to his time as a missionary in Africa, 1898-1924, are available (MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 16-17) - see handlist
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Committee decision re Edwin W Smith leading a party to the Zambesi
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Arrangements for Zambesi party
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Zambesi trip
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Raybould's breakdown
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Raybould's accounts
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Joseph Pulinyane
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Edwin W Smith to go to Nanzela [Zambia]
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R W Burnett's illness and resignation
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General Missionary Council resolution
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Joseph Puliyane
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Extension of the South-Central African Mission
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Grants of land for missions
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Land grants
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Land applications
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Death of Mr Raybould
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Finance
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Mrs Smith's illness
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Mrs Smith's return to England
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Catalogued
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Mrs Smith's health
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Amalgamation of Nanzela and Nkala stations
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Raybould's accounts
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Edwin W Smith's term of office
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Edwin W Smith's scripture stories
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
General Missionary Committee [of the PMMS] resolution on alcohol
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Edwin W Smith's scripture stories
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Mrs Smith's travel expenses
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
J. W. Price to take over from Edwin W Smith
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Catalogued
Report on visit to Sijoba [?Zambia], etc
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Local subscription and training of evangelists
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
J. R. Fell to go to Africa
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Catalogued
Report on visit to Livingstone [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Includes letter (dated 25 October 1906) from Dr. R. S. Collier, Kalomo [Zambia], to Edwin W Smith about J. W. Price travelling straight to Sijoba [?Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
New mission at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
Dr Collier's letter
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Training evangelists
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Expenses for Mrs Smith's illness
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Accounts calculated on 2/7/1906. Cover note added by Thomas Mitchell at a later date
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Rough sketch plan marking habitations (a few with numbers indicating either poulation or number of worshippers) as well as some paths & roads. Area covered extends from Nanwala in the west to Mampanda in the East, Butila in the south to Makundo in the north
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Disallowing Edwin W Smith's appeal
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Edwin W Smith asked to undertake the mission to Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Mission at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
With covering letter from Charles Gill, 20th June 1907
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Catalogued
New mission in Central Africa [?Kasenga, Zambia]
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Catalogued
Probably the mission to Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Reviewing regulations
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Catalogued
Results of review on regulations
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Correspondence, mainly received by Edwin W Smith, mostly from officials on the General Missionary Committee of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society as well as from other missionary colleagues. There are also a few letters written by Smith and a few general papers (including reports and plans). A significant proportion of the correspondence regards the founding of the new Central African mission in Kasenga [Zambia] and includes information on the site, fund raising, finances and Edwin W Smith's role. Some correspondence also on health and financial policy.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Correspondence involving Smith, largely comprising letters from Smith relating to his time as a missionary in Africa, 1898-1924, are available (MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 16-17) - see handlist
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Catalogued
Soil samples
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Special appeal for mission
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
New mission at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
Cost of new mission at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Reducing cost of new mission
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Marked on reverse 'Allison's list'
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Catalogued
New missions
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Catalogued
Smith estimates the cost at 3650 pounds sterling. Whilst the Rev A Baldwin estimates a lower figure of 3016 pounds sterling.
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
New mission
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
For water carts
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Catalogued
Donation for Kasenga mission [Zambia]
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Catalogued
Donation for Kasenga mission [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
With enclosed quotations for water carts, pumps, frames, etc
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Rough sketch floor and elevation plans with brief notes
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Catalogued
Reproduced in serial format within the 'Aldersgate Magazine', August 1914
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For published copy see MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/FBN 13 [fiche 568]
Catalogued
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Catalogued
Printed pamplet comprising 8 numbered pages
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
General Missionary Committee [of the PMMS] resolution
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Fundraising for Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
With scribbled calculations
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Gift of land at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Medical equipment
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Soil sample analysis
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
[Presumably the medicines discussed earlier with J Calow of York]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Donations
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
With enclosed letters from schoolboys re donation
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Voyage to Kasenga
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Guns and ammunition
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
South Central African Missionaries
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Catalogued
On the difference between missionaries in S. Nigeria and South Central Africa
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Financial policy of South Central African Missions
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Financial policy of South Central African Missions
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Catalogued
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Explaining
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Explains why expenses are likely to be high
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Answers questions raised by Guttery in his last letter regarding expenses. States local conditions dictate cost of some resources and therefore unfair to make comparisons between Central African mission and missions in other parts of Africa. Makes a number of suggestions for solutions to expenses problem.
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Catalogued
Correspondence, mainly received by Edwin W Smith, mostly from officials on the General Missionary Committee of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society as well as from other missionary colleagues. There are, however, a number of copy letters written by Smith to his colleagues and his father as well as a few general papers (including reports and notes). Most of the correspondence relates to his work in Kasenga [Zambia] and then his move to Nambala [Zambia].
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society. Correspondence involving Smith, largely comprising letters from Smith relating to his time as a missionary in Africa, 1898-1924, are available (MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 16-17) - see handlist
Catalogued
Gift from Arthington Trust for mission at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Mission at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Work as a financial secretary
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Request for a colleague at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Missionary conference at Umtali [Mutare, Zimbabwe]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Finance for Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Smith complains that the resolution is vague and doesn't specifically mention Shamakunki [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Regarding Nambala [Zambia]
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Catalogued
On financial policy in South Central Africa
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Catalogued
Financial situation in Kasenga [Zambia] and Shamakunki [Zambia]
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Financial policy
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Conference at Umtali [Mutare, Zimbabwe]
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Conference held at Kasenga [Zambia] between 3rd and 10th August 1910
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Missionary exhibition
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Finances
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Catalogued
2 copies
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Conference of South Central African Missions
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Information on property at Chitumbi [Zambia] and Shamakunki [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
£50 for Kasenga mission [Zambia]
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Catalogued
With General Missionary Council [of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society] resolution of 26 October [1910]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Effects of the drink trade
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Catalogued
With accounts for Chitumbi [Zambia] and Shamakunki [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Smith's wish to return home
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Including the reasons why Smith wishes to resign
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Book room
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
On finance
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Financial estimate for year
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Catalogued
Arthington Trust
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Smith's wish not to return to Kasenga after the end of his term
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Catalogued
On his successor
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Ila literature
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Regarding Smith's succesor at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
With reports on missions at Nanzela [Zambia] and Kasenga [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Smith's proposed move to Nambala [Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
With enclosure being General Missionary Council [of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society] resolution on Smith's refusal to move to Nambala [Zambia]
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Regarding Mr Till
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Regarding Mr Till
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Replying to resolution of 18th July [Smith's not wanting to go to Nambala, Zambia]
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Catalogued
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Medical mission in South Central Africa
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Concerning the report on the Kasenga Mission [Zambia]
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Concerning the report on the Nambala Mission [Zambia]
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Proposed mission at Kafue [Zambia]
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October resolution
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Regarding Mr Till
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Ibamba ranch [Zambia]
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Move to Nambala [Zambia]
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Proposed hospital at Kasenga [Zambia]
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Finance
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Smith's translation of the New Testament into Ila for the Bible Society and hospital buildings
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Use of names in court cases
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Completion of the translation of the New Testament into Ila
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Notes, cuttings from Primitive Methodist Missionary Society publications (primarily 'The Record'), printed reports, financial statements, etc, collected for a proposed publication by Edwin W Smith entitled 'Our South African Mission'. Smith has written in draft some of the first chapters, written notes for a couple more and collected material (such as the aforementioned cuttings) for the later chapters.
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Prevously mistakenly listed as five separate items when each of these are clearly part of the same individual work.
Catalogued
Comprises a journal, published articles and books, newspaper cuttings and manuscript translations of liturgies
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Cuttings and articles from newspapers and magazines (many being Methodist in origin) relating to Africa and in particular Central Africa. Many of these relate to Smith's work or reflect his personal interests. With some loose material (including a few notes). Contents principally date from c1897 to c1900. With index.
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As Smith set off on his missionary career in Africa in 1898 he followed Livingstone's injunction that every missionary should keep a journal. It begins with an account of his voyage and activities on the way to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Once there he made his way to his birthplace, Aliwal North, where he observed the mission before setting off for Lesotho. There he had practical training with the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society at Morija. His language studies and varied mission activities are described along with leisure trips and a Christmas tour around the PEMS stations which included a memorable visit to Thaba Bosiu and the Revd Jacottet. Smith went on to describe his ministry in the Aliwal North Circuit with accounts of places and people around the area. He married Julia Fitch on 3 October 1899 and after a honeymoon at Cape Town the couple settled in Aliwal North to make preparations for their mission to Zambia. However, the Anglo-Boer war had started (11 October 1899) and they were held up for a long time in Aliwal North. From November 1899 to March 1900 the town was occupied by Afrikaner troops and Smith described that period as well as the liberation and his daily work. There is a long gap from March to October 1900 when the journal resumed and included an account of a visit to Lesotho with his wife in December 1900 and January 1901. That is where this journal ended on 20 January 1901. [Smith kept other journals but apart from the 1909 diary, those from 1901 to 1915 were lost at sea through enemy action on the way back to Britain in 1915].
At the rear of the volume there are a few notes and newspaper cuttings. Loose within the volume are a few pressed plants and a couple of photographs.
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This item was deposited by Smith with the MMS in the 1950s
Much of the information for this entry was supplied by W. John Young, February 2010
Photographs relating to this period can be found in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/611B.
Catalogued
Cuttings and articles from newspapers and magazines (many being Methodist in origin) relating to Africa and in particular Central Africa. Many of these relate to Smith's work or reflect his personal interests. With some loose material (including a few notes).
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Catalogued
With interleaved additional pages often containing annotations by Smith. Also some loose notes inserted.
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Catalogued
2 copies
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Copied by LM, 2/2010
Catalogued
Published by the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society
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Serialised article by Edwin W Smith entitled 'Leaves from my Journal'
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Typescript manuscript collection of hymns translated into Ila by Edwin W Smith and WC [Rev W Chapman]
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Typescript manuscript of the Prayer Book Communion Service translated in Ila [by Edwin W Smith]. Annotation records that this was done at the request of Bishop Hine.
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Catalogued
Born on 9th February 1840. Originally worked as an agricultural labourer. Converted to Primitive Methodism at the age of 14 and entered the ministry at the age of 18 working initially in mainly East Anglican circuits. Married Susan Collen in August 1863, having three children together. She died in October 1873. Smith married Fanny Jeary in 1874 and they both departed for the new missionary station at Aliwal North in South Africa. Whilst there his son, Edwin, was born on 7th September 1876. During his first stay Smith organised the opening of a chapel in Jamestown and learnt Afrikaans. Left South Africa in 1879 only to return again in 1883. Left South Africa for the last time in 1888 and upon his return successful campaigned for the creation of a Central Africa Mission. Later he encouraged his son, Edwin, to become involved in this mission. Upon his return from Africa he worked mainly in East Anglia as well as the Home Counties. Became Secretary of the Primitive Methodist General Missionary Council in 1894 and was President of Conference in 1898. Became a supernumerary at Enfield, Middlesex, in 1907 although he continued preaching until he became seriously ill in 1914. He died on 12 February 1915.
Further Reading:
Smith, J, Christ and missions : delivered to the Primitive Methodist Conference, Bristol, June 13th, 1900
Young, W John, The quiet wise spirit : Edwin W. Smith, 1876-1957, and Africa (2002)
Correspondence (1885-1886) and two manuscripts in Afrikaans
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Unfortunately within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society very little has survived recording the work of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society in Africa during the C19th. What little there is, including the contribution of John Smith, can be found within the minutes of the General Missionary Council (MMS/PMMS/Minutes/FBN 1-2).
A number of Smith's letters are reproduced (usually edited or, on occasion, only extracts from them) in 'The Primitive Methodist Missionary Society Records of Missionary Work'. Extracts from his letters also appear in the annual reports of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society.
Catalogued
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Catalogued
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Catalogued
Marriage service
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Photographs of Primitive Methodist Missionary activity in South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Most images were taken by Edwin W Smith, although in the album dated c1901 to c1904 a number were taken by his colleagues.
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Part of additional deposit made by Smith's grandson, Richard Howard-Jones, on 24th June 1997
Catalogued
Photographs of buildings (mostly mission or government), people and landscape in or around Aliwal North, Wellington, Cape Town, Wittenbergen, Smithfield, Jammersberg, Wepener and Burghersdorp [all South Africa]. Also a few similar images for Thaba Bosin and Leribe in Basutoland [Lesotho] and Bulawayo [Zimbabwe]. Photographs include images of Edwin W Smith, his family and colleagues (both European and African). The vast majority of photographs have been identified and captioned by Smith.
There are a number of photographs (particularly a sequence for Aliwal North) depicting the impact of the Boer War including images of troops, transport, graves and battlefields.
Open
Some images have faded. There are also a few loose photographs.
Smith's diary for this period can be found at MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/FBN 13 [570] & 14 [571-573].
A few of the photographs in this album are mentioned in Smith's letter to his mother of 13 March 1900 (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/611C).
Catalogued
Photographs of buildings (mostly mission), people and landscape in or around (amongst others) Aliwal North, Berea, Bensonvale, Morija, and Wittenbergen in South Africa; also Thaba Bosin, Leloaleng, Melatsunyane and Ketane falls in Basutoland [Lesotho]; and Bulawayo [Zimbabwe]. The latter section of the album concentrates on Nanzela [Zambia] and the surrounding area. Photographs include images of Edwin W Smith, his family and colleagues (both European and African). Most photographs have accompanying captions by Smith, although a number of them were taken by colleagues (including Mr A Germond, Mr Walker, Rev W Baker and Rev W Chapman).
Open
Some images have faded. There are also a few loose photographs.
Catalogued
Photographs of mission buldings, people and landscape in or around Kasenga [Zambia]. There are also a few images of other places in Zambia, including Nanzela, Kafue and Mbala. Photographs include images of Edwin W Smith, his family and colleagues (both European and African). The vast majority of photographs have been identified and captioned by Smith.
Open
A few images have faded. There is also the odd loose photograph.
Smith's diary for 1909 (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/611C) relates to some of the earliest images in this album.
Catalogued
Letter written by Smith to his mother, 1900, and travel diaries and journals, 1909-1949.
Open
Part of additional deposit made by Smith's grandson, Richard Howard-Jones, on 24th June 1997
Catalogued
Letter records the events for the period from November 1899 to March 1900 when the Boers occupied Aliwal North.
Boers behave badly; severe restrictions on daily life and some townspeople leave; religious observance more difficult; tensions between Dutch and British townspeople; imprisonment of some British townspeople; Boers leave causing much damage; British arrive (under Brabant) and attack retreating Boers; use schoolroom to treat injured.
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Part of additional deposit made by Smith's grandson, Richard Howard-Jones, on 24th June 1997
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A few of the photographs mentioned in this letter appear in Smith's earliest photograph album (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/611B).
Catalogued
Diaries and journals recording Edwin W Smith's travels in North, Central & Southern Africa, Middle East and North America.
Open
Part of additional deposit made by Smith's grandson, Richard Howard-Jones, on 24th June 1997
Summaries - provided by W. John Young - of the entries of these diaries and journals are available as a handlist.
Catalogued
This small loose leaf folder (130x100 mm) begins with brief references to his whereabouts and appointments while on furlough in the Primitive Methodist Mexborough Circuit near Doncaster, England. More detailed entries cover his time with relatives in Norfolk before setting off for Africa on 17 April 1909. His journey through Southern Africa is described along with preparations at Choma, [Zambia]. He arrived at Kasenga [Zambia] on 26 May and the diary describes how the mission was set up. We can see his application and energy as he applied himself to the logistics and practical work of constructing the mission house, school and other buildings. He recorded his interactions with his workforce and local Africans and his frustration at the delay in beginning his Ila New Testament. Eventually, he found time to start on this (22 August) and the diary records his progress through Matthew's gospel with the help of his assistant Pauluse Kaiyobe and his start on the Epistle of James. At the same time he was busy with preaching, teaching, reading and writing articles and reviews.
Open
Much of the information for this entry was supplied by W. John Young, February 2010
Smith's draft of the Ila New Testament can be found at MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/FBN 13 [fiche 532-534]. Smith's correspondence on this translation work can be found at MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/FBN 13 [fiche 566] & FBN 14 [fiche 595] and MMS/PMMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 17 [fiches 662-663]
A few images relating to diary entries can be found amongst the photographic material in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/611B.
Catalogued
Between 1929 and 1930 Edwin W Smith went to Egypt, Sudan, Palestine and Syria on a trip taken on doctor's orders. He suffered from diabetes and his handwriting was slightly affected by 'diabetic neuritis'. He called on representatives of the British and Foreign Bible Society (BFBS) wherever possible and made detailed observations of people and places as he travelled. These notes were made in three buff note books approximately A5 in size. His diary dates are recorded but he sometimes made mistakes. On this journey he wrote on average more than 1000 words a day.
Includes a few loose inserts.
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Entry in 'Description' field from information supplied by W. John Young, January 2010
A summary of the entries in these diaries is available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
From 1939 to 1944 Edwin W Smith was in the USA and for the first four years was Professor of Missions at the Kennedy School of Missions in the Hartford Seminary Foundation. These two buff notebooks recount Smith's journey to the USA and some of his travels while in the country. The journals describe his journey to the USA and his early experiences at Hartford in September 1939. The next section covers a tour of Canada in 1940 on behalf of the British and Foreign Bible Society and includes meetings with relatives who had settled in Canada. Volume 1 concludes with Smith's 1940 travels on the trail of General Braddock one of his ancestors. Volume 2 is more fragmentary, beginning a trip to San Francisco to the SDA World Convention and a visit to the Aggrey family on the way back [May/June 1942]. Shortly afterwards he made brief notes of a visit to Richmond, Virginia, in connection with his biography of Daniel Lindley. In September 1942 he observed conditions among African Americans as he toured the Deep South. Smith stayed on in the USA from 1943 to 1944 to set up an African Studies Department at Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee. Along with a couple of brief entries the last part of these journals records at greater length his June 1943 researches in setting up this course. It is a valuable record of institutions visited and people consulted, including Mordecai Johnson, Ralph Bunche and W.E.B DuBois.
Includes a few loose inserts.
Open
Entry in 'Description' field from information supplied by W. John Young, February 2010
A summary of the entries in these diaries is available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
In 1944 Edwin Smith returned to Britain after 5 years in the USA. From 1945 to 1948 he was Editor of Africa, the Journal of the International African Institute (IAI). In November 1946 he set off for Africa to see things for himself and to revisit the scene of his missionary work in Central Africa. He often enquired about 'Native Policy' and in Zambia about an important point to add to his Ila anthropology (lunungu). He kept a journal of his day to day experiences and these observations were recorded in 6 buff notebooks. His entries were dated and he numbered the pages.
Includes a few loose inserts.
Open
Entry in 'Description' field from information supplied by W. John Young, February 2010
A summary of the entries in these diaries is available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
In October 1948 Edwin Smith left England for another tour of Southern Africa with the intention of gathering material for his book on Roger Price. In addition he was asked to give the Phelps-Stokes lectures at Cape Town and he asked questions about race relations as he travelled around South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. He would start discussions by putting forward the idea that missionary policy was muddleheaded. His lectures were given in 1949 early in the Apartheid era and were published as The Blessed Missionaries (OUP, 1950). As usual he made copious notes on his journeys, companions, people's opinions and his observations on what was going on. Seretse Khama's marriage to Ruth Williams was a hot topic of conversation at the time.
Includes a few loose inserts.
Open
Entry in 'Description' field from information supplied by W. John Young, February 2010
A summary of the entries in these diaries is available in the SCRR.
Catalogued
William Chapman was born at Stubley, Lincolnshire, on 12 January 1869. At 14 he became an apprentice joiner and wheelwright. He converted to Methodism in 1881 and was an active local preacher in Lincolnshire by 1891. He was ordained as a Primitive Methodist minister in 1895 and was dispatched to work in the PMMS Central African Mission. On arrival he worked with the Rev Frederick Pickering in Mashukulumbweland at Nkala [Zambia] but by the end of the year Chapman had founded the mission at Nanzela [Nanzhila, Zambia]. From this base he also explored the possibilities of opening missions amongst the Ila, particularly at Kasenga [Zambia]. In 1900 churches were opened at both Nkala and Nanzela and Chapman returned to England on furlough. Whilst in England he assisted in publicising the work of the mission in Central Africa. He also married, on 12 January 1902, Clarissa Amelia Watts (b c1874) of Kings Lynn in Norfolk. The newlyweds arriving at Nkala in March 1902.
Chapman and his wife founded classes and eventually a school at Nkala although Mrs Chapman work was troubled by ill health and she returned to England in early 1904. In the same year Chapman visited and preached in the copper mines north of the Kafue. In the summer of 1905 Mrs Chapman returned to the Central African Mission and her husband who, in July of that year, had opened the mission at Nambala [Zambia]. Along with evangelising the couple developed education and provided some basic medical care. However, civil unrest forced them to abandon the mission in August 1907. This, combined with further health problems, lead to Mrs Chapman returning to England in October. Upon Chapman's return to Nambala much of the mission had been destroyed but by March 1908 a school and chapel had been built. Chapman shortly after took a furlough to England (continuing to translate biblical works into Ila) and did not return to Nambala until July 1910. He remained for two further years before returning to England permanently.
Chapman worked in home circuits (principally in Shropshire and the Midlands) until becoming a supernumerary in Northampton in 1937. He died on 14 December 1947.
Further Reading:
Chapman, W, A Pathfinder in South Central Africa (1910).
Papers include journals, manuscript translations, published translations, PMMS publications, a few letters and miscellaneous items. There is also a significant body of visual material comprising individual photographic prints and photograph albums.
Only to be viewed on microfiche, with the exception of visual material (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/Box 612B)
Open
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Chapman (MMS/PPMS/Correspondence/South & Central Africa/FBN 17). Furthermore, reports written by him or about his work should also be extant (MMS/PPMS/Reports/Quarterly/FBN 3).
Papers relating to Chapman (including translations of hymns into Ila) can be found amongst the Edwin W Smith papers (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/FBN 13 (fiche 532-) & 14 (fiche 571-610)). Photographs by or featuring Chapman are also within this collection (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Central Africa/611B(1)).
A number of Chapman's letters (or extracts from them) appear in PMMS publications such as the 'Herald' and 'Record'.
Catalogued
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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Catalogued
Rear of volume contains Chapman's journal from May 1895 until August 1896 beginning with his arrival at Palachwe and ending during a pay dispute with his 'boys' [at Nanzhila, Zambia]. With notes (written later) on the mission and local people as well as extracts from letters.
The volume appears to have been originally created to contain Chapman's poetry (written between 1886 and 1891). After these he has added a glossary of words for Mashukulumbwe and Mash[ona] [Shona] with English equivalents, an account of the 'boys' wages for 1898 to 1900 and notes on mission activities in Central Africa in 1880s and 1890s.
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Catalogued
Main body of journal begins with Chapman preparing to leave Nanzela [Nanzhila, Zambia] on 25 May and ends with his departure from Cape Town [South Africa] by ship on 11 July. Followed by brief and infrequent entries regarding his activities in Britain, October 1900 until March 1902. With miscellaneous notes at rear of volume.
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Catalogued
Translations of biblical texts and hymns into Ila
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Open
LM, 10/2010
Catalogued
Handwritten.
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Catalogued
Part typed and part handwritten. Notes on Gospel of St Mark in both English and Ila.
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Catalogued
Typescript manuscript collection of hymns translated into Ila [probably by Chapman and Edwin W Smith]. With pencil annotations.
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Catalogued
Translations of biblical texts into Ila and missionary magazines produced by the PMMS.
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Catalogued
Probably from 'The Herald of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society'.
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Catalogued
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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Catalogued
Volume I.1 to volume IV.12. Contains a number of articles by or on the Rev Chapman as well as copies of or extracts from his letters.
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Catalogued
Gospel of St Mark published by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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Catalogued
Published by the Primitive Methodist Book Room.
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Catalogued
Gospel of St Matthew in Ila.
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Catalogued
No 804.
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Catalogued
Photograph albums and individual photographs depicting the PMMS mission to Central Africa.
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Catalogued
Images of missionaries, mission property, locations and peoples principally in Zambia but also Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Open
LM, 10/2010
Catalogued
Depicts missionaries (including Chapman and his wife) and their families, mission property, local area, officials and people. Only a few photographs have captions.
Open
Odd image used in Chapman's book entitled 'A Pathfinder in South Central Africa' (1910).
Catalogued
Appears to be a visual account of Chapman's return to the Central African Mission after his marraiage to Clarissa Watts. Depicts their journey (by land and sea) from Europe to South Africa (including Aliwal North) and then through Zimbabwe to Zambia. Images include depictions of modes of travel, mission property (especially at Nkala) including churches, missionaries and their families, local area and people. Contains six loose photographs. No images have captions.
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Catalogued
Images depicting Chapman, his family, colleagues and local people; mission property in Central Africa along with surronding area (particularly Nambala, Nkala and Nanzela [Nanzhila] in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia]); 5 commercial prints of Bulawayo [Zimbabwe] by W Rausch.
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Catalogued
Mainly images of Rev Chapman at different ages but also images of his wife [Clarissa] and child, his father (Edward) and the Rev & Mrs Pickering.
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Catalogued
Mostly images in or near to Nambala, Nkala and Nanzela [Nanzhila] (but also Kazungula and Broken Hill) in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] depicting mission property (including construction of, particularly at Nambala), mission staff (including Chapman and his family), local rulers (including King Lewanika and Prince Lilbea), schoolchildren, prayer/bible groups and worshippers at Nkala and Namabala, local peoples (particularly the Baila [Ila]) and the local area. With cartoon drawings of Chapman's colleagues and local people. Some images are identified on the reverse.
Open
Some images used in Chapman's book entitled 'A Pathfinder in South Central Africa' (1910) and in general PMMS publications as well.
Catalogued
Includes Nambala Church [Zambia], mission property [probably in Zambia], a troop train and landscapes. With 5 commercial prints of Bulawayo [Zimbabwe] by W Rausch. Some images are identified.
Open
Odd image used in Chapman's book entitled 'A Pathfinder in South Central Africa' (1910).
Catalogued
Open
Catalogued
Restrictions Apply
Catalogued
Restrictions Apply
Catalogued
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Open
Catalogued
Including miscellaneous correspondence received by Chapman, 1906-1947, Primitive Methodist material from Lincolnshire (principally circuit plans for Alford 1887-1891 & Lincoln 1869), notes and cuttings.
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Open
Catalogued
Typescript copy
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Catalogued
Born in Rockferry, Birkenhead, England, 1883; trained at Didsbury theological college; ordained as a Wesleyan Methodist minister; served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society at Chipembi, Northern Rhodesia [Zambia], 1910-1915; chaplain to the armed forces, 1915-1917; returned as missionary to Northern Rhodesia [Zambia], 1917; instrumental in the development of Chipembi mission station and its circuit, although his treks in the Luano Valley did not result in permanent missionary endeavour there owing to shortages of money and manpower; served the Selukewe, Salisbury, Broken Hill, Lusaka, Nambala and Kafue circuits; reduced the language of the Bene-Mukuni to writing, translating part of the Bible and producing a vernacular hymnbook; began the first girls' secondary school in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] at Chipembi, 1928; supernumerary from 1951; subsequently served at Chingola; MBE; married, firstly, Louie Barrett and, secondly, Dorothy Mabel Christian Hinks; died, 8th April 1963.
Further Reading:
Extracts from the papers of Rev Sydney Douglas Gray, pioneer missionary in central Africa, 1883-1964 (?1964);
Gray, S D, Frontiers of the kingdom : the story of Wesleyan missions in Rhodesia (?1923);
Gray, S D, First Mukuni reader, standard I. Libuku lyatatu lyakubala mu bwine-Mukuni (1937);
Gray, S D, Second Mukuni primer, sub-standard B. Kabuku kabili kakubala mu bwine-Mukuni (1937).
Papers, 1910-1962, of the Rev S D Gray, comprising personal correspondence, 1910-1940s; personal papers, 1910-1950, among them journals, a diary and autobiographical extracts, including accounts of journeys in Rhodesia, addresses on missionary work, notes for sermons, and papers on Gray's furloughs - MBE, health, and retirement; papers relating to missionary work, including correspondence with Missionary Society officials, 1924-1954, correspondence and papers on medical, educational, and evangelistic matters and on indigenous customs including marriage, 1919-1962, and printed material, 1911-1940s; circular letters and circuit and district reports, 1912-1951, on various circuits in Rhodesia; papers, 1911-1955, largely typescript, on general missionary affairs in Rhodesia; correspondence with Oliver Roebuck, 1923-1925, 1930, and Roebuck's diary, 1923.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Sidney Douglas Gray - the majority of which can be found within MMS/South Africa/Rhodesia/Correspondence/FBN 33-36 and box 1260. Furthermore, synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the North Rhodesia distrcit (MMS/South Africa/Rhodesia/Synod Minutes/FBN 6-7 & boxes 1257-1259). There are also a few photographs taken by Gray within the Central Africa photographs section (MMS/Central Africa/Photographs/Box 1195b/file 9).
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Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessors) in their districts in the South and North of India. Includes the papers of Ruth Anstey, John Gordon & Dorothy Bennett, Isobel Giles, Elijah Hoole, John Hudson, Ebenezer E Jenkins, Frederick Kellet, Edith Lamb, G Stainton Marris, Charles W Posnett and George William Sawday. Predominately in English with some Bengali, Tamil & Telugu
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the Indian districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
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Two tracts copied (and possibly originally composed) by C J Simons entitled 'On True Wisdom' & 'The Blind Way', c1832. [FBN 21, fiche 902-903]
Photostat of annotated draft typescript of lecture on Rev Cryer and Rev Longbottom with list of slides used. Possibly compiled by Rev J A Vanes [FBN 21, fiche 935].
2 letters from P I Dawson written from Periapaliam [Periapalayam] (21 May [19]25) and Vadamadurai (4 June [19]25) to an unknown receipent. Letters on the Karummannur Kandigei Yakobus' case over access to a pond and subsequent violent actions. Includes background to the case with comments on the activities and 'tricks' of the Police [FBN 21, fiche 934].
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Samuel Hardey was born in Barrow, Lincolnshire, on 10 December 1805. He joined the Methodist Church at the age of 13 and at 17 became a local preacher. In 1827 the Committee of the WMMS agreed that he should be sent to India but he did not depart until 1828 and, after visiting Europe, the Americas and South Africa, didn't arrive in Madras until early 1829. Hardey began to familiarise himself with Tamil and by 1832 had transferred to Bangalore [Bengaluru]. As a result of the Samuel Warren controversy (Warren attempted through the law courts to block - unsuccessfully - the establishment of a Methodist theological institution in England) he returned home and was active in Manchester until he went back to India in 1836. After initially working at Negapatam he moved to Bangalore [Bengaluru] in 1839 and then to Madras in 1842 to serve as Chairman of the District. In 1844 health forced him to return to England although he did work in Brighton, Sussex, and Barton-on-Humber, Lincolnshire, in 1846 and 1847 respectively.
Once sufficiently recovered he went back to India in 1849 and the following year served a second time as Chairman of the Madras District. However, by 1853 he was in very poor health and hastily left India. His health became so poor that he was removed from the ship at Mauritius as he was believed to be close to death. He gradually recovered and during his convalescence he took the opportunity to evangelise to the Tamil population. He suggested to the missionary committee that they should found a mission in Mauritius but his advice was never followed. Whilst still in poor health Hardey was sent to Australia, where he spent a year in semi-retirement at Swan River in Western Australia, before taking charge of the Perth district. In February 1862 he relocated to South Africa and served as Chairman of the Cape District. Under his tenure the building of the Metropolitan Church in Cape Town began (opened in 1879). He died of bronchitis at Cape Town on 18 September 1878.
Letter from Hardey in Madras [Chennai, India] to Mr Joseph Hill at Bramley Academy, 21 May 1829, discussing their friendship; reminiscing about Bramley; overview of his 29 week voyage to India particularly commenting on his sailing companions, slavery in Brazil, visits to missions near Cape Hope [South Africa]; activities since he arrived in Madras [Chennai] (including learning Tamil).
Small group of letters written by Hardey to family members whilst on route to India covering similar topics to the above especially with regard to Brazil, Autumn 1828.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Samuel Hardey (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 20-22 & MMS/India/Correspondence/Mysore/FBN 31-32). Further information on Hardey's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1). Correspondence (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Australia/FBN 3) and Synod Minutes (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/FBN 1) are extant for the period Hardey served in Western Australia as well as in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Cape/FBN 9-10 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-5).
An image of Hardey can be found within MMS Box 1203.
An account of Hardey's death (with some biographical information) is reproduced in Wesleyan Missionary Notices, December 1878. Hardey's recommendations regarding a mission to Mauritius are included as an appendix to the 1854 WMMS annual report.
Catalogued
John Rathbone Hudson was born in 1879. He spent a year at Gunnislake, Cornwall, before being accepted to train at Didsbury in 1904. His first posting after leaving Didsbury was to the Lucknow and Benares District in North India in 1907. For the next 24 years he and his wife worked in this district (except when Hudson served with the YMCA in France during WWI until 1916) evangelising and developing education, with a great deal of their work being amongst the Doms. Mrs Hudson spent some of her time visiting educational and medical institutions but was also involved with working with the wives of servants in the cantonments. She also supervised for a time the girls' school in Sadr Bazar. Her husband oversaw the transfer of the Wesley Industrial School to Benares [Varanasi] in 1920.
In 1931 Rev Hudson agreed to take up a three year appointment to the East India Mission in British Guiana [Guyana], in part working amongst those Indians contracted to work on the sugar plantations. In 1932 he became acting chairman of the district but after a journey on the Essequibo River he was taken ill and died from malaria and enteric fever on 13 September 1932. In 1939 a memorial church was erected in his honour at the Industrial School in Benares [Varanasi].
Correspondence from Hudson whilst in India (principally when at Benares [Varanasi]) to his parents in England, 1907-1910, 1912.
Incomplete, fragmentary and draft correspondence from Hudson whilst in India mainly to his parents, c1908-c1910.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Rathbone Hudson whilst in the Lucknow and Benares District (MMS/India/Correspondence/Lucknow/FBN 17-18). Further information on Hudson's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 6-9). Correspondence (MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/British Guiana/FBN 40) and Synod Minutes (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 13) are extant for the period Hudson served in British Guiana [Guyana].
Catalogued
Lilian Parsons was born on 4 September 1899. Between 1919 and 1923 she trained as a nurse at the General Infirmary in Salisbury, Wiltshire, and later worked at St Brenda's Hospital in Bristol. In 1926 she was accepted by the Women's Work department of the WMMS and she sailed for India aboard the SS Rajptana on 7th January 1927 to work in the Hyderabad District. Originally she worked at Jagtial where she oversaw the building of a new hospital (which was completed in 1932) whilst also dealing with a wide range of medical conditions and acting as a midwife. She went on furlough in January 1932 but returned to the Hyderabad District to work in Karim Nagar in January 1933 and the following year Dichpali. In June 1936 she returned to Jagtial before going on furlough in December 1937. Parsons returned to India at the end of the following year but this time to work at Panigiri where she remained until ill health forced her to return to England in April 1944. Whilst awaiting permission to return to India she worked as a district nurse in Wiltshire but her health never sufficiently recovered enough for the missionary society and she left them in the autumn of 1946. She continued as a district nurse until January 1952 when her health deteriorated further. In November 1952 Lilian Parsons married Bruce Kirkpatrick. She died on 27 October 1970.
Typed extracts, with corrections and annotations, from the diary of Lilian H Kirkpatrick (nee Parsons) who worked as a medical missionary (nurse) in the Hyderabad District of India. The extracts begin on the eve of her departure from England (1 January 1927) and conclude after her return due to ill health (13 June 1944) . There is also a brief postscript explaining events up to the end of 1952 including leaving the MMS, becoming a district nurse and getting married. With covering letter by Kirkpatrick (dated 4 November 1963) explaining the background to the document and summarising the impact of WWII, the movement towards Indian independence and the preparations for the unification of Protestant Churches in South India.
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Donated to the Women's Work department of the MMS by Mrs Lilian Kirkpatrick in November 1963
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for the Women's Work Hyderabad District where any extant correspondence by Lilian Parsons will be held (MMS/WW/India/Correspondence/Hyderabad/FBN 10-13). Her work may also be mentioned amongst the India reports (MMS/WW/Reports/India/FBN 1-3).
Catalogued
Frederick William Kellett was born on 22 November 1862 in Camborne, Cornwall, to the Rev (1829-1906) & Mrs Featherstone Kellett. At the age of ten he was enrolled at Kingswood School, Bath, Somerset, where it soon became apparent that he was a very bright and gifted student. Before the age of twenty he attained a London BA degree and then excelled at Cambridge (double first), where he won the university prize for Prince Consort Dissertation and was subsequently made a fellow by Sidney Sussex College. Kellett had begun preaching whilst at Cambridge and was accepted as a candidate for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1885. His academic abilities were quickly put to use when he was appointed as a tutor to Richmond College in 1886. After three years at Richmond he was appointed to circuit work in Leeds (where he married, probably in 1890) but in 1891 he was asked to replace the Rev George Patterson as Professor of History at the Madras Christian College (sometimes also called the United Christian College) in South India.
He arrived in February 1892 and with the exception of a furlough between 1898 and 1899 worked indefatigably in the Madras District until his health began to decline towards the end of 1902. Whilst in the Madras District Kellett expanded the work of the College and created a very good working relationship between staff and students. He also organised evening lectures at the Wesley High School in Triplicane on theology, science, literature, etc. (His impact being so profound that the school is now know as the Kellett Higher Secondary School). He served as Secretary to the Madras Missionary Committee for a number of years as well as the Board of Historical Studies at the University of Madras (where he was made a fellow in 1897). He was also involved with literary publications editing Bacon's 'Essays' and Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' for local publication, editing the Madras Christian College magazine for three years as well as editing 'The Inquirer' and, during the summer of 1901, was involved with the launch of a Tamil weekly newspaper entitled 'Dravidavarthamani'.
In December 1902 he was one of the co-organisers of the India Decennial Conference but by this time his health had begun to suffer. In July 1903 he was taken seriously ill and was unable to work for a number of weeks. Against medical advice he decided to remain in India until his furlough the following summer. On 9th May 1904 he departed India aboard the 'Golconda', sailing for England to stay with his father in Nottingham. In June malaria resurfaced and, after only a couple of days fever, he died in Nottingham on 29 June 1904 leaving a wife and two children (Mary b.12/10/1891 & Ernest b.2/10/1893).
Papers relating to the Rev Kellett probably compiled for a possible biography on him. Comprising:
File of memorials and obituaries re Kellett, mostly from publications but a few handwritten, 1904-1905.
Draft manuscript biography on Kellett, after 1904.
A few published articles by or on Kellett, 1900-1906.
Three letters written by Kellett to Dr Findlay, 1903-1904.
Letter on Kellett written by Walter Sackett, 1906.
Copied brief extracts from a few of Kellett's letters.
'Work amongst educated Hindus. Triplicane, Madras' by D G M Leith (1905).
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Frederick William Kellett (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 26-27). Further information on Kellett's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 3-5).
Kellett's account of the Decennial Missionary Conference held in Madras in 1902 appears in Harvest Field NS Vol XIV No 1 (Jan 1903) whilst an extensive obituary with tributes to him appears in Harvest Field NS Vol XV No 8 (Aug 1904). A few of Kellett's letters (or extracts from them) appear in the Methodist missionary magazines.
A couple of images of Kellett can be found in MMS Box 1199 (file 4).
Catalogued
George William Sawday was born in Sidmouth, Devon, on 10 March 1854, and attended Horton Grammar School and Binfield House at Clapham, Surrey. He was accepted for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1873 and trained at Headingley College. He was posted to India and began work in 1876 in the Mysore District, initially at Tumkur. Within a year of his arrival the Mysore District suffered a severe famine leaving many children parentless. Sawday took some of these children in and established an orphanage where many of them were trained in agriculture, with a few becoming evangelists. After a year at the High School in Mysore he returned to Tumkur as superintendent for the circuit and remained there until 1894 (excluding a brief furlough in England in 1887 & 1888). During this period he and his wife (Sara Curnock, daughter of the Rev George Curnock) enthusiastically encouraged education. Rev Sawday oversaw both girls' and boys' schools with his wife assisting in teaching the girls, supervising bible-women and running mothers' meetings. Newly created schools included Forts Girls' School and the girls' schools at Sira and Tumkur. Both were also heavily involved with the work of the orphanage. Much of the couples work was amongst 'out-castes'. Rev Sawday also oversaw the reading rooms & places of worship, supervised the construction of housing for Indian ministers and founded Christian villages in the Mysore District (including at Betheluru) often being comprised of those parentless children who survived the famine of 1877 & 1888.
By February 1894 the Rev and Mrs Sawday were both suffering from serious health problems (they had also lost two children whilst in India) and were forced to return to England. Rev Sawday worked initially in South London (where his wife died on 4 July 1895) and subsequently Essex. In 1900 he returned to the Mysore District working in Mysore City (excluding 2 furloughs) until 1932. During this period there was a significant expansion in both the church infrastructure and the number of worshippers. Sawday became involved with medical work and was instrumental in the building of the Mary Calvert Holdsworth Hospital which opened in 1906. Subsequently he became its superintendent supervising further expansion (notably a maternity wing). He was also involved with the opening of a number of schools and a few chapels including at Hunsur and Idah. His work was officially recognised in 1923 when he was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind Gold Medal (First Class) for public service in India. In 1932 he became a supernumerary and returned to England briefly. By 1933 he had returned to Mysore and whilst retired was still very active in the district's affairs, particularly with regard to the Mary Calvert Holdsworth Hospital. He died in Mysore on 16 September 1944.
9 letters from Rev Sawday, Mysore City, to Mr Tho[ma]s Gould in Torquay, Devon, mostly discussing personal matters such as the health and welfare of friends and colleagues. However, Sawday also mentions missionary work (especially medical), WWII, local politics, hunger strikes and the Indian independence movement. With a copy of the 1943 Holdsworth Memorial Hospital report, an address from staff and students at the Methodist Mission High School in Mysore City re the unveiling of his portrait (14 January 1944) and a forwarded letter from Ethel [Tomlinson], 18 March 1944.
6 brief communications (including poems) from Sawday to Gould, c1928-c1930.
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Papers received by the MMS from Mrs Dick, June 1968.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for George William Sawday (MMS/India/Correspondence/Mysore/FBN 33-37). Further information on Sawday's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-8 & MMS/India/Synod Minutes/South India/FBN 12-17).
Rev Sawday contributed a significant number of articles regarding his missionary work to 'The Harvest Field'. Copies of (or extracts from) a few of his and his wife's letters appear in missionary magazines.
A couple of images of Rev Sawday can be found in MMS/Home/Photographs/Box 2.
Catalogued
Born in Manchester, England, 3rd February 1798; educated at Manchester grammar school, 1809-1813; assisted in his father's shoemaking business; following private study, became a probationer for the Wesleyan ministry, 1818; appointed by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS), 1819; lost his possessions in a shipwreck on the way to Madras [Chennai], India; arrived, 1820; a pioneer missionary in the area, serving at Bangalore [Bengaluru], Negapatam [Nagapattinam], Madras [Chennai], and Seringapatam [Srirangapatna]; elected a member of the committee for revising the Tamil version of the Bible, 1822; his Tamil translations included a hymnbook, 1825; left India owing to ill-health, 1828; returned to England, 1829; employed at Missionary House, London, 1829-1830; superintendent of schools in Ireland, 1830-1834; returned to London, 1834; Assistant Secretary of the WMMS, 1834-1836; married Elizabeth (d 1880), daughter of the lockmaker Charles Chubb, 1835; WMMS General Secretary, 1836-1872; Honorary Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews and of the Home for Asiatics, London; Doctor of Divinity; died on 17th June 1872.
Further Reading:
Hoole, E, Personal narrative of a mission to the south of India, from 1820 to 1828 (1829);
Hoole, E, Madras, Mysore, and the south of India: or, A personal narrative of a mission to those countries from MDCCCXX to MDCCCXXVIII (1844);
Hoole, E, The year-book of missions: containing a comprehensive account of missionary societies, British, continental and American, with a particular survey of the stations arranged in geographical order (1847);
Hoole, E, Dureisani-Tamil-puttagam = The lady's Tamil book : containing the morning and evening services and other portions of the Book of Common Prayer, in Romanized Tamil, accompanied by the English version in parallel columns, together with an Anglo-Tamil grammar and vocabulary (1859);
Telford, J, Makers of our missions. Pages from the lives of Methodist missionaries (1895).
Journals of Elijah Hoole describing his missionary work and life in India.
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Official correspondence by Elija Hoole whilst a missionary in India can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 20). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Madras district where they served (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
For his period as one of the Secretaries of the WMMS there is correspondence in the outgoing correspondence (notably MMS/Home/Correspondence/Outgoing/FBN 24A) as well as information on the work he was involved in amongst the relevant committee minutes. A few letters by Hoole can be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
Lastly, there is an agreement made in 1866 between Hoole and Messrs Hall & Co for the building of a three-masted schooner [possibly the 'John Wesley II'] extant (MMS/Special Series/Ships' Papers/FBN 50).
Catalogued
Bound volume
Journal begun at Negapatam but first few pages recounts Hoole's journey from England to India. For the period of this journal Hoole worked in the WMMS missions at Bangalore [Bengaluru], Negapatam [Nagappattinam], Madras [Chennai] and Seringapatam [Srirangapatna]. Journal has a 'Preface' inserted at the front of the volume and a number of inserts at the rear in Tamil. Partial place name index at rear as well.
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Accepted as a deposit, on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr Michael Brewer, 15 May 2009.
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Bound volume
Covers the period Hoole was working as a WMMS missionary in Madras [Chennai]. The latter part of the journal describes his illness, his return to England and his recovery.
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J Percy Shrimpton was born in Cardiff in October 1879, the son of the Rev and Mrs Joseph Shrimpton, and was educated at Victoria College, Congleton, Cheshire, and King's Grammar School, Birmingham. He worked in a Sunday school and was a local preacher in Lincolnshire where he married a Miss Hipkin of Skegness. He was accepted for the ministry in 1899 and trained at Handsworth College. After his studies he was asked to serve in India and left England on 5 December 1902. Working in the Tamil and English circuits of the Madras District he preached in both languages, assisted with the completion of new churches and proved himself to be a competent administrator. He also served for a period as vice-principal of Royapettah College, Madras [Chennai].
In 1929 Rev Shrimpton was asked to take up the Chairmanship of the Western Nigeria District. Here he increased his reputation as a fine administrator and was widely praised for his pastoral care. Returning to England in 1939 he became a supernumerary in Sussex, initially at East Grinstead but later at Seaford and Newhaven. He died on 19 February 1948 with his wife dying a decade later.
'The Conversion of India' by G[eorge] Smith. This copy was presumably made by Shrimpton from the published work.
Shrimpton's notebook on India which has also been used as a memorandum book. Contains infrequent dated entries on his missionary work but also notes on indigenous religious beliefs, places, census data, caste system, etc. With many loose inserts (mainly notes and cuttings) on similar subjects. c1907-c1940 but mainly 1910s & 1920s.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for J Percy Shrimpton whilst working in India (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 26-29) and Nigeria (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Western Nigeria/FBN 21-22). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the districts in India (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 4-8 & MMS/India/Synod Minutes/South India/FBN 12-16) and Nigeria (MMS/West Africa/Synod Minutes/Nigeria/FBN 13-15) in which he served.
Catalogued
Thomas Cryer was born at Gilstead near Bingley, Yorkshire, on 6 April 1800. He converted to Methodism aged 20 and was accepted for the ministry in 1828 and served in Witney, Oxfordshire and Reading, Berkshire. In 1829 he was appointed to work in India and reached Madras [Chennai] in May 1830. He initially worked in Bangalore [Bengaluru] but also served in Madras [Chennai], Negapatam [Nagapattinam], Manargoody [Mannargudi] and Bangalore [Bengaluru] again before departing to England in 1839. During this period of service in India he had learnt Tamil and frequently preached in both English and Tamil. He was a strong critic of the caste system as he viewed it has hindering both his evangelical work as well as educational work. He served in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, for a couple of years and took part in a missionary deputation to Ireland in the spring of 1841 before returning to India onboard the 'General Kyd' in June 1842. With him was Mary Burton (born in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, in 1811) whom he had married on 3 February 1842 in Leeds. Unfortunately within 14 months Mary died of cholera at Manargoody [Mannargudi] in December 1843. Rev Cryer continued to work at Manargoody [Mannargudi] until he transferred to Negapatam in 1847 and later Bangalore [Bengaluru] in 1849. Upon returning from a furlough to England he had taken in 1851 he became ill with cholera and died suddenly on 5th October 1852 in Madras [Chennai].
Further reading:
Barrett, A, Holy living: exemplified in the life of Mrs. Mary Cryer, wife of the Revd. Thos. Cryer, Wesleyan missionary in the south of India, with extracts from her papers and correspondence (1845);
Cryer, T, Family recollections: being a memoir of a beloved sister, with notices of other departed relatives (1843);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924).
Draft manuscript biography of Thomas Cryer with extracts from his letters and journal. Numerous corrections, annotations and amendments with a few sections in note form only.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Cryer (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 21-22). Further information on Cryer's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
An image of Cryer can be found within MMS Box 1203.
Catalogued
Thomas Hodson was born in Scarle, Lincolnshire, in 1804. He was accepted as a candidate to the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1829 but prior to this had been a local preacher and teacher in Lincoln for nearly a decade. He was originally destined for Egypt but was instead sent to India departing England onboard the ship 'Moira' in November 1829 and arriving in Calcutta [Kolkata] in March 1830 along with his colleague Peter Percival to establish a new mission there. He married Mary Ann Atkinson (b. 28 June 1800) on 13 December 1830 in Calcutta [Kolkata] and she actively assisted him with his work, particularly with regard to education. Within the first six months they had established six mission schools but ultimately the mission proved untenable and was closed in late 1832.
The Hodsons relocated to the Madras District in 1833 serving initially in Bangalore [Bengaluru] where he founded the Canarese Mission, a chapel and schools in Petta and Bangalore [Bengaluru] (the latter was to become the High School). Mrs Hodson took bible classes, including one comprising soldiers' wives, and started a Sunday school. Late in 1836 Hodson was asked by the committee in London to survey the area around Mysore to see what possibilities for mission work existed there (and this lead to the creation of a mission in Mysore and ultimately the Mysore District). By April 1837 they had relocated to Goobbee [Gubbi] to start a Canarese mission where they remained until 1839 when they transferred to Mysore. Hodson became friends with the Rajah and with his support founded a boys' school - the first to teach an English style education to Hindus - and which, by 1841, was known as The Rajah's Free School. Hodson was also involved with the establishment of a mission press in 1840 whilst his wife continued her interest in female education, beginning the orphan girls' school.
Throughout this period in India Hodson encouraged the WMMS to strengthen its work amongst Hindus, support a native ministry and establish more missions with chapels and schools. He argued that this was more important than preaching to the English population. Unfortunately ill health forced him to leave India in 1842 and he spent the next decade in English circuits (including Louth in Lincolnshire, Newark in Nottinghamshire, Reading in Berkshire and Dewsbury in Yorkshire). Rev Hodson and his wife did not return to India until 1853 (although originally he had planned to return in 1848 but his poor health prevented this) and upon his return he was appointed general superintendent of the Mysore District (which had been created in 1848).
After briefly working in Mysore he relocated to Bangalore [Bengaluru]. During his tenure the Mysore District expanded its missionary work to Tumkur (1857), Ootacamund (1862), Shimoga (1863) and Hassan (1876). He actively encouraged the training of Indian ministers, increased the number of chapels and schools, created a mission press in Bangalore [Bengaluru] and for a time in the mid 1850s also became the general superintendent of the Madras District. He also published a Canarese grammar in 1859 and the first map of India in Canarese in 1866. His wife Mary died on 10 August 1866.
In 1877 Hodson suffered an attack of fever which permanently damaged his health and forced him to leave India (with his second wife) in March 1878. He settled as a supernumerary in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, but on 8th September 1878 suffered a severe attack of fever from which he died the following day.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924).
Journal begins on 23rd November 1829 with Hodson travelling from London to Gravesend [Kent] to depart for India. Journal ends on 6 September 1832 with Hodson hoping to build a new chapel in Calcutta [Kolkata].
Rear of volume contains notes and sketches on life in India (e.g. agriculture, trade, etc) and a list of sermons preached by him in 1831. With incomplete index to volume.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Hodson (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 20-21 & MMS/India/Correspondence/Mysore/FBN 31-33). Further information on Hodson's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2). A narrative of a journey in the Bangalore area made by Hodson in late 1836 is amongst the Madras District correspondence (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 21).
There is one letter by Hodson within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
An image of Hodson can be found in MMS Box 1198 (file 1).
Copies and extracts from Hodson and his wives' letters appear in missionary magazines, especially 'The Harvest Field'. An obituary for Mary Ann Hodson appears in the September 1866 issue of 'The Harvest Field'.
Catalogued
Henry Little was born in Patterdale, Cumbria, on 21 September 1839. He converted to Methodism in 1856, entered the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1862 and enrolled at Richmond College the same year. From 1863 Little worked in India, originally in the Madras district where he served in a number of missions including Negapatam [Nagapattinam]. After a furlough in England in 1873 he returned to India to work in the same district but this time at Karur where, three years later, the great famine had such a major impact on his work. In the aftermath of the famine numerous children were left homeless and Little took many of them in and founded an orphanage (beginning with 71 children). The orphanage initially only offered elementary education but Little and his wife soon realised that greater support would be needed for the children as they matured into adults so they began the nucleus of what was to become the industrial school at Karur. Here children were taught blacksmithing, carpentry, agriculture and weaving as well as receiving a Christian education (provided by both Little and his wife). The goods produced by the children helped fund the enterprise and also contribute to the establishment of a Christian village nearby. In April 1889 the school was formally recognized by the Director of Public Institutions.
In 1881 Little became Chairman of the Madras District and in 1886 went on furlough to England. On his return he became Chairman of the newly founded Negapatam and Trichinopoly District. His administrative abilities were widely admired if, at times, carried out in a somewhat autocratic manner. Little's wife's health declined during 1888 and 1889 and they left India for good in 1893 (his wife dying the following January). Little began his service in Home Districts in 1894 in Malvern, Worcestershire, subsequently working in Hinckley and Brigg in Leicestershire, Yeovil in Somerset and Helston in Cornwall. He became a supernumerary at Burnham near Weston-super-mare, Somerset, in 1906 where he remained until his death on 8 May 1912.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924).
Journal beginning with Rev Little's preparations for departure from England (5 January 1863) and ends whilst travelling near Trichinopoly in India (19 February 1878). With one additional entry for 28 May 1896. Entries not entirely chronological and often made infrequently.
Front of volume has a hand drawn map showing route taken by SS 'Golden Fleece' from London to Madras [Chennai] 1863.
Rear of volume has hand drawn map of the routes of the 'Maori' and SS 'Teuton' from Madras [Chennai] via Cape Town, South Africa, to London (1873-1874) & route of P & O 'Mongolia' leaving England 4 December 1874 and arriving Madras [Chennai] 5 January 1875. With list of sermons preached in 1863 & 1864.
1863-1878, 1896
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Henry Little (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 23-25 & MMS/India/Correspondence/Negapatam/FBN 39). Further information on Little's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-3).
Letters (or extracts from them) by Rev Little and his wife appear in Methodist missionary magazines, particularly in 'The Harvest Field' and the Women's Work magazines.
Catalogued
John Milton Brown, the son of William Brown, was born on 26 June 1843 in Porlock, Somerset. He was educated at the Wesleyan Day School in Dunster, Somerset, where he spent five years as a pupil teacher. He entered Richmond College in 1863 and his first ministerial posting was to the Tamil District in North Ceylon [Sri Lanka] departing England aboard the 'Thames' on 13 October 1866. After arriving in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in February 1867 he soon fell under the guidance and influence of John Kilner, a strong advocate for self-supporting and self-governing missions. Like Kilner Brown argued for an improvement in the structure of the indigenous church, greater support for indigenous ministers and stressed the role and importance of education. Whilst in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] he married (on 12 November 1869 at the mission chapel in Colombo) but in his own words his wife 'was suddenly taken from me by fever and congestion of the brain' a few months afterwards on 5 May 1870.
In August 1872 Brown took a furlough to England and whilst there married Mary Kilner (daughter of John) on 13 February 1873 in Watford, Hertfordshire. They arrived back in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in May 1873 and Mary began to work amongst the local women optimising her knowledge of local languages. During this period the Rev Brown, in addition to his usual missionary activities, spent two years as the editor of the North Ceylon Christian Herald. By 1883 Brown had impressed his superiors sufficiently to be offered the chairmanship of the Calcutta District in North India.
Whilst in India Brown took on further responsibilities including being editor of the Indian Methodist Times for five years, undertook - with the Rev W R Winston - in 1887 an evaluation of Burma as a prospective mission field (leading to the creation of the Methodist mission in Upper Burma), in 1891 he also became chairman of the Lucknow and Benares district (and by implication responsible for all Methodist missionary activity in North India) and in 1895 was elected to the legal hundred.
By 1901 the Rev & Mrs Brown had returned to England where the Rev Brown served as chaplain to the London Garrison. In 1905 he became one of the missionary secretaries of the WMMS, holding specific responsibilities for the West Indies Districts (at a time when they had only just returned to the British connexion). Here his reputation as a fine administrator, blessed also with sound judgement, was further enhanced. In 1912 he became a supernumerary spending much of his time in East Barnet, Hertfordshire [Greater London] until his death on 11 December 1934. His wife Mary had died in 1925 and between them they had six sons, two of whom - Rev H Milton Brown (1879-1916) and Rev A E Brown (1882-1952) - became missionaries themselves.
Further Reading:
Brown, J M, Report of a visit to the Methodist Churches in the West Indies. Deputation by Rev. John M. Brown [1905];
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924).
Journal begins 5 October 1866 with Rev Brown's ordination in the chapel at Richmond College [Surrey] and ends on New Year's Eve 1889 with him working in the vicinity of Calcutta [Kolkata, India]. Entries are infrequent and on occasion very brief.
Rear of volume contains lists of sermons preached (with texts used) and comments on English education in India, population of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in 1868, Sanskrit literature as well as notes on the Methodist missions in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and India.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Milton Brown in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/North Ceylon/FBN 6-7) and India (MMS/India/Correspondence/Calcutta/FBN 1-2 & MMS/India/Correspondence/Lucknow/FBN 3-5). Further information on Brown's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the Synod Minutes for Ceylon (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2) and India (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-4).
Any extant correspondence written by Rev Brown whilst a missionary secretary should be found amongst the outgoing correspondence (MMS/Home/Correspondence/Outgoing/FBN 25B-26).
A couple of photographs taken by him can be found within MMS/Ceylon/Photographs/Box 1196a (file 4).
Copies of letters (or extracts from them) by Rev Brown and his wives can be found in missionary magazines, particular those of the WMMS Ladies Auxiliary.
Catalogued
George Stainton Marris, the elder son of the Rev George Marris (1854-1952) who served as a Methodist missionary in China, was born at Oxford in 1885. After being educated at Hull and Owen's College Manchester he undertook a Bachelor of the Arts London Degree at Handsworth College. He entered the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1907 and was dispatched to India. Serving in the Hyderabad District he began working in Hyderabad itself until transferring to nearby Secunderabad two years later where he had responsibility for education, including the Boys' High School. He remained there (excluding a furlough in 1915) until 1919 when he relocated to Nizambad. In 1920 he took another furlough but upon his return in 1921 he took up residence in Ellareddi. That year the provincial synod requested that he be transferred to the Mysore District and upon arrival he took up the post of Professor of New Testament and Theology at the United Theological College in Bangalore [Bengaluru] until 1931 (excluding a furlough in 1928).
His wife, Ellen Crowther Atkinson (they married in 1911), had been active in Zenana work but her health became very poor and the couple were forced to return to England in 1931. Marris remained in home circuits for the rest of his career (principally in London and the South-East) but retained an interest in missionary work by serving on MMS committees including the General committee and the Eastern committee. In 1947 he became a supernumerary but also took on the role as chaplain at the Banstead Mental Home in Surrey. He worked there up until a few weeks before his death on 11 November 1955.
Papers relating to his father; missionary publications and articles; miscellaneous papers; visual material
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Catalogued
George Marris was born in Hull in 1854. He trained as an engineer but soon felt compelled to enter the Wesleyan Methodist ministry. After training at Richmond College he was dispatched to the Canton District of China in 1879 where he remained for four years until ill-health forced him to return to England. He spent the remainder of his long career in home districts and circuits (principally in the North and West of England) including at Oxford where his superintendent, Hugh Price Hughes, described him as 'the ideal Circuit minister'. He became a supernumerary at South Norwood, Surrey [Greater London] in 1920 and died on 6 April 1952. His son, George Stainton Marris (1885-1955), also became a Wesleyan Methodist minister serving in India as well as Great Britain.
Papers collected by Rev Marris, father of Rev G Stainton Marris
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for George Marris (MMS/China/Correspondence/Canton/FBN 2). Further information on Marris' work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
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Copy of instructions issued to George Marris. These were issued to all Wesleyan Methodist missionaries (since 1834) before departing overseas and give guidance on behaviour (particularly in the West Indies) and the necessity of keeping a journal.
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Leaflet, dated 14 December, promoting a valedictory service at Bowdon Wesley Chapel [Cheshire] (the charge to be given by Rev Geo[rge] Marris) for departing missionaries misses Cottee, Hare, Haworth, Wheatley and Protheroe. With newspaper cutting (undated) and letter from C M Wiseman in London, 16 December 1904, on event.
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With correspondence (1964) re its acquisition by the MMS
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Gift to MMS from Mrs H Craig Marris, February 1964
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Methodist (mostly missionary) publications and articles.
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Address to parents, heads of families and others.
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1904-1905 session
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From the 'Foreign Field'
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Incomplete published article
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From members of the out-caste village of Togita to 'Padre Posnett Sahib of Medak' [C W Posnett, Wesleyan Methodist missionary].
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Mainly from staff and students at schools in Nizam, Secunderabad and Hyderabad to those missionaries who had been involved with education (including Rev & Mrs G Stainton Marris).
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Including Gandhi's visit and Indian Methodist ministers preparing to visit England.
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Copy of typescript manuscript written by the author in Madras [Chennai, India].
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Been transferred to Nizambad and taken charge of work there. Settling in. Recently met former colleague Sangem Moses. Reminisces about work as catechist. Personal information on mutual friends as well as general news.
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Photographs taken or collected (including some commercial) by Marris whilst in India of religious buildings and activities; missionary property (including schools and hospitals), staff and worshippers; government buildings, forts, travel infrastructure; towns and villages; local people at work and at leisure. Many photographs are not dated but most are identified on the reverse or captioned.
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Photographs taken or collected by Marris of his colleagues (most of whom are ministers) including W Lofthouse, W Holdsworth, A E Pearton, H P Hughes, F G W Gostick, G C Mayes, J Westcombe, J W Howells, G L Robinson, F Parkinson, J Webster, W H Thompson, W Wallace, R Worwell, B Bradley, J Hornabrook and Marris himself. Also students at Richmond College (1877-1879) and staff as well (1876), stone laying at Wesley Hall Crookes (1905), Truro Ministers at Bradford [Methodist] Conference (1910), wedding of Douglas G Stainsball to Dorothy Elsie Adamson (3 June 1915), postcard of Chapel Allerton [Yorkshire] (1915). Most images are identified on the reverse, many recording a date.
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Including depictions of Tibetan merchants, fakirs, people at work, people at leisure, landscapes, mosques, chapels & churches, city streets, tombs (including of missionaries - Dr Carey, Dr Marshman and Ward), government buildings and forts, in or near Agra but also Matheron, Darjeeling, Lucknow, Serampore, Hyderabad and Kashmir (the Lidar Valley, Srinagar & Baramulla). Most images are identified but few are dated.
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Photographs taken or collected by Marris of mosques, Hindu and Jain temples, churches, hospitals, tombs, forts, palaces, mission property, missionary staff and worshippers, Hindu holy men and fakirs, statues (including of the Buddha), street scenes, landscapes, villages, entertainers, local people at work and at leisure in Dichpalli, Somnarpur [?Samarpur], Goa, Benares [Varanasi], Tirupati, Hyderabad, Ooty, Shimoga, Halebri [?Halebid], Kolata, Hassan, Baroda [Vadodara], Mysore, Agmere, Tumkur, Bangalore, Halibeed, Chikmapalur [?Chikmagalur], Agra, Bababudan and Darjeeling. With one image of Gibraltar and one of Colombo [Sri Lanka]. Most images are identified on the rear and some are dated.
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Photographs taken or collected by Marris principally of Kashmir depicting bridges, rivers & canals, pilgrims, fakirs, landscapes, people at work or travelling in or near Sonamarg, Pugwari, Kohala, Srinagar, Islamabad and the Lidar Valley. Most images are identified on the rear but few are dated.
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Photographs taken or collected by Marris of missionary colleagues, bible classes, children at mission schools, religious festivals, mosques, temples, hospitals, fakirs, street scenes, landscapes and local people at work in Delhi, Jagtial, Medak, Mysore, Hyderabad, Kashmir (including Srinagar), Hassan, Bangalore, Agra and Bomanhalle [?Bommanahalli]. Most images are identified on the rear but few are dated. A few of the images are commercial postcards.
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Photographs taken or collected by Marris of his colleagues, hospitals & patients, school children, Hindu & Jain temples, religious ceremonies & festivals, religious personnel, street scenes, entertainers and performers, landscapes, local people (including Toda) in Dichpalli, Benares [Varanasi], Mysore, Kashmir and Hyderabad. Most images are identified on the rear but few are dated.
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Photographs taken or collected by Marris of his colleagues, school children, hospitals and forts in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Jagtial. Most images are identified on the rear and a few are dated. Three images appear to have been removed from a photograph album.
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Marris with colleagues (Veall, G B Evans, H C Luckman, W B Smith and ?Stainsball), May 1907.
Marris with colleagues who sailed on HMS Ptarmigan, (Standfast, Veall, Simpson & Lant), June 1907.
Group photograph of competition winners at Marris House, Wesley High School, Secunderabad [India], 1944-1945.
Ten prints of gods and events from Hindu belief.
Incomplete design by H Hoyle, undated.
Print of engraving of the fountain at Regent's Park by H Hoyle, 1925.
Print entitled 'The Shoes of the Faithful' by Lucy Barnes, undated.
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Charles Walker Posnett was born in Sheffield on 7th December 1870 to a prominent Methodist family. He was educated at Woodhouse Grove School and at Kingswood School both of which were schools for the sons of Methodist ministers. He then went on to Richmond College, Surrey to train for the ministry. He also undertook medical training at the London Hospital in order to fully prepare himself for a life of missionary service. In 1895 he was appointed to serve as a missionary in Hyderabad, Deccan, then an independent state under the Nizam of Hyderabad. After a couple of years he moved to Medak where he remained until the end of his missionary career in 1939. Probably, his most visible legacy is the large Church in Gothic style he had built at Medak to accommodate the many villagers in and around Medak, particularly those from the Mala and Madiga castes, who had converted to Christianity in mass movements. He also established a training institution for teachers and church leaders. During his time in Hyderabad the area was afflicted with two severe famines, one in the late 1890s and the other from 1919 to 1921.
He died on 30th September 1950.
Associated with him in his work were a number of other Methodist missionaries among them his sister, Emilie Posnett (1866-c1967) and Rev Charles Gordon Early (1889-1975) who was appointed to Medak in 1914. Early was placed in charge of the work at the new centre of Lakshettipet north of the River Godavari.
Further Reading:
London Missionary Society, Order of service for medical missions: a fight with death: a story of Emilie Posnett, taken from Yarns on heroes of India (1927);
[Posnett, C W], A new conquest for Christ: the ex-priest Cornelius and his former idols;
[Posnett, C W], Christ or the cholera goddess? Whom shall the out-castes serve? (1908);
Posnett, C W, 1,072 rescued famine children: will you help to save them for Christ's service? : The harvest of three years' famine in Hyderabad;
Posnett, C W, The beginning of the caste movement;
Posnett, C W, Outlines of Bible characters with additional explanatory notes (In Telugu, 1903);
Posnett, C W, The epistles to the seven churches of Asia: expository and historical notes: Revelation I - III (In Telugu, 1913);
Posnett, C W, Hyderabad Methodist Church: items of interest (1937);
Posnett, E, & Harris, S A, Under the shadow of the temple and other tales from Medak, Nizam's dominions [1906];
Posnett, P, Medak my new home, my journey and my welcome. An open letter to friends (c1912);
Sackett, F C, Posnett of Medak [1951].
Large file containing copies of printed and typed circular letters and circuit reports and other papers, dated from 1914 to 1944, from the Methodist Mission stations of Medak and Lakshettipett in Hyderabad State [Andhra Pradesh]. There are copies of printed articles relating to the work from the Methodist Missionary Society's magazine, Foreign Field and from other periodical publications. Printed items include a programme of the opening service in Medak's new church in 1925 and appeals to British and Indian supporters to fund mission projects. Also a file entitled 'Travels in India' containing correspondence and brief accounts of his journeys, 1916-1917.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Charles W Posnett (MMS/India/Correspondence/Hyderabad/FBN 12-15). There is also some correspondence written by Posnett to the Women's Work Department (MMS/WW/India/Correspondence/Medak/FBN 20). The latter may also include some correspondence by his sister Emilie. Further information on Posnett's work, as well as the work of his colleagues (including Charles Early), will be contained in the Hyderabad Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 4-8 & MMS/India/Synod Minutes/South India/FBN 12-16).
A pedigree of the Early family is available within Notes and Transcripts (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 1, item 16). An album of photographs taken by Early, illustrating mission work in and around Medak, is held in the Photographic section of the archive (MMS, Southern India, Photographs, Box 1199, file 1). Further photographs of the Hyderabad District (including Medak) can also be found in this box.
Catalogued
Alice Hawkins was born on 2nd April 1882. Her interest in missionary work stemmed from the period she was a class leader in Staunton near Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. As early as 1909 she contacted the Ladies Auxiliary enquiring as to the requirements needed to be a medical missionary. During her certification period as a nurse at Guy's Hospital in London she was accepted by the Ladies' Auxiliary as a candidate but was unable to leave until her tenure was completed. Whilst at Guy's Hospital she gained experience of midwifery, theatre practice, dispensing and working on a surgical ward. She completed her certification in late 1913 and on 2nd January 1914 set sail for the Hyderabad District in India.
She began her medical work in Nizamabad. Within a couple of years she had relocated to Karim Nagar where she worked in both the hospital (including midwifery and surgical work) and village dispensaries. After a short furlough in 1928 she returned to Nizamabad just before the outbreak of plague in 1929. From 1931 to 1932 she worked in the busy hospital in Medak until granted a furlough in 1933. Upon her return she recommenced work at Medak and remained there until her departure from India in 1936. She died on 20th April 1971.
Images of colleagues and patients at Medak, India, 1930s. Most images are identified but not all are dated.
Images of Srinagar, Kashmir, India - mainly buildings and landscapes, 1920s-1930s. Most images are identified but not all are dated.
Images of Hawkins trip to the 'Holy Land' including Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Siloam and featuring Christian holy sites but also street scenes and local people, 1936-1937. Most images are identified but not dated.
Letter from the private secretary to HM Queen Mary to Hawkins in Medak, India, thanking her for the photographs of the memorial service to King George V, 18 May 1936. With two copies of said images.
Letter from F Deaville Walker, editor of the 'Kingdom Overseas' in Bishopgate, London, to Hawkins in Bournemouth, Dorset, returning images used in a recent article and suggesting they could be used as part of a lantern lecture on the 'Holy Land', 22 January 1938.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for the Women's Work Hyderabad District where any extant correspondence by Alice Hawkins will be held (MMS/WW/India/Correspondence/Hyderabad/FBN 10-13). Her work may also be mentioned amongst the India reports (MMS/WW/Reports/India/FBN 1-2).
A few articles by Hawkins appear in the 'Women's Work' magazine.
An account of the time she spent in Palestine during Christmas 1936 and Easter 1937 appears in the 'Kingdom Overseas' for December 1937 & April 1938 and include a couple of the images from amongst her papers described above.
Catalogued
Alfred Bourne was born in c1801 and ordained in 1823. After serving in Oxford (1824) and Reading (1825) he was sent as a missionary to India in 1826 to serve in Madras [Chennai] and Negapatam [Nagapattinam], arriving in early 1827. He spent eight years evangelising in the Madras District where he became familiar with Tamil. However ill health plagued the last three years of his time in India forcing him to leave at the end of 1834. His poor health continued with his death occurring on 27 May 1836.
Two manuscripts attributed to Rev Alfred Bourne.
1) 'Tamil Extracts. 1830'. Comprises quotes from Tamil texts with very brief descriptions in English.
2) 'Tamil. Some observations with regard to Letters & Pronounciation'. Rear of volume has a Tamil/English wordlist. With three inserts.
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Official correspondence by Alfred Bourne whilst a missionary in India can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 20-21). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Madras district where they served (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Catalogued
Edith Lamb was born in c1871. Trained in teaching, with certificates from both the College of Preceptors and the Froebel Society, she was accepted as a candidate for the Ladies Auxiliary of the WMMS in 1896 (her sister, Florence, already being employed in Sri Lanka). She was appointed to Mysore, India, in November 1896, sailed in January 1897 and arrived the next month. She began by working at the training college and learning Canarese whilst there. However, she soon develops health problems and is relocated to Bangalore [Bengaluru] where she recovers and continues her language and teaching work. By 1899 she is School Principal with overall responsibility for the day schools (including at Siddhi-Katti and Chamrag Petta), whilst still teaching children of a wide range of ages in scripture, basic literacy & numeracy, sewing & knitting. However, the school year of 1900 is badly affected by the plague (forcing the schools to close for a while) and by 1901 her own health is deteriorating, forcing her to leave India on 17 March 1902. She dies in 1952.
Photograph album marked 'Edith A Lamb. Mysore. South India. August 7th 1901'. Contains photographs of Hindu temples & festivals, Methodist mission property (especially schools), mission staff (including 1897 Mysore Synod), local people (at work, preparing food, trading, at leisure, etc) and local area (particularly Kaveri River and falls) in and around Bangalore [Bengaluru] and Mysore, India. With a few images of Kandy & Colombo, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and odd image of Aden [Yemen] and Suez [Egypt]. Most images have captions. One loose photograph.
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A few copies of her letters (or edited extracts) appear in the 'Women's Work' magazine.
Catalogued
Ebenezer Evans Jenkins was born in Exeter in 1820 to John and Mary Jenkins who were Welsh Methodists. He attended Mount Radford School in Exeter but moved to Torquay, Devon, in his teens and became an assistant master in a day school run by William Pengelly. He was accepted for the ministry in 1845 and ordained at Great Queen Street Chapel, London, on 31 October. He was asked to serve in India and appointed to the Madras District, travelling to India via Colombo in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Upon arrival in Colombo (March 1846), and to his disappointment, he was informed that he would serve at Manargoody [Mannargudi] instead of the original intention for him to serve English colonists in Madras [Chennai] itself. He worked there and at Negapatam [Nagapattinam], whilst gradually learning Tamil, for nearly 3 years until he relocated to Madras [Chennai] where he served until 1863 (excluding furloughs).
In Madras [Chennai] he encouraged greater evangelical work amongst the lower castes as well as promoting educational work, including the founding of Royapettah College and the Wesleyan Mission High School (which was also known as the Jenkins High School). In his work he was assisted by his wife, Eliza Drewett, whom he married in 1850. By 1857 he had become Chairman of the Madras District and his reputation was further increased upon publication of some of his sermons in 1860. In 1862, along with the Rev George Fryar, he investigated the possibility of establishing a mission along a 200 mile stretch of the Godavari River between Rajahmundry and Sironcha. Despite his recommendations it took 15 years before a mission was established at Sironcha. By 1863 both his and his wife's health were poor so they left India arriving back in England (after a period of recuperation in Melbourne, Australia) in 1865.
Upon his return to England he served in London (Hackney & Brixton) with his wife unfortunately dying on 27 April 1869. In 1870 he relocated to Southport in Cheshire where he married on 19 October 1871 Margaret Heald Wood. In 1872 he returned to London but this time to Highbury. Throughout this period of work in home districts Jenkins maintained an active interest in missionary matters and regularly promoted mission work. In 1875 he was asked to undertake a mission to Ceylon [Sri Lanka], India and China and published a report on the Madras District where he encouraged further expansion of education (particularly for women and girls), the creation of a theological institution and a stronger Indian ministry. In 1876 he spent a year in Westminster before accepting the post of general secretary to the WMMS. As a missionary secretary he undertook visitations including a 'mission to the East' visiting India, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and China in 1884 & 1885 and encouraging the development of education, better housing for ministers and better financial accounting. In 1880 he served as President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, he became an honorary missionary secretary in 1888 and ardently defended missionaries during the education controversy of 1890. He died at Southport, Cheshire, on 19 July 1905.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol I, 1921 & vol V, 1924);
Jenkins, E E, Report of a visit of inspection to the Madras District, in the beginning of the year 1876;
Jenkins, E E, Report of a mission to the east (1886);
Jenkins, J, H, Ebenezer E. Jenkins: a memoir (?1906).
Small volume entitled 'Notes on our Expedition to the Godavery 1862' probably written by Rev Ebenezer Jenkins, detailing a trip he made with the Rev George Fryar along the Godavari River to assess whether a mission could be established. Records preparations, journey (including people and places encountered) and then time spent along the Godavari River. The latter includes comments on inhabitants, settlements, climate, river network, transport, industry, livestock, flora and fauna, religious beliefs and ceremonies, customs, potential missionary endeavours, trade and leisure.
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In the original handlist this item had been mistakenly attributed to the Rev George Sawday.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Ebenezer Jenkins (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 22-23). Further information on Jenkins' work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
A copy of Jenkins' obituary (including an image of him) from 'The Methodist Recorder' is available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 6, item 65). A similar obituary appears in the 'The Harvest Field' (August 1905).
An image of Jenkins can be found within MMS Box 1203.
Catalogued
Edward Percy Blackburn was born in Horsford, Yorkshire, in 1862. He entered the Wesleyan ministry in 1885 and after a short time at Richmond College found himself appointed to the newly created Wesleyan Methodist Missionary District of Negapatam and Trichinopoly in India. During his three years in India he worked in both Manargoody [Mannargudi] and Trichinopoly [Tiruchirappalli], including at the High School of the former where Theophilus Subrahmanyam was amongst his pupils. Ill health forced him to leave India in 1889 and return to England where he had a long career in home districts particularly in East Anglia, the Home Counties and the West Country. He also served as an army chaplain and a prison chaplain. In 1929 he became a supernumerary at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He maintained an interest in India (particularly its literature) throughout his life. He died on 27 November 1940.
Journal covering the entire period Rev Blackburn spent as a missionary in India. Begins with his preparations to depart England (30 September [18]85) and ends with him returned to England (4 May [18]89). With a few miscellaneous notes at rear.
Book of newspaper and other cuttings - mainly from missionary publications - relating to India, 1890s.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Edward Blackburn (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 25 & MMS/India/Correspondence/Negapatam/FBN 39). Further information on Blackburn's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-3).
Catalogued
James John Ellis was born in Wacton, Norfolk in 1883 and educated at the Central High School & York College in Leeds, Yorkshire. After graduating in science from Manchester University he considered a career in medicine but instead decided to enter the ministry leaving Didsbury College in 1907. He was then posted to India where he served at Findlay High School (later College) in Mannargudi in the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society district of Trichinopoly. In 1909 Ellis was involved in the conversion of two Brahman students, Paul Rungaramanjura and John Krishnaswami, which led to hostility from some local Hindus who burnt down the Methodist chapel. Relationships with the local Hindu community were difficult and it was a couple of years before the school returned to normal.
In 1911 Ellis relocated to the Madras District and was involved principally in evangelical work. On 6 October 1913 he married Amy Mildred Comben and in the same year they relocated to the Trichinopoly/Tiruchi District, being stationed at Dharapuram. For the next 30 years he was involved in a mass conversation movement in the district which saw the number of Christians expand from under 2000 in 1907 to over 46,000 in 1943. Ellis was directly involved in the expansion at Dharapuram where a large church, schools, hospital and training institution were all erected. He also found time to retain some involvement with Findlay College, serve on the District Education Council, act as missionary secretary for the Trichinopoly District and for his last ten years there as Chairman. In 1941 he was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal and two years later he handed over the Chairmanship to his former charge, the Rev Paul Rangaramanujam (whom he wrote a biography of in 1949).
By 1944 Ellis had returned to England where he served for three years at Mosley Road in Birmingham before becoming a supernumerary at Filey in Yorkshire. Even in retirement Ellis was involved in evangelism holding classes for young Methodists in his home. He died at Filey on 8 July 1962.
Further Reading:
Ellis, J C, Christians at work: Mannargudi, Madras and Dharapuram, 1907-1943 (MA, University of Sheffield, 1977);
Ellis, J J, Paul Rangaramanujam, servant of Jesus Christ (1949);
Noble, W J, Ploughing the rock: the story of the Trichinopoly District mass movement (1928);
'On this rock': being sketches of work in the Trichinopoly District of the Methodist Mission in South India (1939).
Four volumes of material (notes, articles, maps, publications, photographs, copies of letters, etc) collected and created by Rev Ellis regarding his and others Methodist missionary work in the MMS District of Tiruchi and, particularly in and around Dharapuram, India.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mr J C Ellis of Brigg, Lincolnshire, January 1993
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for James John Ellis (MMS/India/Correspondence/Trichinopoly/FBN 40-41 & MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 28). Further information on his work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 6-8 & MMS/India/Synod Minutes/South India/FBN 12-22).
Catalogued
Notes on extent of district and missionaries who served there; notes, reports, letters, extracts from diaries, accounts (some of which are copies) re work undertaken by Ellis and his colleagues including the impact of the mass movements; opening ceremony of Dharapuram Church (1931); photographs of preaching and mass baptism in 1932, 'Gleanings from Dharapuram' by R B Spear.
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Hand drawn and copies of maps of India, Trichy Diocese, Madras State and Dharapuram circuit map. Photographs of J J Ellis, A H Davey, [Paul] Rangaramanujam and students at Findlay College in 1909; opening of Dharapuram Church in 1931, coloured photographs of church, hospital and cottages at Dharapuram; photographs of missionary buildings, temples, local people (including Dhobis) at Ellisnagar, Dharapuram, Kumbakonam and in the Madras area, c1909-1930s; brief lists of Wesleyan notables in Great Britain and ministers, etc, in south India; undated group photographs (with some identification of those depicted) of missionary personnel possibly in the MMS Trichy District; two photographs of Church of South India bishops, 1947.
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Notes on 'The Kural' by Rev W Lillie; copies of articles written, mainly by Rev Ellis and his colleagues, and published between 1911 and 1961 in local publications and missionary magazines on Methodist missionary evangelical, educational and medical work in Mannargudi, Dharapuram, Karur and more generally in south India.
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Rev James Hobday was born on 28 January 1829 to English parents in Bangalore, India. After studying at the Free Church of Scotland Institution in Madras [Chennai] and a brief spell as a Sunday school teacher for the Wesleyan Methodists he joined the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1852. Initially he served as assistant to the Rev E E Jenkins at the High School in Royapettah but in 1853 he was ordained in Madras [Chennai]. In 1855 he married Miss P C Grant. An evangelist in both English and Tamil Hobday spent his career working in the WMMS District of Madras at Negapatam, Mannargudi, Trivellore [Tiruvallur], Karur, Trichinopoly and Madras [Chennai] itself (including periods as headmaster of schools in Royapettah, Negapatam and Mannargudi). In 1882, due to ill health, he became a supernumerary and in 1883 he opened an English school in Pondicherry. By 1886 he had returned to Madras [Chennai] (St Thomas's Mount) where he remained there until his death on 5 May 1889.
Rev George Hobday (younger brother of James) was born to English parents in south India in 1830 (spending most of his childhood in Madras [Chennai]). He studied at the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel's Sullivan's College in Madras [Chennai] and after a brief tenure in their mission offered his services to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. He was ordained in Madras [Chennai] in 1857 and was initially posted to Negapatam where, excluding a brief period in Trichinopoly, he remained until 1861. For the next 27 years he served, preaching in both English and Tamil, in the WMMS Madras District working at Tiruvallur, Karur, Aravakurizh [Aravakurichi], Dharapuram (for nine years) and Madras [Chennai] itself. In 1888 he transferred to the newly created WMMS District of Negapatam (in part formed from some of the Madras District) and worked in Mannargudi then Melnatham [Melanatham], returning to Mannargudi as a supernumerary in 1893. In 1900 he relocated to Ootacamund [Udhagamandalam] in the WMMS Mysore district where he remained until his death on 16 December 1912.
Further Reading,
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, Reports of the Madras Auxiliary.
Information relating to or garnered from the Hobday family. Comprises notes on the development of Wesleyan Methodist missions in south India with particular reference to the contributions of the Revs James and George Hobday. Also contains photocopies of letters written by them in India to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in England between 1855 and 1890.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for James Hobday (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 23-25) although there appears to be no correspondence by his brother, George. Further information on the brothers work, as well as the work of their colleagues, should be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-4).
Catalogued
Irene Muriel Hyman was born on 21 October 1921 and was involved with the Girls' League in the Leicester and Oxford District of the Methodist Church as well as teaching for three years at Coalville, Leicestershire. In 1945 she was accepted by the Women's Work department of the Methodist Missionary Society and spent a year at Kingsmead College, Selly Oak, Birmingham, preparing for missionary work. After attending the last MMS synod in Medak, India, in December 1946 she was sent to language school in Bangalore to learn Telugu. In November 1947 she joined the staff of the Girls' Training School in Karim Nagar, which was now part of the newly created Church of South India, where her duties included the training of Biblewomen. During 1950 she briefly acted as the school's principal. However, in October of that year she married Rev Ernest Gallagher and formally resigned her position.
Ernest William Gallagher was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland on 24 August 1918, and was educated at the Masonic Boys' School, Dublin, and then at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1940 he entered the Methodist ministry, training at Edgehill College, Belfast, and was posted to the Hyderabad District of the Methodist Missionary Society in 1943. After his marriage to Irene Hyman, and a brief furlough in England, they lived and worked in the Medak Diocese of the Church of South India.
Both fluent in Telugu they continued their work in education, albeit for Irene now as a missionary wife raising small children as well. Ernest worked at the Men's Training College whilst Irene assisted with the teaching of students' wives as well as undertaking some lay preaching. In June 1958 they transferred to Nizamabad. Ernest had responsibility for four pastorate areas (which included schools and hospitals) whilst Irene acted as the Guide Commissioner for the area as well as the nursery schools secretary for the Diocese. In March 1960 they relocated to Hyderabad where Ernest became Diocesan Treasurer and MMS Committee Representative whilst Irene continued her work teaching women and children.
In August 1966 the family left India for Ireland where they served in Dublin until 1982. During this period Ernest was the General Secretary of the MMS (Ireland) from 1969 to 1977, chaplain to the universities of Dublin and in 1981 served as President of the Methodist Conference of Ireland. In 1982 he was made the Principal of Edgehill College, Belfast, where he served until his death on 21 February 1984. Irene Muriel Gallagher died in November 2010.
Typescript of a sermon entitled 'Independence Day' delivered by Rev H Sumitra in the College Chapel [Bangalore UTC, India] on 15 August 1947.
Publications: 'Hyderabad Bulletin' (Vol V, No 4, November 1942-January 1943); newsletter (No 13) of the Women's Department of the Irish Auxiliary [Methodist], February 1958; newsletter (no 4) from Alan & Joyce Ross of CSI, Deccan, India, August 1949; MMS Women's Work Monthly letter (no 129), March 1950; CSI newsletters (Medak - January 1960, February 1962, January 1963 & August 1967; Nirmal Mission, Easter 1964).
Images: mounted copies of photographs taken of the interior and exterior of Medak Cathedral by Rev Ferguson, mid C20th; group photograph [?Medak Diocese], ?1963.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Janet McDermot of Dublin, Ireland, July 2011
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For a more detailed account of Irene Hyman's work and then her and her husband's work please consult MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207. Any extant correspondence written by Irene Muriel Gallagher whilst working for the Women's Work Department of the MMS will be amongst its India correspondence.
Also within the records of the Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Ernest William Gallagher (MMS/India/Correspondence/Hyderabad/FBN 16 & MMS Box 1276-1277). Further information on his work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/South India/FBN 22 Box 1270-1274).
Catalogued
John Gordon Bennett was born in Louth, Lincolnshire, in 1885 and educated at The Leys School and Kings College, Cambridge. He was ordained as a Methodist minister in 1907 and his first posting was in Cambridge as chaplain at The Leys School. In 1909 Bennett became a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in their Hyderabad District in India and remained there, excluding the odd furlough and brief service in World War One, for the next twenty-seven years. In April 1914 he married Dorothy Lewis, the daughter of Rev James Lewis, and she spent many of the subsequent years supporting his work.
Bennett's work focused on education, particularly with regard to theological instruction. For much of his service he was involved in the training of evangelists, including becoming the principal of the training institute at Medak and putting his knowledge of Telugu to good use there. Under his guidance the institute grew considerably and produced evangelists to work across India. They were particularly needed to respond to the mass movement of conversion to Methodism in the area, which had begun in the late nineteenth century, and which increased the number of baptised Methodists in the Hyderabad District from a base of around 4,000 to over 120,000 by the late 1930s. This all happened under the stewardship of the district by Rev Charles Posnett who also made Medak a centre for Christianity in the region with the building of an imposing Gothic style church as well as a hospital, an orphanage and a girls' school during the 1920s.
For a brief period during World War One Bennett served as a chaplain in the Young Men's Christian Association supporting troops in the Ottoman campaign and following the advance from Basra to Baghdad. Once back in India he spent much of his spare time promoting the Boy Scouts movement in the area including forming the first rural troop and later serving as district commissioner. In addition to his other duties he also served on the South India Provincial Synod, including as its chairman for a time. In recognition of his work he was awarded the Kaiser-i-Hind medal.
In 1936 the Bennetts returned to England and settled in Cambridge. Rev Bennett's duties included supporting the local student population and he was later seconded to work with the British and Foreign Bible Society. He also continued his connection to missionary work and was a member of the Methodist Missionary Society Missionary Committee at the time of his death on 31 January 1944. His wife, Dorothy, died in 1966.
Most of the collection consists of the correspondence of John Gordon Bennett written to his family in England whilst he was a missionary in India, principally in Medak. There is also a significant amount of correspondence written by his wife Dorothy for much of the same period. The remainder of the collection comprises a contemporary copy of John Gordon Bennett's diary whilst serving as a chaplain for the Young Men's Christian Association during the Mesopotamia campaign of World War One; his mother's diary recording her, her husband's and daughter's visit to see their son in India in 1912 & 1913; a file on the sinking of HMS Exeter and the experiences of one of its crew, John's brother N.J.M Bennett; photographs depicting family and missionary life in India.
The collection has been arranged in three sections: correspondence, manuscripts and visual material. The original numbering of correspondence files and their contents has not been altered.
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Collection accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church, March 2009, from Antony Bennett.
Antony Bennett, son of Rev John Gordon and Dorothy Bennett, inherited these papers between 1989 and 2001.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Gordon Bennett (MMS/India/Correspondence/Hyderabad/FBN 13-15). Further information on Bennett's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 7-8 & 12-19).
Catalogued
Almost all of the correspondence in these 29 files were written by John Gordon Bennett or his wife Dorothy. There are a few letters received from family members and colleagues and the files do occasionally have circular letters written by members of the mission. As a broad distinction the letters written by John Gordon Bennett tend to contain more information on the work of the mission whilst his wife's letters tend to contain more information on family matters. Both of them write almost exclusively to John's parents, Edith and Joseph Bennett.
The letters contain a great deal of information on the domestic life of their family in India as well as information on family and friends elsewhere (particularly during the First World War). Matters discussed include the birth of children, health, holidays, furlough arrangements, their return to England, etc. Occasionally similar matters are mentioned regarding colleagues. Broader more global matters are sometimes touched on as well, again particularly with regard to the First World War (including Rev Bennett's own letters written during the Mesopotamia campaign).
Much of the focus of the letters is in updating their family on their and their colleagues' missionary work, mainly in and around Medak, India. This includes evangelism work, educational work (especially with regard to the theological institution), the development of the mission including the impact of the mass movement, the increase in mission facilities (notably the opening of the new church in 1925). They also mention the challenges to the mission and the local population caused by famine, drought and disease (notably Cholera) as well as commenting on the caste system, other religions, church union in South India and occasionally the political situation (such as Gandhi's campaigns). John Gordon Bennett periodically mentions his involvement with the Boy Scouts movement as well.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Antony Bennett inherited these papers (bar correspondence file 29) in 1989.
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Mainly correspondence from John Gordon Bennett to his parents whilst he was at King's College, Cambridge (1907) and from the beginning of his missionary career (1911) in India (principally Medak but also Ellareddypett [Yellareddy]). Also includes a small amount of correspondence from other missionaries (such as C W Posnett).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters and identifying some correspondents and individuals discussed.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett to his family written from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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John Bennett and Dorothy Lewis married on 23rd April 1914.
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy (from June 1914) to his family written from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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There is no correspondence between December 1913 and June 1914 as Bennett was on furlough in England and married Dorothy Lewis.
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak buts also Ootacamund [Udhagamandalam]).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak). Also includes a few circular letters written by the Posnetts and copies of the odd letter from friends or colleagues at war.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak but also Secunderabad).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters and identifying some correspondents and individuals discussed.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family. Correspondence from both of them up to November 1916 is from India (Medak and Coonoor). From December 1916 Bennett's correspondence is written whilst a YMCA chaplain during the Mesopotamia campaign of World War One whereas his wife's correspondence is written from India (Coonoor).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters and also comments on John Gordon Bennett's diary.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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John Gordon Bennett's diary, for the period from 12 December 1916 to 16 May 1917, is held in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/India/Box 1394.
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Ellareddypett [Yellareddy] but also Medak, Madras [Chennai] and Secunderabad).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Ellareddypett [Yellareddy] but also Medak and Kotagiri). With a few photographs of colleagues and worshippers.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak but also Kodaikanal). Includes a small number of circular letters.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
No correspondence from April to October 1919 as Bennetts were back in England on furlough
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak but also Kodaikanal).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak but also Kodaikanal).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak but also Kodaikanal). With a few photographs of colleagues and worshippers.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written at sea and from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters and some information on Medak and the mission there.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
No correspondence from December 1922 until November 1923 as the Bennetts were on furlough in England.
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak but also Darjeeling). With a few photographs of colleagues and worshippers. Includes printed booklet entitled 'Opening Services for the Medak New Church', 1924.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak but also Kotagiri). With a few photographs of staff and student quarters probably at the Medak Training Institution.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
There are gaps in the correspondence where the Bennetts are on furlough in England (albeit not entirely at the same time). There is no correspondence for Dorothy Bennett from after November 1925 until December 1926 whilst for her husbad there is no correspondence during March, April and May 1926.
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett, with a smaller amount by his wife Dorothy, to his family written from India (principally Medak). Includes a few circular letters.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak but also Ootacamund [Udhagamandalam]). From April 1928 there is no correspondnece written by Dorothy Bennett. Includes a few circular letters. With a few photographs depicting river baptisms.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak). There are also some circular letters and a copy of the programme for the opening of Nirmal Church on 4th March 1931.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
There is no correspondence from after February 1929 until October 1930 as Bennett is on furlough, mainly in England
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak). Correspondence from Dorothy Bennett dates from June 1931. With some circular letters and a few photographs depicting river baptisms.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
There are gaps in the correspondence where the Bennetts are on furlough in England (albeit not entirely at the same time). There is no correspondence from Dorothy Bennett from after March 1932 until October 1932 and for her husband there is no correspondence from after June 1932 until October 1932.
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak). There are only a few letters by his wife Dorothy as she is on furlough in England from March to September. With a few circular letters.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written whilst at sea and from India (principally Medak). Includes a typescript of an address, entitled 'The Lord and Giver of Life', on the work of the Holy Spirit given by Rev Bennett at Medak Refresher Course.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
There are gaps in the correspondence where the Bennetts are on furlough in England. There is no correspondence from Dorothy Bennett from after February until October and no correspondence for her husband from after February until May.
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy to his family written from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from John Gordon Bennett to his family written from India (principally Medak).
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett highlighting some letters.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
Open
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Copyright held by The Bennett family
Catalogued
Correspondence from Bennett family members to Joseph and Edith Bennett (whether as parents or grandparents). Includes letters written by John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy after they returned to England from India, Auntie Hilda, Antony (son of John Gordon and Dorothy Bennett), Madge (daughter of John Gordon and Dorothy Bennett) and Maurice (son of John Gordon and Dorothy Bennett). Includes funeral ceremony for Edith Bennett at Louth Cemetery, 21 August 1948. A few of the letters are photocopies.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett briefly describing each letter with some additional information regarding provenance and family history.
Chronological with files and letters numbered by a member of the Bennett family
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
File in two sections reflecting when papers were received by Antony Bennett.
The first section of letters, dating from 1937 to 1948, are mainly written by John Gordon Bennett to his father, Joseph Bennett, with a few other letters he recieved from other family members. There are a few letters regading Justice of the Peace work.
The second section of letters, dating from 1913-1933, are written by John Gordon Bennett to his father, Joseph Bennett, mainly whilst he was a missionary in India.
With cover sheet by Antony Bennett giving brief descriptions of each letter and also a letter, dated 14 Sep [20]01, to him from Edith Bennett regarding the papers.
File compiled by Antony Bennett in 2001 from recently found papers which had belonged to Joseph Bennett. In terms of dates the first section of these letters overlap with those in correspondence file 28 whilst those in the second section overlap with many of the other correspondnece files.
Open
Papers forming this file were received by Antony Bennett from Eleanor Bennett in September and December 2001.
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Comprises the journal of Edith Bennett when visiting her son in India, diary of John Gordon Bennett whilst serving with the Young Men's Christian Association during the Mesopotamia campaign of World War One, summary of the Bennett's work in India and a file on the sinking of HMS Exeter & the the associated wartime experiences of Lieutenant N.J.M. Bennett.
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Copyright mostly held by Bennett Family
Catalogued
Journal by Edith Bennett recording the visit by her, her husband (Joseph) and their daughter (Di) to India to see their son and brother John Gordon Bennett, Wesleyan Methodist missionary. Places visited include Bombay [Mumbai], Poona [Pune], Agra, Fatepur [Fatehpur], Delhi, Cawnpore, Benares [Varanasi], Lucknow, Allahabad, Hyderabad and Secunderabad commenting on the people she meets, the buildings she visits, the religious ceremonies she observes, Christian services attended and her travel arrangements. When she arrives in Medak she discusses the work of the mission in the area and the missionaries she meets at length. Rear of volume has a list of the books she read during the trip.
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Contemporary copy of diary (12 December 1916-16 May 1917) made by John Gordon Bennett's wife, Dorothy, which was then circulated to family members in instalments (existence of original diary unknown) with two letters written in 1917 from Harold Lewis briefly commenting on the diary. Notes and annotations added later by Antony Bennett. The diary covers the period of John Gordon Bennett's service as a chaplain with the Young Men's Christian Association during the Mesopotamia campaign of World War One.
Diary begins on-board SS Ellanga having left India for the 'Gulf' and active service. Describes life on-board including conducting religious services, organising entertainments, weather, fellow passengers, etc, before disembarking at Basra [Iraq]. Describes Basra and those he meets there as well his digs, organising and attending entertainments and his religious duties. Describes Christmas Day in detail - rugby match, service and evening party - as well as being unhappy about some drunkenness.
At start of 1917 moves on through Amara [Al Amarah, Iraq] to Shaik Saad describing his journey by road and river there as well as the military activities and units (including Chinese and Egyptian labour corps) he sees in the aftermath of the recent battle. At Shaik Saad discusses fellow officers, etc, (including an old friend from Louth [Lincolnshire], Kit Ingoldby), a cholera scare, conversations with medics, prisoners of war, religious duties, etc.
He next moves to just behind the front at Sana-i-yat [Sannaiyat, Iraq] continuing to discuss those he meets and recounts their experiences, as well as commenting on the weather, organising entertainments, military activity (including shelling), his religious duties, the injured and the deaths of soldiers & colleagues he knew. Follows, a few days behind, the advancing army across the Shurman pontoon bridge (describing the aftermath of the recent battle) and after camping for one night nearby returns to his previous position due to a lack of available transport towards the front.
Travels by narrow gauge railway to Sinn [Es Sinn, Iraq] to provide pastoral care for the injured and tours the surrounding area describing the effect of the war. Sent on to Azizieh [Azzizyah, Iraq] describing the impact of the war on the local population and settlements that he passes through and then his pastoral work supporting troops (supplying additional rations, entertainments, etc). Comments on the poor condition of Turkish prisoners of war and injuries to colleagues. Travels by boat to the recently captured Baghdad describing the local countryside and signs of the recent conflict.
Reaches Baghdad towards the end of March and comments on the populous, relative lack of damage and military organisation. Set up YMCA canteen and recreation room but evening curfew limits entertainments. Describes the market, religious sites, church services, entertainments, weather, current location and health of friends, Easter, and the structure of the YMCA.
Open
A typed transcript of this diary, with typed copies of some of Bennett's letters dating from August 1914 to November 1916, is available at the Imperial War Museum (Document 7064).
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Correspondence written by Bennett during his service as a chaplain is also available (see MMS/Special Series/Biographical/India/Box 1396, file 8)
Catalogued
Privately produced work summarising the missionary activities of Rev John Gordon Bennett and his wife Dorothy and including extracts from letters, etc, from within the collection. Also includes family trees, maps and a few images of the Bennett family and their work in India.
Open
Accepted as a donation, on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Antony Bennett, November 2005
Many of the items transcribed, quoted from or reproduced in this manuscript are contained within this collection (particularly letters, Mesopotamia Diary and the odd image).
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Author
Catalogued
Information compiled by Antony Bennett from private and public sources on the sinking of HMS Exeter on 1 March 1942 in the Java Sea and the impact on its crew. File in particular focuses on the experiences of his brother Lieutenant N.J.M. Bennett - including his internment as a prisoner of war by the Japanese - from his letters and his diary.
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Copyright held by various
Catalogued
Photograph albums and individual photographs depicting missionary life and work in South India (primarily in and around Medak). Includes images of the Rev & Mrs Bennett and their family, colleagues and fellow Methodists, local people at work and leisure, mission property, missionary work and the opening and dedication services for Medak Church.
Open
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Copyright mainly held by the Bennett family and the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photographs and postcards - mostly with captions on rear but undated, depicting scenes of rural life and missionary education work in and around Burgupalli [near Medak, India]. With original envelope photographs stored (possibly sent) in.
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Undated photographs with no captions depicting scenes of rural life and missionaries working amongst rural groups, probably in the area around Medak, India. With original envelope photographs stored (possibly sent) in.
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Undated photographs with a few captions on rear depicting the Rev & Mrs Bennett with their childen and a colleague, presumably in Ellaeddy [Yellareddy] or Medak, India. With envelope photographs were stored in.
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Photographs of the Wesleyan mission bungalow, the boys' school hostel with church hall and girls' school hostel in Ellaeddy [Yellareddy, India]. With original envelope photographs stored (possibly sent) in.
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Photograph album enitled 'Baby Paul' containing images of Gordon Paul Bennett during his brief life (25 March 1920 to 15 March 1921) with his parents and siblings. Also a few photographs, from December 1945, of Madge Bedale' s baby with ?grandparents. Some images have captions.
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Official photographs depicting outside and inside of church, missionary staff and congregation before and during opening and dedication services. Most photographs are numbered but no key or captions. One inserted photograph, dated 9 June [19]20, of church's windows during construction.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Undated and untitled photograph album with no captions to images. Includes photographs of opening and dedication services of Medak Church (mostly with official numbers), missionary work, (evangelism, medical, education), the industrial school and social events.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes and unknown others
Catalogued
Photographs, mostly undated and only a few with captions on rear, depicting missionary engagement probably in and around Medak, India. Includes photographs of the Bennetts and their children, colleagues and fellow Methodists, educational and evangelical work, 'Indian Gypsies' and mission property. With envelope photographs were stored in.
Open
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Copyright held by the Bennett family
Catalogued
Isobel Giles was born on 28 August 1908. She trained as a teacher and gained the Board of Education Elementary Teachers' certificate at Avery Hill College, London. She was an active Methodist Church member in Brunswick, Leeds, whilst teaching in a 'slum school' there. She was accepted as a missionary candidate for the Women's section of the Methodist Missionary Society in the autumn of 1933 and began her training at Kingsmead College, Birmingham, shortly afterwards. She arrived in India in 1935 and began her career at Karur within the MMS Trichinopoly District. Her work was predominately educational but she was involved in some evangelical work. In 1937 she relocated to Dharapuram working in the industrial school for girls where she taught 'homecraft' and for most of her tenure was also the principal of the school.
In 1940 she arrived in England on furlough. She should have returned to India at the end of 1941 but a combination of restrictions (sometimes prohibitions) on women gaining passage on ships to India and her parents’ poor health meant she remained in England. In the autumn of 1942 she took up a temporary teaching post in Derby but still with the intention of continuing her missionary career when possible. In January 1944 she declined an opportunity to return to India and in August she formally left the MMS. She died on 2 January 2009.
This collection has been arranged into three sections: Papers & manuscripts; visual material; printed material. Items have been catalogued chronologically within each section.
Open
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Brenda Francis, January 2009 and May 2016
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Various copyrights
Any extant correspondence by Isobel Giles will be in the Women's Work Trichinopoly District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/FBN 24 & 25) or general India correspondence (MMS Box 1304)
Catalogued
Manuscript on rubber industry in Malaya; two letters sent to Isobel Giles; appointment diary for 1939.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Manuscript on the rubber industry in Malaya created for academic assessment. Includes hand drawn graphs and maps relating to rubber production as well as photographs (some commercial) of plantation, workers, production process and Jasin village. With two product samples enclosed.
Please use gloves when consulting this item.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Contains very brief entries.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Typed letter with handwritten codicil. Asks after her health. Difficulty of covering her work. Likes his house which is just outside of town. Been evangelising in local villages. Financial difficulties means no baptisms currently. Summer school for adult literacy. Difficulty getting site in Dharapuram therefore all work in one centre. Opportunity for women's work for staff and girls at Bible school.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Miss Walton on holiday so she encloses testimonal. Would have preferred more information on post applied for and details of her work. Interested to hear of result of application.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photograph album predominately relating to Kingsmead College; photograph album predominately of missionary work in Dharapuram and Karur, India; folder of images predominately of missionary work in Dharapuram and Karur, India; postcard and letter card images of P & O ship 'Strathaird'.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Comprises images of The Trossachs, Scotland, including Loch Katrine, Linlithgow parish church and palace, 1932; Whit-Week at Swanwick [Derbyshire] depicting events and other attendees, 1933; friends and their dogs; staff and students at Kingsmead College, [Birmingham], spring term, 1934; Bluebell woods [1934]; visit from Kingsmead to Handsworth [Birmingham] [1934]; Whit Monday events [at Kingsmead] 1934; Kingsmead properties and 'celebrities'; images of the grounds, buildings, staff and students at Kingsmead [1934]
Most pages, but only a few images, have captions.
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Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Comprises images of Giles' journey by boat to India (Gibraltar, Tangier [Morocco], Port Sudan & Port Said [Egypt]); classrooms, lessons and activities at Dharapuram Girls School; the Methodist Church at Dharapuram; buildings, lessons and pupils at Karur Girls Boarding School; buildings and pupils at Karur Boys Industrial School; Karur Methodist Church; Mettur Dam on River Cauvery [Kaveri]; views of Trichinopoly [Tiruchirappalli] from Temple Rock; Adult Literacy Summer School at Karatholuvu, 1940. Also images of colleagues whether groups (synods and school staff) or individuals (Rev & Mrs JJ Ellis and their son, Jane Moses, Mrs Isaiah, Mrs Daniels); local villages and communities; Hindu temples (including at Nattarayancoil near Vellacoil [Vellakoil], Karur and Kotagiri); Animist village shrines; Christian and Hindu festivals and events (including weddings); trips to the Nilgiri Hills and Kodai [Kodaikanal]. Most photographs have captions but very few are dated. With two loose photographs.
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Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photographs and postcards (some commerical) depicting places seen on Giles' trip to India (Gibraltar, Tangier [Morocco] and Port Said [Egypt]); Giles and her colleagues (including Frank Hockley, Rev & Mrs J J Ellis, Russell Spear, Paul Rayanan, Rev [William] Sandford) and their children; staff and school children (including at Dharapuram); Kurur; Nilgiri mountain railway and surronding area. A small number of images have captions with even fewer dated.
Open
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Copyright mainly vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
'Carrying First-class and Tourist-class Passengers. India and Australia Mail Service'
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Copyright not known
Catalogued
Comprising 5 images of the ship: one external and 4 internal (tourist class dining saloon, lounge, children's nursery and two berth cabin).
Open
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Copyright vested with P & O
Catalogued
Printed material (many publications) predominately relating to Methodist Missionary Society work in their Trichinopoly District, India.
One item is unavailable
Restrictions Apply
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Published by OUP. Bookplate states 'Presented to Isobel Giles on appointment as a missionary of the Methodist Missionary Society, in the Trichinopoly District' by Margaret E Byrom, General Secretary, 18 December 1934.
Volume contains three inserts: list of candidates for dedication service, 18 December 1934; card promoting said service of dedication; service sheet for 10 January 1936.
Open
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Out of copyright and Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Printed by Diocesan Press, Madras [Chennai, India].
Open
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Copyright unknown
Catalogued
Published by the British and Foreign Bible Society and printed at the Methodist Publishing House, both Madras [Chennai, India].
Open
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Copyright unknown
Catalogued
Conference held under auspices of National Christian Council and chaired by the Bishop of Dornakal. Printed at the Mission Press, Dornakal.
Open
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Copyright vested with National Christian Council
Catalogued
Published by the Christian Literature Society for India and printed by the Diocesan Press, both Madras [Chennai, India].
Open
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Out of Copyright
LM, 3/2018
Catalogued
Published by the Christian Literature Society for India and printed by the Diocesan Press, both Madras [Chennai, India].
With some annotations and inserted notes (6 sheets) presumably by Giles.
Open
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Copyright vested with Author and Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Printed at Payne & Co, Madras [Chennai, India].
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Published by Indian Life Changing Service.
Open
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Out of copyright
Catalogued
Ilustrated booklet on the Methodist Mission Industrial School at Karur, India. Printed at the Wesley Press, Mysore, India.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Ilustrated booklet. Printed by the Wesley Press and Publishing House, Mysore [India].
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Published by CLS, Park Town, Madras. Litho[graph]: Diocesan Press, Madras.
Item too damaged to consult
Closed
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Copyright vested with Christian Literature Society and Diocesan Press
Catalogued
Annual report for the Methodist Missionary Society Trichinopoly District, India. Printed by the Wesley Press and Publishing House, Mysore City, India.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Printed circular letter written by J J Ellis of the Methodist Missionary Society. Having left India gives overview of his and his colleagues work during the last three years in Dharapuram, India.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Lorna Louisa Wood was born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, on 4 August 1908. A Methodist from an early age she trained as an elementary teacher at Southlands College, London, and worked in schools in the UK. She was accepted as a missionary candidate for the Women's section of the Methodist Missionary Society in the summer of 1939 and enrolled for missionary training at Kingsmead College, Birmingham, that autumn. After Kingsmead she was appointed to the MMS Bengal District and left England in November 1941.
Having arrived in India in January 1942 she begun a post teaching English at the Bankura Girls' Boarding School and Day School (which was about a mile outside of the town). By 1943 she was running the school and continued doing so until she left in 1944. By 1945 she was in charge of the Sarenga Girls' Boarding School and Day School (which had 60-70 girls boarding each year) although she had returned to England by 1947 on furlough. After an extended furlough she returned to India in the Autumn of 1949 working at Sarenga again but due to family reasons resigned in the Spring of 1950 and returned to England. Wood died in Farnborough, Hampshire, on 12 April 2005.
Two photograph albums and a very brief memoir on her missionary work in Bengal, India.
Listed in chronological order
Open
Deposited with SOAS Archives, July 2008
Gift to the Methodist Church from Mrs B Haime, June 2005
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Copyright mainly vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Any extant correspondence by Lorna Wood will be in the Women's Work Bengal District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/India/FBN 9). A brief overview by Wood of her work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207).
Catalogued
Photograph album comprising images (photographs and cuttings from publications) depicting: map of Methodist missions in south-west Bengal; Methodist mission property in Bankura including church, accommodation and schools/colleges; Bankura colleagues and pupils (Purnu Babu, Mullin, Sanaton, Marian Das, Kamala Das, Renu Das, Lilian Das, Malati Hembrom); activities (gardening, leisure, collecting water, school prize-giving); religious events (Palm Sunday, Boxing day, weddings, baptisms); Girl Guides and Boys Brigade; milk distribution during 1943 famine; Bankura leprosy home; Sarenga colleagues and pupils (Jyotsna, Radhika, Chanchala, Asha Soren, Babulal, Bisu, Danu, Angura, Radhika Ri, Labanya Sirdar, Dipika Tudu, Mridula Tudu; Chanchala Bhukta, Mr & Mrs Fred Mondal); Sarenga village school and pupils as well as church and congregation; Garra village; visits by Methodist officials (J A Stead, Miss Freethy); General synod of India, Burma and Ceylon, 1946; Sarenga Hospital (buildings, wards, staff and patients); Santal mission; Rev C Pande & 1950 synod); holiday in Darjeeling (views of Himalayas, 'Brockham', Ghoom Buddhist temple, local people, railway); holiday in Srinagar, Kashmir (views of town, local people); holiday in Naini Tal [Nainital] (views of lake, local people, 'Faihaven'), holiday in Kodaikanal, Palani Hills (town and surrounding area); images of churches in Calcutta [Kolkata] with map; views of Port Said [Egypt] and fellow passengers on board [P&O SS] Chitral.
Most pages and images have captions.
Some images missing at transfer to SOAS Archives
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photograph album recording a visit by British Methodists (including Lorna Wood) principally to Barrackpore, Sarenga and Calcutta [Kolkata] from 17 to 31 December 1992. Images include: the visiting group; grounds, buildings and staff at the Bishop's College, Calcutta [Kolkata]; Keorapukur UCNI Girls' High School and Boys' School, Calcutta [Kolkata]; Sudder Street Church and Rev B C Das, Calcutta [Kolkata]; Modern School buildings and staff (including Rev & Mrs Mondal), Barrackpore; images of Barrackpore ([Hooghly] river & park); Christmas day at Ramrajatala Church and around the village itself; Sarenga Church and some of its congregation; Sarenga Hospital (grounds, buildings, staff); Margal Duar (former school), Sarenga; images of Sarenga village; Dr Preger's Street Clinic, Calcutta [Kolkata]; Leprosy Centre, Calcutta [Kolkata]; National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Calcutta [Kolkata]; general images of Calcutta [Kolkata] including botanical gardens, river boat trip, street scenes; commercial postcards depicting Calcutta [Kolkata] including Metro cinema, Alpore Zoo, High Courts, race course, rivers, streets, museum, Victoria Memorial, Howrah station, bridges across the Hooghly river, Eden Garden pagoda and metro rail (last is a loose item).
Open
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Copyright mainly vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Small memoir briefly relating five events during Wood's missionary career.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Josephine May Sewell was born on 22 July 1900 and educated at schools in Goole, Yorkshire. She qualified for a teaching certificate in 1920 and obtained an MA in History and Latin from Leeds in 1921. She taught history and Latin at Euclid Street secondary school in Swindon, Wiltshire, from 1921 to 1926. She applied to the women's section of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and was accepted as a candidate in 1926. After a year of missionary training at Kingsmead College, Birmingham, she was appointed to the WMMS Bengal District in India for 'educational and evangelistic work in the villages'.
Between 1927 and 1940 (excluding 2 furloughs) Sewell worked in Bankura in the Board, Day, Bazaar and Zenana schools. Ill health in her family forced her to return to England in 1941 where she remained for the next six years. In 1948 she returned to Bankura but taught in the Christian College and in 1949 was also acting superintendent of schools. In 1958 she returned to England on furlough and the following year was appointed to the new co-educational high school in Bathurst, Gambia, where she remained for two years. Sewell left the missionary society soon after. She died on 8th August 1986.
Photographs of mission work at Bankura, India; commercial images of Agra & Fatehpur Sikri, India; two publications on Jesus for children in Bengali; miscellaneous correspondence.
This collection has been arranged into three sections: correspondence; visual material; publications. Items have been catalogued chronologically within each section.
Open
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Various copyrights
Any extant correspondence by Jospehine Sewell will be in the Women's Work Bengal District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/India/FBN 9 & Box 1311)
Catalogued
Letter summarising mission work in Shih Hui Yao, China, 1934; letter describing events in Hanyang [Wuhan], China, and surrounding area, Nov 1931; letter in Bengali to Miss Sewell.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Describes journey and reached Hanyang [Wuhan] on 26th Oct [1931]. Bible School building being used as an emergency hospital due to cholera outbreak and accommodation has had to be rearranged as well. Changes mean enrolling less students and small staff means she has to teach a number of subjects. Few other Europeans in area. Describes view from her house. Description of 'Reds' [communists] activities (killings, looting, impact on hospital) in Anlu. Description of impact of cholera and criticises some attitudes to 'foreign medicine'. Relief work has improved view of Christian Church. Buddhists have also been involved in relief work.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Typed letter where he summarizes recent work at mission including patient numbers at hospital, staffing, number of school pupils, condition of roads and infrastructure as well as his family news.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Photographs of Methodist mission in Bankura, and commercial images of Agra & Fatehpur Sikri, India.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Images of Sewell, her colleagues and their pupils in Bankura; wedding of Toonoo and Rueben; local villages and villagers. Very few photographs have captions and/or dates.
Open
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Copyright mainly vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Small commercial album published by Jainco, Dharampura, Delhi. Images include Taj Mahal in Agra, various forts in Agra and a few images of Fatehpur Sikri.
Open
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Copyright vested with Jainco, Dharampura, Delhi
Catalogued
Two North American published texts on Jesus in Bengali for children. English title of one is 'Jesus - Friend of Children Everywhere'.
Open
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Copyright vested with Providence Lithograph company and National Council of the Churches of Christ in USA
Catalogued
Mary Alice Tomlinson was born on 25 August 1899 into a poor Lancastrian Methodist mining family. She studied until the age of 13 at the St Paul's Girls School, Wigan, Lancashire. Through her teenage years she worked at the local colliery and then a cotton mill whilst studying in the evenings, despite bouts of poor health. It was during this period that Tomlinson became interested in medical missionary work in India and contacted the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society who advised her to seek professional qualifications. Around the age of twenty she began training as a nurse working at Walsall Day Nursery for a year and then at Ancoats Hospital in Manchester from June 1921 until September 1922. She left Ancoats Hospital to pursue a career as doctor studying privately to matriculate and be able to undertake medical training at the University of Birmingham. By December 1929 she had passed her MBChB, MRCS & LRCS and was employed as a house surgeon at Birmingham Children's Hospital from January to June 1930. She was also accepted as a candidate for the women's section of the WMMS.
Tomlinson had arrived in the WMMS Madras District by November 1930 and was appointed to work initially at Ikkādu Hospital but in late 1931 was transferred to the Kalyani Hospital in Mylapore. By the summer of 1933 she had returned to Ikkādu Hospital and remained there (baring a furlough in 1936) until she left the WMMS to marry in 1941. Her marriage, to a Mr Rolls, a leather merchant, took place at the American Lutheran Missionary Church at Ranipet on Easter Day, 1941. She returned to England during the summer of 1945 but shortly after began new medical work overseas at the Aga Khan Clinic, Mombasa, Kenya. She left in 1949 to care for her sick mother-in-law in England and took up a post as a general praticoner in Gorleston, Norfolk. She retired in 1969 but remained in the area until her death on 28 September 2000.
Material collected by Dr Mary Roll (née Tomlinson) relating principally to Ikkādu Hospital, India.
This collection has been arranged into four sections: history of Ikkādu Hospital; correspondence; visual material; printed material. Items have been catalogued chronologically within each section.
Open
Deposited by the Methodist Church at SOAS, November 2000
Gift from Joyce Micklethwaite, niece of Mary Roll, to the Methodist Church, October 2000
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Various copyrights
Any extant correspondence by Dr Mary Roll will be in the Women's Work Madras District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/India/FBN 17-18)
Catalogued
Dr Edith Tucker (1874-1956) worked as missionary doctor for the women's section of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society at Ikkādu Hospital, in their Madras District, India, from 1907 to 1937.
Edith Mary Thompson (b 1894) worked as a nurse for the women's section of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society at Ikkādu Hospital, in their Madras District, India, from 1922 to 1928.
Manuscript (4 pages), with covering letter, by Edith [Thompson] of her experiences as a nursing sister working at Ikkādu Hospital in the 1920s. Gives overview of staffing in 1922, language problems, comparison of conditions here with those in England (particularly sanitation), transportation and travel issues, improvements by 1926 and increases in staff. Dated 8 July [19]39.
Manuscript (7 pages) entitled 'Ikkādu Hospital 1907-1937' probably written by Dr Edith Tucker in 1939. Gives overview of hospital and staff in 1907, problems of recruiting nurses - local school girls trained, families assisted with patient care, 1922 expansion to hospital, hospital recognized as training school for midwifery, comments on Dr McDougall, further expansion in 1936, influenza outbreak of 1918, German naval shelling of Madras [Chennai] in 1915 and cholera outbreak, bed issues, lighting and water problems, training of Indian doctors and in particular Lucy Deoavaram.
Extracts from the [Madras] District Synod minutes relating to the building and development of Ikkādu Hospital between 1891 and 1898, ?1939.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Letter, dated 18 December 1929, from M L Leith, Women's Department, Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, 24 Bishopsgate, London, to Dr M Tomlinson, 254 Billinge Road, Highfield, Wigan [Lancashire]. Congatulates her on passing medical exams and dicusses possible future study.
Stock thank you letter for donation to CSI Hospital, Ikkādu, [India], during its centenary year, 12 December [19]90.
Letter from Dr A Jeyachandra Mohan, CSI Hospital, Ikkādu, [India], thanking Dr Roll for her recent and earlier donations, 8 October 1991.
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes & Church of South India
Catalogued
Photograph of Bishop Sundar Clarke at the [Madras] Diocesan Council, Ikkādu [India], January 1989.
Copy of photograph of Dr Mary Roll, aged 90 [25 August 1989].
Photograph of Dr Mary Roll with friends and family on her 100th birthday [25 August 1999].
Open
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Friends of the Church in India programme celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Church of South India, 27 September 1997.
Photocopy of obituary for Dr Mary Roll in the Lowestoft Journal, 6 October 2000.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Mary Ruth Anstey was born into a Methodist family in Devon on 20 October 1921. After a degree from Bedford College, London, she undertook a postgraduate Certificate in Education and worked for two years teaching in the UK. She applied to the Methodist Missionary Society and was accepted and assigned to their Trichinopoly District in 1945 but limits on passage by ship to India meant she did not set sail from England, aboard the SS Drottningholm, until January 1946. Her first appointment was to teach English in the Woriur Girls' High School (a day and boarding school) which a year after her arrival became part of the Diocese of Trichinopoly (later Tiruchirappalli) within the newly formed Church of South India.
Upon returning from furlough In 1949 Ruth Anstey was appointed to the new CSI Women's Teacher Training Institution in Trichinopoly [Tiruchirappalli] to train teachers to teach English as well as teaching English in the Girls' Middle School. After another furlough she was appointed in 1956 to manage the Girls' Boarding School in Dharapuram for a year and then the following year appointed as temporary head of the Boys' Boarding and Middle School as well as teaching at the Men's Teacher Training School. She remained involved with these two institutions until 1962 when she returned to England.
In September 1962 Anstey took up the post of Asia Secretary for Women's Work in the Methodist Missionary Society. Three years later she was seconded to the World Division of the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church (USA) to be involved in 'long-range planning'. In 1966 she returned to London to continue working for Women's Work in the Methodist Missionary Society as secretary for the Church of South India, then India and then once again Asia. In 1968 she was the Methodist delegate to the World Council of Churches assembly in Uppsala, Sweden. She was seconded again in 1974, this time to the Conference of British Missionary Societies (later the Conference for World Mission), as Asia Secretary until 1982 when she retired. During her retirement she was an active member of the 'Friends of the Church in India', 'Friends of the Church in China' and also within her local Methodist communities. Anstey died on 1 October 2014 in Shirley, Surrey.
Further reading:
Anstey, Ruth, 'The Indian Sojourn: The Agony and the Ecstasy' (Indo-British Review Journal of History, Volume XIV, No 1).
The collection has been weeded for duplicate material and ephemera. Arranged as follows: Ecumenism & support for Christianity overseas; Support for Christianity in India; Support for Christianity in China; Missionaries; Diaries and notebooks; Visual material; P & O brochures
Open
Accepted as a deposit, on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ruth Anstey between 2004 and 2011
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Various copyrights
Any extant correspondence for the start of Ruth Anstey's career will be in the Women's Work Trichinopoly District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/India/FBN 24-25). A brief overview of her career is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207) as well as a summary of an interview with her (MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212). Furthermore, some of the reports Anstey wrote whilst seconded to the Conference of British Missionary Societies are available within that collection (CBMS 1971-1977 Boxes 8 & 29A).
Catalogued
Ecumenism in UK, support for Christianity overseas (particularly in India), World Council of Churches Assembly, 1968.
Arranged chronologically
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Promotional material, magazines, reports, etc, produced by British Council of Churches, World Council of Churches and other Christian organisations on supporting overseas mission and ecumenical work in UK.
Promotional material, magazines, reports, etc, produced by or about the Church of South India and Christianity in Southern India. Includes a history of the United Theological College in Bangalore [Bengaluru] focusing on the work of Dr & Mrs Chandran, 1983. With six promotional photographs (no captions or dates) of Christians in India.
With correspondence relating to thanksgiving at the High School for Boys in Dharapuram, Aug 1961, and a letter of thanks for Anstey's involvement in education in the Diocese of Tirucirapalli-Thanjavur from Bishop Paulraj, 25 April [19]86.
5 C Aid fact sheets on exiles/migrants, 1984.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Fourth assembly held in Uppsala, Sweden, July 1968. Some papers annotated by Anstey who was the British Methodist delegate.
Open
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Copyright vested with World Council of Churches and Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Publications, copies of minutes of meetings, reports and promotional material of the Conference for World Missions, British Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, etc, on support for overseas missions and ecumenism in UK. Includes the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland newsletter 1997-1998 and CTBI's 'Pilgrim Post' 1996-1998.
There are also papers on the British Council of Churches Spring assembly 1990 on the work of the Division of International Affairs, 1973-1990.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Comprising report and article on Diocese of Multan, Church of Pakistan (1983-1986); reports and publication on Church of South India (1984-1998); notes on Sri Lanka by Jill Newsham (1990); impact of Gulf conflict on Indian sub-continent (1991); situation in Fiji (1987).
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Includes papers relating to the Friends of the Church in India, Friends of the Church of North India, Church of South India and Church of North India.
Arranged chronologically
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
'St George's Cathedral Madras Hundred and fiftieth anniversary' (January, 1966).
'Outline' - Church of South India edition (Methodist Church Overseas Division, July 1984).
British Council of Churches Conference for World Mission consultations on Church of South India, Church of Bangladesh, theological education in India, theological education in Sri Lanka (1987).
'The Indian Sojourn: the Agony and the Ecstasy' by Ruth Anstey (Indo-British Review - A Journal of History, Volume XIV, No 1, c1988).
'The South India Churchman' (Church of South India, June 1999) - memorial edition for Bishop Ananda Rao Samuel.
Leaflet entitled 'Take off to .. South India', 1990s.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Comprising newspaper cuttings, scrapbook (articles, newspaper cuttings and a list of events), order of service at St Paul's Cathedral in London, articles, correspondence to or from Anstey regarding events marking the jubilee.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Newspaper cutting 'A statement of the MCSA-CNI Consultation' (1972), service for silver jubilee celebration of the Church of North India (1995) and article by John Chapman entitled 'Bengal Methodism: the first hundred years 1813-1913' (2007).
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Correspondence written by Antsey or members of the Church of South India Council in Great Britain in relation to their support of the Church of South India. With some copies of minutes and papers created by the Church of South India Council in Great Britain.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Accounts of visits, reminiscences and publications regarding Christianity in India, including statistics for Church of South India Synod 1988.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Papers relating to Friends of the Church of North India including committe minutes (1991-1992), draft constitution (1987), income and expenditure (1989) and newsletter (incomplete 1982-1992) as well as promotional material on the Church of North India (1980s).
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Papers, correspondence, lists of committee members, constitution, reports, copies of minutes, etc.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Order of service for inauguration (25 April 1992), papers re inauguration (1992), 'Worship for FCI Day' service (21 September 1996), membership leaflet (c1997) and suggested amendments to constitution (Nov 2007).
Open
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Copyright vested with the Friends of the Church in India
Catalogued
Papers and correspondence relating to a community established by the Rt. Rev. Ananda Rao Samuel in Venkatapuram, Tamil Nadu, South India.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
'An Indian Eucharist' and 'FCI Day' leaflets marking events organised by the Friends of the Church in India.
Church of South India leaflet marking their golden jubilee.
'The South India Churchman' golden jubilee edition.
Anstey's draft of a speech on the Church of South India given at YMCA, London, probably for the Friends of the Church in India.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
British deputations to China, Chinese deputation to Britain, material on Christianity in China during 1980s & 1990s, Friends of the Church in China papers and publications.
Arranged chronologically
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Papers regarding arrangements for and visits to China by British Christian organisations, with background information on Christianity there, comprising press releases, correspondence, reports, articles, newspaper cuttings, leaflets. Includes a draft overview by D B Childe on the history of Methodism in China (1980).
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Comprising newspaper cuttings, newsletters, articles, reports, notes (some by Anstey), press releases, conference and committe papers, etc, regarding the situation for Christians in China, support for Christianity from western organisations and the wider political situation.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Comprising publications, articles, newsletters, reports, correspondence, notes (some by Anstey) regarding the situation for Christians in China, support for Christianity from western organisations and the wider political situation. Includes a few accounts of visits to China.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Group led by K H Ting (Ding Guang-xun), President of the Chinese Christian Council. Comprises press releases, itinerary of visit, correspondence, notes by Anstey, etc.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Mainly the newsletter of the Friends of the Church in China (1985-2004, incomplete) but also a few reports, leaflets, copies of minutes and constitution (2003).
Open
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Copyright vested with the Friends of the Church in China
Catalogued
File on Lesslie Newbigin and a file of obituaries for missionaries.
Arranged chronologically
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Most relate to those who worked for the Methodist Missionary Society and Church of South India. Includes Edgar Bentley Thorp (1905-1991), Marjorie Moulton (1903-1998), Kathleen Freeman (1904-1997), Winifred Rogerson (1909-1992) and R Elliott Kendall (1915-1992).
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
J. E. Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998) was a Presbyterian Church of Scotland missionary in Madras [Chennai] (1936-1946), then a Church of South India Bishop for the Diocese of Madurai & Ramnad (1947-1959) and the Diocese of Madras (1965-1974). He also worked for the International Missionary Council (1959-1961), World Council of Churches (1961-1965), the mission department of Selly Oak Colleges in Birmingham (1974-1979) and was Moderator of the General Assemby of the United Reform Church in 1978.
Brief biographies, tributes and obituaries; articles on or by him; funeral service and thanksgiving; correspondence between the Church of South India and Anstey regarding Newbigin.
Open
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Various copyrights
The papers of James Edward Lesslie Newbigin (GB 150 DA29) are held by Special Collections, Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.
Catalogued
Deputations and visits made by Anstey for Christian organisations to various countries in Asia, Middle East and Oceania.
Arranged chronologically
Open
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Copyright mainly vested with Ruth Anstey
Catalogued
Brief notes on places visited, conversations with Christian colleagues, work of Church of South India & Church of North India, etc.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Anstey's official report of her visit as Asia Secretary of the CBMS is available (CBMS 1971-1977 Box 8)
Catalogued
Brief notes on Christian organisations and NGOs visited.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Anstey's official report of her visit as Asia Secretary of the CBMS is available (CBMS 1971-1977 Box 8)
Catalogued
Brief notes on conversations with Christian colleagues, visits to institutions and various projects being run.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Catalogued
Brief notes on conversations with Christian colleagues, visits to institutions and various project being run.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Anstey's official report of her visit as Asia Secretary of the CBMS is available (CBMS 1971-1977 Box 8)
Catalogued
Notes on work of Christian organisations and other institutions visited, political situation, conversations with Christians (both lay and clerical) and representatives with NGOs.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Anstey's official report of her visit as Asia Secretary of the CBMS is available (CBMS 1971-1977 Box 8)
Catalogued
Daily brief notes on visits to institutions and projects, conversations with local officials, Christian leaders and administrators, representatives of NGOs, local politics, evangelism, aid work, ecumenism, etc.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Anstey's official report of her visit as Asia Secretary of the CBMS is available (CBMS 1971-1977 Box 8)
Catalogued
Brief notes on Christian organisations and their work, NGOs, conversations with individuals representing various organisations, local politics, recent events.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Catalogued
Brief notes on Christian organisations and their work, Christian and Muslim relations, conversations with individuals representing various organisations, situation of Afghan refugees.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Catalogued
Dated entries from 9th to 20th December. Brief notes on Christian contacts in China as well as information on Christianity in places visited, sometimes with historical context, including Shanghai, Canton, Nanjing and Bejing. Latter part of notebook has some very brief notes on subsequent discussions in UK, March-April 1982.
Open
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Copyright vested with Ruth Anstey
Catalogued
Dated daily entries detailing conversations with individuals and Christian instituions visited as well as giving an overview of the state of Christianity, sometimes with historical context, in the places visited including Shanghai, Canton, Nanjing and Bejing.
Open
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Unknown copyright
Catalogued
Mounted photographs comprising: staff and pupils at the Church of South India Basic Training School at Dharapuram, members of CSI Synod and Diocesan Council, attendees at Citizen Training Camp at Tirupparaithurai (Oct 1952), members of North India Negotiating Committee (Nagpur, Jan 1970). Some of the prints include the names of those depicted.
Open
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
For ship voyages to Freemantle and Perth [Australia], Gibraltar, Marseilles [France], Port Said [Egypt], Bombay [Mumbai, India], Colombo [Sri Lanka], Malaya, Hong Kong and Aden [Yemen].
Open
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Copyright vested with DP World
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessor the WMMS) in their districts in Burma [Myanmar]. Currently this consists of the photographic material photographed or acquired by the Rev A H Bestall as well as a small amount of his papers.
Please consult with an archivist.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the Burma district along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
Arthur Henry Bestall, the youngest son of the Rev and Mrs W S Bestall, was born in Tavistock, Devon, on 4th March 1863. Educated at Kingswood School he became a schoolmaster himself teaching in Gravesend and Rhyl. His ministerial training was undertaken at Richmond College and in 1887 he was sent to serve in the new Wesleyan Methodist mission field of Burma [Myanmar]. Initially, whilst learning Burmese, he served as Military Chaplain in Mandalay but in 1888 he moved to Pakokku to establish a new mission. Three years later he returned to Mandalay and, with his newly wed wife Rebe Edmeades, established a leper home in Mandalay in 1891. In 1893 he returned to Pakokku where he remained until 1897 when he returned once again to Mandalay. A year later he was made Chairman of the Burma District.
In 1910 Bestall returned to England and was posted to Wolverhampton (Trinity). In 1914 he transferred to Woking. However, in 1920, at the express request of the Missionary Committee, he returned to Burma [Myanmar] and served as Chairman of the District. Throughout both of his periods of service in Burma [Myanmar] Bestall was involved in the expansion of the mission including the provision of schools and medical facilities, most notably the Leper Home at Mandalay. Furthermore, he was involved in a great deal of translation work - particularly of the scriptures and hymns - culminating in his participation in the British and Foreign Bible Society's publication of the New Testament in Burmese in 1913.
His wife contributed to much of the work of the mission as well. In both Mandalay and Pakokku she took charge of the girls' schools whilst her medical training enabled her to assist in the Leper Home as well as to tend to the general health of her colleagues and parishioners, taking especial interest in the health of mothers and their children. In 1924 the Rev & Mrs Bestall returned to England and in the same year Bestall was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind gold medal (first class) for service to the British Empire. He spent the remainder of his career in Portsmouth (Southsea) from 1924 to 1930 and Dorchester from 1930 to 1933. In both locations he served for a time as Chairman of the District. In 1933 Bestall became a supernumerary and died three years later on 7th December 1936. His wife, Rebe, survived him and died in about 1964.
Arthur Bestall was not the only member of his family to work overseas. His eldest brother Charles served as a colonial administrator in South Africa whilst another brother, William John Gregory (1859-1934), served as a Wesleyan Methodist missionary in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1882 to 1893. Two of his sisters were also involved with the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Florence L E Bestall worked in education in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1881 to 1889. In 1891 she married the Wesleyan Methodist missionary Sheldon Knapp (1866-1951) who served in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1887 to 1902. C E H Bestall (d. c1927) was married to the Wesleyan Methodist missionary George Joseph Trimmer (1856-1920) who served in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] from 1877 to 1920. Finally, and on a slightly different tangent, Arthur Bestall's son Alfred Edmeades Bestall (1892-1986), became a respected and much loved artist and illustrator most famous for his work on the cartoon 'Rupert the Bear'.
Comprising mainly photographic material (individual photographs and an album) with a few personal papers. The majority of the photographs (some of which are in a poor condition) were taken by Bestall but some were also taken by his colleagues (such as the Rev W R Winston & the Rev Alfred Woodward) and relate to the mission in Upper Burma [Myanmar] (mostly Mandalay and Pakokku), dating from c1888 to c1911. The photographs include images depicting local people, local buildings and the local landscape as well as the missionaries and their families, mission property (including schools and the Leper Home at Mandalay), school pupils, parishioners and European visitors.
The photograph album, probably dating from the last few years of the nineteenth century, depicts the local area including people and buildings as well as the missionaries and mission property (including the Leper Home at Mandalay) in Upper Burma [Myanmar] (mostly Mandalay and Pakokku).
Bestall's papers consist of: a few notes on 24 photographs; a notebook with many loose sheets commenting on the mission, his colleagues, events, etc, late 1890s; an undated map of Burma [Myanmar] published by the American Baptist Mission Press.
Original material can be produced but only after consulting with an archivist.
Restrictions Apply
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Arthur Henry Bestall (MMS/Burma/Correspondence/FBN 1-2). Further information on Bestall's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be found within the Synod Minutes (MMS/Burma/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
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Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessor the WMMS) in their districts in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] including Benjamin Clough, William Ault and James Lynch as well as papers regarding the conversion of two Buddhist priests. With a small amount of material for south India.
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the Ceylon districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
Benjamin Clough was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1791. He became a Methodist when seventeen and soon after became a local preacher. In 1813 he entered the ministry and made a sufficient impression on his peers to be recommended to Thomas Coke as one of the missionaries to accompany him to Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Coke interviewed him and offered him a place with the mission and they subsequently sailed aboard the 'Cabalva' on 31 December 1813. Unfortunately Coke died on route leaving Clough and his colleagues to implement Coke's mission plan.
Upon arrival the missionaries agreed to assign stations by lot with Clough drawing Galle. During his tenure at Galle he opened a school with books supplied by Lord Molesworth, preached in the Dutch Church and held twice weekly class meetings at Galle Fort. His work with indigenous people was initially through translators although over time he became very fluent in Singhalese and Pali. He cultivated an interest in Buddhism and engaged in theological discussions with priests, his primary intention to encourage conversions. This lead to the high profile conversion of the important Buddhist priest Sri Dharma Pandito Thero (who was baptised as Petrus Panditasekara on Christmas Day 1814).
During 1815 Clough relocated to Colombo where he opened a school, continued his dialogue with Buddhists, expanded the Church's membership and supervised preaching in the villages south of Colombo. By 1818 he was suffering from ill health and was forced to take an unplanned furlough to Madras [Chennai, India]. Upon his return he was involved with the opening of an institute whose aim was to instruct indigenous converts so that they could be of 'public usefulness to the Church'. In 1821 he also published his English-Singhalese dictionary and between 1817 and 1823 he was involved in translating the Old and New Testaments into Singhalese.
In 1823 Clough took a furlough to England. Whilst there he met Margaret Morley (born 3 November 1804 in Doncaster, Yorkshire) and married her on the 31 March 1825 at St George's Church, Doncaster. They returned to Colombo later that year whereupon Clough assumed chairmanship of the 'Cingalese District'. In 1829 he relocated to Negombo (his wife having died in childbirth on 30 June 1827) and a year later published his Singhalese-English dictionary (having already published a Pali grammar and vocabulary in 1824).
For the remainder of his tenure Clough worked alternatively in Negombo and Colombo and during 1835 & 1836 he was also Chairman of the Tamil District. Under his stewardship further schools and places of worship were planned or even opened including a mission station at Kandy in 1835, a new chapel in Colombo in 1836 and a school at Bambalapitiya in 1837. A bout of fever forced him to convalesce in South Africa in early 1837 but his health did not recover sufficiently and he was eventually forced to return to England.
Clough spent the remainder of his career working in home circuits (including Sheffield in Yorkshire as well as Deptford and Maidstone in Kent). In 1852 he became a supernumerary in Southwark, Kent, and he died there on 13 April 1853.
Further reading:
Clarke, A, Extracts from the journal and correspondence of the late Mrs. M.M. Clough, wife of the Rev. Benjamin Clough, missionary in Ceylon (1829);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924);
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964.
Manuscript entitled 'A few Memorandums of my Voyage out to Ceylon' and being Clough's account of his return to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] after a furlough in England. The manuscript begins prior to departure on 31 March 1825 and ends the same year on 29th August at Latitude 031N, Longitude 67E (near the 'Maldwen Islands' [Maldives]). Entries are in English except for at the start where some are in Portuguese.
Letter written by Clough at Millbrook [?Bedfordshire] on 22 Aug[us]t 1823 to Rev Jos Taylor at Hatton Gardens, London, re debt (500 pounds) of Mr Rodney, Chief Suty in Ceylon [Sri Lanka], and how it can be recovered in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. Also includes general news.
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Manuscript (and possibly letter) given to the Museum of Methodist Antiquities by Mrs [Mary] Punshon, 1882
Apply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Benjamin Clough (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1-3). Further information on Clough's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Odd letter from Clough to James Lynch amongst Lynch's papers (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Ceylon/FBN 23 (fiche 991-1000)).
Images of Clough can be found within MMS Box 1203 and MMS/Ceylon/Photographs/Box 1196a (file 7).
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William Ault, the son of Jabez Ault, shoemaker, was born in West Bromwich, Warwickshire, in 1778. By the age of seven he had read the bible and a decade later he was jointly running a Sunday school in his home town. He entered the ministry in 1808 and not long after expressed an interest in assisting Thomas Coke with any overseas missionary work. When Coke was selecting ministers to accompany him as missionaries to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] he included Ault and Ault, along with his wife Sarah (nee Bretnall, born c1889), accepted. They set sail aboard the 'Lady Melville' on 31 December 1813. Ault's wife Sarah took ill during the journey and died on 9 February 1814 leaving him bereft. Unfortunately Coke also died on route to Ceylon leaving Ault and his colleagues to implement Coke's mission plan.
Upon arrival the missionaries agreed to assign stations by lot with Ault drawing the most isolated of the missions at Batticaloa. Ault, who when he arrived had contracted fever, made the arduous journey by boat to Batticaloa only to discover a climate and circumstances unlikely to improve his health. None-the-less Ault threw himself into his work - frequently working 20 hour days - establishing schools (eight in total), learning Tamil, founding a society class of 20 members and building up a congregation of 150 members. Such labours contributed to him being taken seriously ill in January 1815 with a proposed relocation to Jaffna never taking place as he died on 1 April 1815. He was buried in the Dutch church with the local population erecting a monument to his memory. In 1897 the newly built mission hall at Batticaloa was named the William Ault Memorial Hall.
Further reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924);
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964.
Manuscript entitled 'Hyms composed by William Ault of Spon Lane', copy made after 1828. None of the hymns are set to music and a few seem to be poetry. Some of them are written in response to the death (in 1814) of his wife, Sarah, with two being specifically dedicated to her.
Manuscript entitled 'Extract of letters from the journal of the Rev William Ault, missionary to Batticaloa, Ceylon, these letters were addressed to his mother', 1814. Letters describes his journey, arrival and settling in, isolation, diet, school work, learning Tamil, evangelising, names of first class members and the origins of the mission.
File of correspondence (November 1950-January 1951) between Wilfrid B Ault, Birmingham, and Miss Longstaff, Librarian with the MMS, London, enquiring what material is available with regard to William Ault.
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Official correspondence by William Ault and by others regarding his death can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Archive (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1).
Odd letter from Ault to James Lynch amongst Lynch's papers (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/Ceylon/FBN 23 (fiche 991-1000)).
A brief tribute to Ault is available (MMS/Special Series/Notes&Transcripts/FBN 8, item 240).
An image of Ault can be found within MMS/Ceylon/Photographs/Box 1196a (file 7).
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John Adrian Poulier was born in Galle Fort, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], of European parents on 17 April 1801. He converted to Methodism in 1817 and later moved to Kalutura where he was a mission school teacher and local preacher. He entered the ministry as an assistant missionary in 1825 and assisted the Rev John M'Kenny in Kalutura with the building of the chapel and mission house. His knowledge of both English and Sinhalese enabled him to work amongst both communities and he had a long career working in many of the mission stations (including Colombo, Galle, Negombo & Matara) in the Southern District. In 1838, whilst stationed at Kandy, he married with his wife involving herself immediately with the education work of the mission. He retired to Kandy in 1875 but remained active in missionary matters until near his death on 2 June 1880.
Further reading:
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964.
'Extracts from the Journal of J A Poulier'. Begins with Poulier preaching in Negombo on 22 December 1833 and ends with his account of a service preached by Gogerly at Matura [Matara], 30 November 1834.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society
Any extant correspondence for John Adrian Poulier will appear in the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society within the Ceylon section (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 2-5 & MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/South Ceylon/FBN 9). Information on Poulier's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, should be contained in the Synod Minutes (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
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The following has been copied, with only minor alteration, from the entry for Clarke in the Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland (http://wesleyhistoricalsociety.org.uk/dmbi/). Permission to use and alter said entry was kindly granted by Dr John Vickers and the Rev Dr Norman W Taggart.
WM minister and polymath. He was born at Moybeg, Co. Londonderry in 1760 (or, according to his father, 1762), the son of a schoolmaster. He came under Methodist influence in 1778, travelled to England in 1782, met John Wesley in Bristol and was sent into circuit. Unusually, he was received into full connexion after only one year in the itinerancy. In 1788 he married Mary Cooke of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, whom he had met during his first year in circuit. Part of his circuit ministry was spent in such outlying parts of the connexion as the Channel Islands and the Shetlands. He became a leading figure and a moderating influence in British Methodism after Wesley's death. He encouraged the increasing role of the laity, including women, in WM, though distancing himself from the more extreme radicals. In 1815-1819 he managed to survive criticism from his fellow Wesleyans, including Richard Watson, over his adoptionist views on the 'eternal sonship' of Christ and his interpretation of Luke 1:35 in volume 1 of his New Testament Commentary (1817). Three times President of the British Conference (1806, 1814 and 1822), he also presided over the Irish Conference on four occasions. He was actively involved in combatting poverty and African slavery, and established Strangers' Friend Societies in several cities.
His scholarship was outstanding and wide-ranging. His chief reputation was as a linguist, particularly in Middle Eastern and Oriental languages (including Persian, Arabic, Ethiopian, Coptic and Sanskrit); this enabled him to play an important part in the work of the Bible Society. In 1808 he received an honorary doctorate from Aberdeen and was elected a Fellow of the Antiquarian Society and a member of the Geological Society in 1823. He was also a foundation member and a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society and was elected to the Royal Irish Academy. In 1808 he was engaged to edit a new and more complete edition of Thomas Rymer's Foedera, a collection of State Papers from the time of the Norman Conquest to the accession of George III, a task to which he gave much time during the next decade, though he resigned before much more than the first volume was completed. His major publication was his eight-volume Commentary on the Bible (1810-1825), which was enriched by his extensive linguistic studies and was widely used for many years.
He was a keen advocate of missions at home and overseas, of which he claimed first-hand experience through his service in the Channel Islands, 1786-1789. He supported the moves in 1813-14 to create District missionary societies. In 1818 he undertook the Christian instruction of two Buddhist priests (Munhi Rathana and Dherma Rama) from Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. They were baptized (Adam and Alexander respectively) in 1820, but problems arose in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] after their return, where missionary attitudes towards Buddhism did not match his. In the 1820s he had oversight of the Shetlands Mission and in 1831 established six mission schools in counties Londonderry and Antrim. He died of cholera on 26 August 1832 and is buried close to John Wesley at Wesley's Chapel, London.
Sources:
Richard Watson, Remarks on the Eternal Sonship of Christ; and the use of reason in matters of revelation, suggested by several passages in Dr. A. Clarke's Commentary on the New Testament (1818);
Mary Ann Smith, An Account of the Infancy, Religious and Literary Life of Adam Clarke...(3 vols., 1833);
Anon [J.M. Hare], The Life and Labours of Adam Clarke... to which is added an historical sketch of the controversy concerning the sonship of Christ (1834);
William Jones, Memoirs of the Life, Ministry and Writings of Adam Clarke (1838);
Robert A. West, Sketches of Wesleyan Preachers (1849) pp.224-49;
[John M. Hare], The Life and Labours of Adam Clarke LLD, FAS: a new narrative, with strictures on his creed, commentary and other works... (Halifax, 1858);
J.W. Etheridge, The Life of the rev. Adam Clarke (1858);
S. Dunn, The Life of Adam Clarke LLD (1863);
J. Everett, Adam Clarke Portrayed (2nd edn., revised, 1866);
Wesley and his Successors (1895) pp.67-72;
Maldwyn L. Edwards, Adam Clarke (1942);
R.H. Gallagher, Adam Clarke, saint and scholar: a memoir (Belfast, [1963]);
Maldwyn Edwards, 'Adam Clarke the Man' in London Quarterly and Holborn Review, April 1964, pp. 147-51;
Ian Sellers, Adam Clarke, Controversialist (WHS Lecture, 1975, St. Columb Major, [1976]);
Wesley D. Tracy, When Adam Clarke Preached, People Listened: studies in the message and methods of Adam Clarke's preaching (Kansas City, 1981);
N.W. Taggart, The Irish in World Methodism (1986) pp.87-103;
Gareth Lloyd, The Papers of Dr. Adam Clarke [a catalogue] (Manchester, 1991);
Barry W. Hamilton, 'The "Eternal Sonship" Controversy in Early British Methodism', in Wesleyan Theological Journal, 40:2 (Fall, 2005), pp.88-10;1
Oxford DNB.
Principally comprising papers relating to two Buddhist priests from Sri Lanka who converted to Methodism.
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Received by the WMMS from Dr Ritson (via E S Lamplough), summer 1931
About a dozen letters by Rev Dr Adam Clarke regarding the two Buddhist Sri Lankan priest converts (including at least one letter forwarded from them) are amongst the Home correspondence within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society (MMS/Home/Correspondence/FBN 1-2).
An additional image of Clarke can be found within MMS/Ceylon/Photographs/Box 1196a (file 7).
Wesleyan Missionary Notices (1818-1820) has communications by Clarke on two Buddhist Sri Lankan priest converts and also an account of their baptism.
John Rylands Library University of Manchester holds significant papers by and relating to Adam Clarke (including PLP, MA 1977/463 & MA 1994/22). Amongst these is at least one letter regarding the Sri Lankan priests (PLP/25/4/19).
Catalogued
Munhi Rathana was born in c1792 near Galle in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. He entered the Buddhist temple at Matura when aged six. By his early twenties he was a High Priest at the Dodanduwa Temple near Galle.
Dherma Rama was born in c1794 near Colombo and also entered a Buddhist temple at the age of six. By his early twenties he was also a High Priest at the Dodanduwa Temple near Galle.
Both men received an extensive education and were knowledgeable in a number of languages including Sinhala, Pali, Tamil, Sanskrit and Patios Portuguese [Cristao].
Having encountered Christianity through a translation of the Bible into Sinhala both expressed a strong desire to learn more about Christianity in England. In 1817 they approached Sir Alexander Johnstone, Chief Justice of Ceylon, to accompany him on his return to England but he was reluctant for them to join him. However, once Johnstone had sailed they caught up with him on another ship and he agreed to allow them to accompany him to England. Upon arrival the two priests were placed in the hands of the WMMS committee who in turn placed them in May 1818 under the care of Dr Adam Clarke, a leading Methodist theologian.
Both men spent nearly 2 years learning English from Clarke, received tuition in the main subjects and topics of the age as well as a thorough understanding of Christianity. On 12 March 1820 they were both baptised by Clarke in Brunswick Chapel, Liverpool: Munhi Rathana taking the additional name Adam whilst Dherma Rama taking the additional name of Alexander.
Both men returned shortly after to Ceylon [Sri Lanka], declining the many gifts offered to them. They travelled in the company of Richard Ottley (later Chief Justice of Ceylon) and arrived in Colombo in October 1820. Neither man continued a close relationship with the Methodists, much to the chagrin of some. Alexander Munhi Rathana became Ottley's Private Secretary and later Mudaliyar of Morartuwa. Adam Dherma Rama became an Anglican representing them at Dodanduwa and later his son, George Adam, became an Anglican priest.
Further reading:
Etheridge, J W, The Life of the Rev. Adam Clarke (1858);
Moscrop, T, & Restarick, A, Ceylon and its Methodism (?1908);
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964.
Papers relating to two Buddhist priests from Sri Lanka who converted to Methodism: Munhi Rathana (baptised Adam) and Dherma Rama (baptised Alexander). With images of them and Adam Clarke.
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Papers relating to two Buddhist priests from Sri Lanka who converted to Methodism: Munhi Rathana (baptised Adam) and Dherma Rama (baptised Alexander).
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Baptism of two 'Cingalese Priests' who are now under the care of Clarke at Brunswick Chapel. Brief biographical information on both Munhi Rathana and Dherma Rama including their conversion to Methodism. With annotations.
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Letter is written to Rev Joseph Taylor at Wesleyan Missionary House, London, from Adam Clarke at Millbrook [Lancashire], 1 Jan[uary] 1819
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In 1918 was in the possession of D Busehill Friend of Burgess Hill, Sussex
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He and Dharma met Sir Alex Johnstone and Mr Wilberforce. Also met brother Rowland. Discusses health problems.
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Met Sir Alexander [Johnstone] and William Wilberforce. Later met Mr & Mrs J Taylor. Professes his thanks to Clarke and his faith in God.
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Describes recent voyage from England to Ceylon [Sri Lanka], arriving 30th October in Colombo. Thanks Clarke for his support and affirms his Christian faith. Met Governor and Rev D Saram, Colonial chaplain.
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Prints of Munhi Rathana (baptised Adam), Dherma Rama (baptised Alexander) and Adam Clarke with a poem by the latter.
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Annotated 'Mary Clarke from her father' [Rev Adam Clarke, the author of the poem].
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A. Mosses del., B. Hicks sculp., published by Henry Fisher, Liverpool.
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A. Mosses del., B. Hicks sculp., published by Henry Fisher, Liverpool.
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Printed by Johnson & co, 10 Brooke Street, Holborn [London]. Reproduced from an unidentified book.
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From an engraving by J Thomson based on a drawing by W Derby. Published by Jos. Butterworth & son, London.
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Reflects on his life and Methodist faith.
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Friend mentions articles written by Clarke, his wife's letters and papers from Mr W N Popley. Suggets Methodist should have first claim on this material and Popley prepared to exchange them for some books for his son (A Popley, an LMS missionary in South India). With accompanying brief list of said papers and letters.
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Correspondence between E S Lamplough with Rev E W Thompson, WMMS, Bishopgate, London re offer of Clarke papers by Dr Ritson.
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William Alexander Lalmon was born in c1792 in Colombo, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], his father being a Swiss military engineer (who came to India and Ceylon in c1787) whilst his mother was a Burgher. He trained in medicine and was an assistant surgeon at the Galle Hospital when he encountered Methodism. He was amongst those who attended the first service given on the island at the Galle Dutch Church in 1814. He offered his services and initially worked as an interpreter (knowing English, Sinhala and Portuguese), particularly for Benjamin Clough.
In 1816 he was accepted for the ministry (the first born on the island to be so) and assisted John Callaway in Matara. After this his career took him to most of the missions in the Sinhalese District including Kalutura, Negombo, Seedu [Seeduwa], Belligam, Berlapanater, Weligama, Waskadwa & Morwak Korale. As well as being involved in the full range of clerical duties he was often also called upon for his medical knowledge.
His health began to fail him in 1854 and by 1856 it had declined sufficiently to force him to become a supernumerary in Matura. He died there on 15 April 1862.
Further reading:
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964.
'Extracts of the Annotations in my Journal of 1834'. Begins at Berlepanatere [Beralapanathara] on 1st January 1834 with a 'Watch Night' in chapel and ends on 24 November 1834 with Lalmon commentating on his preaching of the previous day.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Lalmon (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1-3). Further information on Lalmon's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, should be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
A few letters by Lalmon along with an account of his conversion can be found in Wesleyan Missionary Notices.
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Johannes Christiann Anthonisz was born in Galle, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] on 8 August 1793. After a period as a local preacher he became one of the first assistant missionaries in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] entering the ministry in 1819. He began his missionary service at Matura but during his career also served at Kalutura, Galle, Negombo, Berelepanatterre, Koralawella and Colombo. He died at Colombo on 24 July 1845 and was buried in Pettah Church.
Further reading:
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964.
'Extracts from my Journal'. Begins on 23 February 1834 at Berelepanatterre [Beralapanathara] conducting morning service at the request of his supervisor, Lalmon, and ends on 3 August 1834 stating he took divine service at Berelepanatterre [Beralapanathara] for Mr L[almon] who is ill with fever.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the odd letter and journal extract for Johannes Christiann Anthonisz (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1-2). Further information on Anthonisz's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, should be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
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James Lynch was born into a Roman Catholic family in the parish of Muff, County Donegal, Ireland, in about 1775. He converted to Methodism when he was about seventeen and entered into the Wesleyan Methodist Ministry in Ireland in 1808. He spent five years working in circuits in the north of Ireland and was one of the missionaries offered by the Irish Methodist Conference to assist Rev Dr Thomas Coke with his planned mission to Asia.
Lynch set sail aboard the 'Lady Melville' with some of his colleagues (others sailed with Coke aboard the 'Cabalva') on 31 December 1813. Unfortunately Coke died on route leaving Lynch, as the most senior of the missionaries and with the willing support of his colleagues, to take charge (later confirmed by the missionary committee in London). They landed at Galle in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] on 29 June 1814. After their arrival the missionaries agreed to assign stations by lot with Lynch drawing Jaffna (along with Thomas Squance) with the two men arriving in mid August. Lynch and Squance began preaching in the Dutch Church at Jaffna Fort, mainly to soldiers and colonists, opened a school and laid the foundations for a successful mission. Throughout his tenure as a missionary Lynch continued to stress the importance of education in mission work, particularly through the establishment of mission schools.
As early as 1815 requests for a missionary to serve in Madras [Chennai] had been received. By 1817 the missionaries in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] agreed the need to send a missionary was pressing and it Lynch was dispatched. Lynch established a mission in Madras [Chennai] preaching his first sermon in a warehouse at Black Town [George Town] on 2 March 1817 (in 1822 the site become a Methodist chapel). Lynch's lack of Tamil meant that his efforts were restricted mainly to those of European descent. In March 1819 Lynch founded the first Methodist chapel on Indian soil (at Royapettah) and in the same year became the superintendent of the Tamil district (which incorporated the missions in the north of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and the south of India). In 1820 the Negapatam mission began (with Squance being appointed to serve there) with later the same year a mission commencing in Bangalore and soon after that in Trichinopoly (all garrison towns).
From 1817 financial problems arose and by 1821 they had deteriorated sufficiently for the committee in London to censure Lynch. Lynch offered his resignation but his synod insisted he remain and gave him their full support. By 1824 the mission committee's attitude and criticism had softened but in July Lynch left Madras for good: in part as a result of his experiences and in part due to health concerns. Not long after his departure the Tamil District was divided into two separate districts: one centred on Madras [Chennai], the other on Jaffna.
Lynch returned to working in Ireland, including in Lisburn in County Antrim, Strasbane in County Tyrone, Irvinestown in County Fermanagh and Newry in County Down (where physical infirmities forced him to become a supernumerary in 1842). He relocated to Leeds in 1845 and died there on 21 March 1858.
Further reading:
Centenary Committee of the Wesleyan Methodist Synod in Madras, James Lynch (1911);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (vol V, 1924);
Small, W T J, History of the Methodist Church in Ceylon 1814-1964;
Taggart, N W, The Irish in World Methodism, 1760-1900 (1986).
Journal (incomplete). Opening pages give overview of his pre missionary life. Entries begin on 1 January [1814] having just left St Helens and end on 31 December 1814 with Lynch reflecting on his life and work. Rear of volume contains note on journey (recording latitude and longitude), allowances provided to missionaries, tonnage allowed to India, salaries of Company officers, notes on religious observance and letters written & received in 1814. 168 pages.
File of correspondence (originals and copies) written and received by James Lynch between 1814 and 1856. Most letters are received by him from, amongst others, W[illia]m Ault, George Erskine, B[enjamin] Clough, W Harwood, J Tristleton, S[amuel] Leigh, E Hunter, A Walter, Mary Gay, W[illia]m Gay, W[illia]m Graham, S Godfrey and members of the Lynch family (Sarah, Samuel & Hugh).
Copy of a letter by Adam Clarke to the General Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society which appeared in the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Magazine for 1821. James Lynch suggests that the editors of the 'Watchman' might like to publish the letter as well. Letter originally appears in the dedication to his 'Clavis Biblica' and Clarke praises the work of those employed in foreign missions and gives a brief overview of the work they have undertaken so far. c1821. 4 pages.
'Third Report of the Madras Auxiliary Wesleyan-Methodist Missionary Society: with a list of subscribers'. Printed, 1822. 26 pages.
Financial papers compiled by John Huntley on 30 November 1823 for the Madras District. Includes expenses for light, tea and servants between 1819 and 1823 as well as a record of collections made with subscriptions paid for the same period. 5 pages.
Draft manuscript (with corrections and annotations), by an unnamed author who spent 57 years in Ireland, on the current reforms within the Church of Rome and how these are just attempts to destroy the Protestant faith. Cites, amongst other sources, the articles of the Council of Trinity in his argument. c1850. [filmed with Clarke material by mistake - see FBN 23, fiche 1000].
Brief note by Lynch on the increase in WMMS missions up to 1849. With later annotations - in a different hand - for up to 1856. 2 pages.
Manuscript entitled 'Memoirs of Rev Jas Lynch by Sam[ue]l Allen'. Contains biographical information and recollections. Annotated on back 'Given to JR by his son who had found it among Mr A's papers. 1878'. 21 pages.
Note on the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist mission to Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and its relationship with the colonial authorities, undated. 2 pages.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for James Lynch whilst in both Ceylon [ Sri Lanka] (MMS/Ceylon/Correspondence/FBN 1) and India (MMS/India/Correspondence/Madras/FBN 20). Further information on Lynch's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the Tamil District Synod Minutes (MMS/Ceylon/Synod Minutes/FBN 1 & MMS/India/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
An image of Lynch can be found within MMS/Ceylon/Photographs/Box 1198 (file 1).
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessors) in their districts in China. Includes the papers of Rev David Hill and his fanily (WMMS), Rev Clement Noble (UMMS), Rev & Mrs Pacey (MMS); Rev Samuel Pollard (BC), Sister Gladys Stephenson (WMMS) and Rev William Soothill (UMFC).
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the China districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
George William Sheppard was born in Bristol in 1874 into a Methodist Free Church household. He began his career in 1894 in the Stratton and Bude District of Cornwall before transferring two years later to London III District (Limehouse). In 1898 he relocated to the Ningpo District in China. Apart from engaging in evangelical work he was also involved in opening a hospital in Ningpo [Ningbo] itself in 1899 and a college in 1906.
On 7th September 1901 Sheppard married Edith Charlotte Mead (daughter of Thomas) of Wandsworth Common, London, whom he had known since childhood. Edith Mead had been involved in Sunday school work and as Mrs Sheppard she became heavily involved in the Ningpo District's female educational work. As Rev Sheppard became more familiar with Chinese he began to preach in the vernacular and even contributed to a Chinese hymnal. For the next dozen years (excepting a furlough during 1906 & 1907) the couple worked in various parts of the Ningpo District including the City itself, its environs, Si Hwo, Nimrod Sound [Siangshan Kiang], Shih-p'u [Shipu] and Hsiang-Sha Magistracy. During this period Mrs Sheppard continued her work in female education including holding women's meetings and bible classes. Her husband continued his evangelism as well as assisting in opening new churches, new missions and new schools, with a particular interest in providing support and training for local preachers.
In 1913 Rev Sheppard became chairman of the Ningpo District at a time when its membership stood at around 1,300 but with a decreasing income and European staff. Furthermore, recent internal reorganisation meant that there were now 43 churches in seven circuits in area of around 5,000 miles. For the next decade (baring two furloughs) under Sheppard's stewardship the membership within the district continued to grow as well as finances resulting in the district becoming self-sufficient in its training and employment of local ministers in 1920. However, for most of the period before, during and after the Great War the Sheppards were the only UMFC European missionaries in the Ningpo District. (Rev Sheppard even found himself acting principal of the Ningpo College for much of 1916 & 1917). Shortly afterwards Rev Sheppard agreed to be the chief reviser for the British and Foreign Bible Society's translation of the Old Testament into the Ningpo [Ningbo] dialect of Chinese.
In 1916 Mrs Sheppard jointly (with Mrs Lyttle) took charge of the Ningpo Girls' School with particular responsibility for the management of the School. By this time Mrs Sheppard had four children (Ronald (b.1904), Thomas, George and Mary). In 1922 her husband took over the management of the school and the following year he resigned his chairmanship of the district in order to accept the post of General Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society in China. Working initially in Ningpo [Ningbo] and from 1932 in Shanghai he oversaw the creation and distribution of a significant number of Christian texts in China. During this period he also briefly edited the 'Journal of the North China Royal Asiatic Society' and served as Chairman of the Education Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Council.
Upon retirement in 1936 Rev Sheppard served briefly as Commonwealth Secretary in Australia before becoming a supernumerary in Kent with his wife. He died on 11 February 1956 at Orpington, Kent, with his wife dying a decade later.
Publication entitled 'Some notes on the Lord's Prayer' by G W Sheppard (c1955).
Letter, dated 14 June 1955, from George [Rev Sheppard] at Restingcot, 6 Avalon Rd, Orpington, Kent, to Dorothea [Lady Hosie]. Her article 'O Happy Day' in the 'Methodist Recorder'. Compiling notes on the Lord's Prayer. Swanwick conferences with Mary. Mary planning holiday for him in Staplefield, Sussex.
Letter, dated 5 February 1956, from George [Rev Sheppard] at 6 Avalon Rd, Orpington, Kent, to Dorothea [Lady Hosie]. Current situation in China. No desire to republish his stories. Recent edition of Chinese bible.
Newspaper cutting from the 'Methodist Recorder' of 8 March 1956 being Lady Hosie's tribute to the recently deceased Rev Sheppard.
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The minutes of the United Methodist Free Churches Foreign Mission and the United Methodist Missionary Society are extant (see UMMS section of this catalogue).
Catalogued
Born in York, England, on 18th December 1840; trained at the theological college, Richmond; ordained as a Wesleyan Methodist minister; posted to the Central China mission field, based in Wuchang, Hupeh [Hubei] province; sailed to China, 1864; visited Japan for health reasons, but returned to missionary work in China; his single status made him more mobile than most Protestant missionaries; with a few other missionaries, including the Baptist Timothy Richard, engaged in famine relief work in Shansi [Shanxi] province, 1878-c1880; the experience expanded Hill's ministry in terms of social vision and ecumenism; instrumental in the conversion of Hsi Sheng-mo [Xi Shengmo, d 1896, also known as 'Pastor Hsi'], who was to become an important independent pastor, 1879; visited England, 1881-1882; influential in recruiting other missionaries to China; established a hospital and homes for the aged, the blind, and orphans; helped to found the Central China Religious Tract Society; his evangelistic work extended outside the boundaries of existing Methodist circuits in China, resulting in the formation of the Central China Lay Mission, of which he became superintendent; chairman of the Central China Lay Mission, 1885; elected a member of the Legal Conference, 1888; played a central role in the Shanghai missionary conference as English president, 1891; appointed deputy to the British consul in the investigation into a riot at Wusueh, 1891; attended the Ecumenical Conference in Washington, 1891; visited England, 1891-1893; died of typhus fever at Hankow [Wuhan] on 18th April 1896.
Further reading:
Barber, W. T. A., David Hill : missionary and saint (1899);
Barber, W. T. A., David Hill : an apostle to the Chinese (1906);
Hellier, J. E., How David Hill followed Christ : a biography (c1906);
Hill, David, Mission Work in Central China: a letter to Methodist young men (1882)
Hill, David, Hints to missionary evangelists in China (1892);
Hill, David, Twenty-five years in central China 1865-1890 (1891);
Hill, David, Essay. Lay agency in Chinese missions. - To what extent desirable and under what conditions;
Hill, J. K., Tribute to a seer (David Hill);
Rattenbury, H. B, David Hill, friend of China: a modern portrait (1949);
Yates, P., Friendly foreign devil (David Hill of China) (1956).
Papers, 1822-1917, of and relating to the Rev David Hill, including journals, 1865-1889 (some gaps); Hill's notes, sermons and addresses, 1863-1875 and undated, including some lantern slides, the subjects including the Old Testament, missionary work, China, including the opium trade and Chinese literature, and Hill's visit to America; letters from Hill to various members of his family, 1847-1896, and other correspondents, 1873-1895; various letters, 1847-1917, some to Hill, but including miscellaneous others; photographs of Hill and other subjects, including Chinese costumes; books belonging to Hill, 1857-1895, such as Bibles, a prayer book, and hymn books; woodcut for visiting card; correspondence and papers, 1858-1897 and undated, some printed, relating to missionary work and other affairs in China, including anti-foreign riots, 1891; papers, 1877-1881 and undated, relating to the opium trade; Central China Lay Mission cash book, 1894-1899; printed papers, 1822-1917, including material relating to missionary work in China and to Methodism, including Methodism in York.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for David Hill (MMS/China/Correspondence/Canton/FBN 1-2 & MMS/China/Correspondence/Wuchang/FBN 18-20). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of David Hill, and his colleagues, in the Hankow/Wuchang district (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
Handlist available
Catalogued
Josiah Cox was born at Tipton, Devon, England on 7th March 1828. He trained for the Methodist ministry at Richmond College. He was one of the first Methodist Missionaries to go out to China where he arrived in 1852. Methodist efforts at that date were located in Canton [Guangzhou] and here Cox laboured together with fellow missionaries Beach and Piercy. During the Taiping rebellion Cox became acquainted with Hung Jin, the brother of the Taiping leader, Hung Hsin Ts'uan. He had hopes that Hung Jin's position could facilitate the opening of a mission in Nanking [Nanjing], the seat of the rebellion. These hopes were not to be fulfilled and Cox turned his attention to the opening of a mission in the densely populated cities of Hankow [Wuhan] and Wuchang on the Yangtse. In 1863 the first Methodist Mission House in Hankow [Wuhan] was opened. Cox was joined first by the medical missionary, Dr F. Porter-Smith and, in 1865, by David Hill and William Scarborough. Following a severe illness Cox left China after twenty-four years and returned to Britain. He died on 11th October 1906.
Further reading:
WMMS, Instructions to the Rev. George Piercy, William Roberts Beach, and Josiah Cox, appointed to commence a mission in China, under the direction of the Committee of the Wesleyan Missionary Society (1853).
Josiah Cox's papers comprise: journals 1853-1861 and 1861-1876; an account-book 1853-1856; minutes of a meeting of Cox, Beach and Piercy on mission matters, 1853-1858; carbon copies of letters written by Josiah Cox 1861-1874 (4 vols); a volume entitled "Looking unto Jesus" with ms notes in English and Chinese.
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Josiah Cox (MMS/China/Correspondence/Canton/FBN 1-2). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, as well as the work of his colleagues, in the Canton and Hankow/Wuchang districts (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
Catalogued
Jane Catherine Radcliffe, the daughter of the Rev W J Radcliffe, left England on 8 September 1866 for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society district of Canton in China to assist in the work of 'training natives for teaching'. She worked at the Girls' Training School in Canton East and also ran women's classes and bible classes. In 1873 she returned to England on furlough but was back in China by 1874 and two years later she opened a school in Virtue Street, East Canton for girls and women.
In the summer of 1878 Radcliffe married the Rev James Jackson, a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary. After an illness in 1879 (which had a significant impact on Methodist educational work in Canton [Guangzhou]) she and her husband left the WMMS and joined the American Church Mission and were involved in the founding of Boone University in Wuchang, China.
Small volume containing two accounts of excursions made from Canton [Guangzhou], China, by Radcliffe and her colleagues. The first is a day excursion made upriver [?Pearl River] from Canton [Guangzhou] on 1 February 1867. The second is a longer excursion, between 7 and 24 November 1872, made by boat from Canton [Guangzhou] into rural China.
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A few copies of her letters (or edited extracts) appear in the 'Ladies' Committee for Ameliorating the Condition of Women in Heathen Countries, Female Education, &c. occasional paper'.
Catalogued
William Arthur Cornaby was born in Sydenham in London on 19th June 1861, the sixth child in a family of 12 children. He attended the School of Mines in South Kensington and became a chemistry demonstrator at Clifton College in Bristol. In 1883 he decided to enter the ministry and was admitted to Richmond College in that year. Following two years at the college he was sent out to Hankow [Wuhan] in central China as a missionary with the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. In 1889 he married Margaret Baker and in 1895 was appointed to Hanyang where, in addition to running a church and school, he became the editor of The Chinese Christian Review, a monthly Chinese magazine for preachers. In 1905 he was appointed to take up literary work in Shanghai with the Christian Literature Society under the direction of Timothy Richard. His chief work was to edit the Ta Tung Pao, a weekly magazine targeted at Chinese officials and scholars. Cornaby's first wife, Margaret died in 1915 and, in 1916, he married a friend of the family, Emma Foggitt of the London Missionary Society. In 1919 Cornaby, already suffering from malaria, contracted tuberculosis. He died at Kuling on 11th March 1921.
Further reading:
Kernahan, C., Cornaby of Hanyang : a great-souled missionary. An appreciation (1923);
Cornaby, W. A., A string of Chinese peach-stones (1895);
Cornaby, W. A., China under the searchlight (1901);
Cornaby, W. A., China and its people (1910);
Cornaby, W. A., Chinese letter-writing for missionaries (1914);
Cornaby, W. A., et al, The call of Cathay: a study in missionary work and opportunity in China old and new (1910).
Papers of William Arthur Cornaby comprising:
Correspondence, mainly with his family (including his brother Henry and his niece Annie), 1885-1893. A few letters are incomplete.
Chinese passport, 1902.
Notes, including some for sermons, undated.
Brief extracts from his journal, undated.
Typescript manuscript by Cornaby entitled 'An Old Prescription and a Prayer' (July 1906).
Annotated typescript manuscript by Cornaby entitled 'A Journey up the Han, May 1897'.
Printed article by Cornaby entitled 'Reversion and Reform', undated.
Image of a ?sage from unidentified book, undated.
Cornaby Family Tree, c1958.
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Donated to the Methodist Missionary Society by Mr and Mrs J. R. Hart in 1958. John R Hart was the grandson of W.A. Cornaby.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Cornaby (MMS/China/Correspondence/ Wuchang/FBN 18-20 & MMS/China/Correspondence/South China/FBN 11-12). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of William Cornaby, and his colleagues, in the Hankow/Wuchang district (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-4).
Catalogued
The Rev William Bridie was born in Dundee on 3rd December 1855 into a Methodist household. He had a close relationship with his mother and it was her influence that encouraged him in a spiritual life. He attended Westminster Training College in 1874 and then Glasgow University for a time before being accepted as a candidate for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1879. After three years at Richmond Training College he was appointed to the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's Canton District in South China.
Bridie initially served in Fatshan [Foshan] moving to Canton (west) by 1889 - by which time he had married Gertrude Williams (on 9th March 1888). Miss Williams (born c1862) was the daughter of a 'well known' Cornish Methodist, Mr H Williams, and the niece of the Rev Silas E Symons (a Wesleyan Methodist missionary to India). She had been working in education for 3 years in the Wuchang District of China for the Wesleyan Methodist Women's Association.
In 1892 the couple took a furlough to England but were back in China by the summer of 1893 when Rev Bridie took responsibility for the Theological Institution in Canton. He served there with his wife (except for a furlough to England in 1888-1889) and assisted in establishing a women's and girls' boarding school. His wife assisted with female education and the supervision of bible women. In 1903 he relocated to Hong Kong where he worked as a military and naval chaplain (expanding the congregation there). However, by 1905 he had returned to England and was posted to Padiham, Lancashire. In 1906 he was asked to serve as military chaplain at the Salisbury Plain Camp where he remained until his unfortunate death due to an accident on 9th October 1911.
Manuscript account of the opening of Wuchan, China, as a centre for the work of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1897. Written by Bridie and sent as an enclosure to a letter he had written from Tidworth, Hampshire to Dr Findlay on 7 September 1911.
Letter from Roderick J J Macdonald, Wu Chow [Wuzhou, China], to Bridie, on 20 August 1897. Attempting to get into Kwong Sai. Selling land in order to purchase more appropriate land to build hospital, houses, chapel, etc. Thinks the Committee is suffering an 'attack of paralysis' over the issue. Asks Bridie to secure funds and the support of the synod.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for William Bridie (MMS/China/Correspondence/Canton/FBN 2-3). Further information on Bridie's work, as well as the work of his colleagues, will be contained in the relevant Synod Minutes (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-2).
Catalogued
William Edward Soothill was born on 23rd January 1861 at Halifax, England. In 1882 he became an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church and went out as a missionary to Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China from 1882 to 1914 serving with the United Methodist Free Churches, Home and Foreign Missions. During that time he founded a hospital, training college, schools and many preaching stations. He was also a considerable translator and lexicographer. His published works include A dictionary of Chinese Buddhist terms, The lotus of the wonderful law or the lotus gospel, The student's four thousand [characters] and general pocket dictionary and Timothy Richard of China : seer, statesman, missionary & the most disinterested adviser the Chinese ever had. For a number of years he was Principal of Shansi University. In 1920 he was appointed Professor of Chinese at the University of Oxford. He married Lucy Farrar in 1884. She was the author of A passport to China: being the tale of her long and friendly sojourning amongst a strangely interesting people. Lucy Soothill died on 25th March 1932 and her husband on 14th May 1935. They had two children, Victor and Dorothea. Dorothea (1885-1959), later the second wife of Sir Alexander Hosie of the China Consular Service, was also the author of a number of books about China.
Further reading (in addition to the above mentioned books):
Soothill, W.E., A mission in China (1906);
Soothill, W.E., China and the West: a sketch of their intercourse (1925);
Soothill, W.E., China and England (1928).
Papers comprise: letters from William Edward Soothill written from China to his parents, 1882-1885 and, to his mother, 1901-1911; UMFC missionary society account book for Ningpo, China, 1864-1881; letters from Lucy Soothill and from Dorothea Soothill in China to various family members, 1885-1911; photograph of W E Soothill c. 1882 and one of his wife Lucy Soothill, nee Farrar taken in 1891.
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Donated to the Methodist Missionary Society by Lady Hosie.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
The minutes of the United Methodist Free Churches Foreign Mission and the United Methodist Missionary Society are extant (see UMMS section of this catalogue).
Catalogued
Born in Camelford, Cornwall, 1864; his father, Samuel Pollard, and his mother were preachers with the Bible Christian Church (from 1907 part of the United Methodist Church); converted, c1875; initially prepared for a career in the civil service, but a London conference influenced him to become a missionary, 1885; appointed Bible Christian missionary, 1886; sailed for China, 1887; attended Ganking Language School, 1887; posted to Yunnan province, 1888; went to Chaotung [Zhaotong], where a new station was opened, 1891; married Emmie (née Hainge), 1891; assigned to the provincial capital (now Kunming); engaged in evangelistic work; worked with the Flowery Miao [A-Hmao, a minority tribe], among whom started in Anshun, Kweichow [Guizhou] province, a religious movement which spread to Chaotung [Zhaotong], from c1905; Pollard became its most prominent missionary leader; established a centre for thousands of new believers at Shihmenkan; travelled extensively, planting churches, training leaders, and soliciting justice for Miao Christians from officials and landlords; developed a new script which he used to translate the New Testament into the Miao language; died from typhoid fever while in service as a missionary on 16th September 1915.
Further reading:
Grist, W.A., Samuel Pollard: Pioneer Missionary in China (1971);
Hayes, E.H., Sam Pollard of Yunnan (1947);
Kendall, E., Eyes of the Earth: the Diary of Samuel Pollard (1954);
Kendall, E., Beyond the Clouds: the Story of Samuel Pollard of South-west China (1948);
Pollard, S., In Unknown China : a Record of the Observations, Adventures and Experiences of a Pioneer Missionary during a Prolonged Sojourn amongst the Wild and Unknown Nosu Tribe of Western China (1921);
Pollard, S., Tight corners in China (c1910);
Pollard, W., The Life of Sam Pollard of China; an Account of the Intrepid Life of Adventure, Danger, Toil & Travel of a Missionary in the Far & Little Known Interior of the Vast Chinese Empire (1928).
Papers of the Rev Samuel Pollard comprising:
12 diaries (1885-1915) describing life and work in China.
File of newspaper cuttings and articles (mainly from Christian publications), many of which were written by Pollard. Most articles report on the mission in the UMMS Yunnan District amongst the Miao [A-Hmao], Nosu [I-chia], etc. With a few manuscript articles by Pollard as well as the odd letter re publication of his articles, etc. c1908-c1913.
File containing a large number of manuscript articles (some incomplete) by Pollard as well as published articles (mainly from Christian publications) by him and others on the mission in the UMMS Yunnan District and to a lesser degree in other parts of China. Also contains some notes by Pollard including a notebook from 1907 with notes and some copy letters. c1906-c1913.
File containing letters written by Pollard to [Rev Charles] Stedeford [Foreign Secretary, United Methodist Church], c1909-1915. With Stedeford's report of his deputation to the mission in 1909.
Nine photographs, most undated, depicting Pollard and his family, Pollard's grave, colleagues (including Rev F Dymond) and local people, c1913-c1949.
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The file of letters from Pollard to Stedeford were received by the Methodist Church from Stedeford's daughter
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society (MMS), including the minutes of the Bible Christian Missionary Society for 1861-1873, 1882-1891 and 1903-1909 (MMS/Home/Minutes/ Bible Christian/FBN 8). Further papers relating to Pollard are also available (MS 380690).
In addition, we also hold the papers of the Parsons family (MS 380686), missionaries who worked among the Miao tribe using the script devised by Pollard as well as the research papers of Frederick Howard Taylor on the tribes of south-west China, including notes on the life of Samuel Pollard (CIM/PP Box 11 File 124).
Catalogued
Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury was born on 15 February 1878 in Witney, Oxfordshire, and a member of a prestigious Methodist family. His grandfather was John Rattenbury (1806-1879), the renowned Methodist orator and preacher, whilst his father, Henry Owen Rattenbury (1843-1904), served as a minister in Home circuits. H B Rattenbury's siblings also served the Methodist Church as a minister (J Ernest, 1870-1963), journalist (Owen) and deaconess (Helena, c1893-1979) whilst his son (Harold Morley, 1915-2005) also became a Methodist minister.
Educated at Woodhouse Grove School and a graduate of the University of London he received his ministerial training at Headingley College, beginning in 1899. His first ministerial appointment was as a missionary to China. He departed in October 1902 but served not in his original chosen destination of the Hunan District but the Wuchang District (later renamed the Hupeh District after re-organisation in 1932). Rattenbury's prime concern was evangelism but he was also involved with and interested in education (he was fluent in Chinese). In September 1907 he married Edith Brewer (the daughter of Rev & Mrs John W Brewer) who had been working for the Wesleyan Women's Association since November 1903 in Teh Ngan taking women's classes and assisting in the day school. On 23 November 1912 she died in childbirth.
Rattenbury's work began to involve more education work including assisting with the Wesley Boys School, particularly with regard to Theology. On 24 September 1914 he married Emily Ewins (b1886) who had been working for the Wesleyan Women's Association since January 1910 in Wuchang. She had been involved in taking women's classes, teaching girls and founding a biblewomen's school in 1912. During the 1911 revolution she assisted the Red Cross by tending to wounded soldiers.
In 1921 Rattenbury became Chairman of the Wuchang District with his workload and responsibilities increasing accordingly. After a furlough in 1927 his wife, due to family commitments, spent most of her time in England. Rattenbury's administrative abilities and his statesmanlike qualities were widely recognized and he was elected to the Legal Hundred in 1930 and, upon his return to England in 1934, became a General Secretary of the MMS. His responsibilities focused on the Home Organisation Department (until 1945) and for China & Burma (until 1950) which he visited on deputation in 1939-1940 and 1946-1947. The latter part of his tenure coincided with some of the most turbulent periods in Chinese history. During both the Japanese invasion of China and the Communist revolution he was insistent that missionaries stay at their posts, a decision made against governmental advice and which lead to missionaries and their colleagues suffering internment and other hardships.
Rattenbury wrote extensively about China and Christianity publishing books & articles and making radio broadcasts, particularly during the 1940s. In 1949 he served as the President of Methodist Conference and the following year he became a supernumerary in Enfield, Middlesex. During his retirement he assisted with the planning of the church in nearby Oakwood. The Rev H. B. Rattenbury died on 24 December 1961 in Barnet, Middlesex, with his wife dying on 23 August 1973.
Further reading:
Rattenbury, H. B., The seven churches of China : being a picture of the seven China districts of the Methodist Church (?1934);
Rattenbury, H. B., The Methodist Church Overseas Missions. Report of the Visit to the Burma and China Districts of the Rev. Harold B. Rattenbury, B.A. August 2nd 1939 - April 1940 (1940);
Rattenbury, H. B., Understanding China (1942);
Rattenbury, H. B., China, my China (1944);
Rattenbury, H. B., Face to face with China (1945);
Rattenbury, H. B., Through Chinese eyes (1945);
Rattenbury, H. B., China-Burma Vagabond (1948);
Rattenbury, H. B., This is China (1949);
Rattenbury, H. B., & Porter, H. M., Let my people know!: being an account of a visit paid to Burma and China beginning July 8th, 1946 and ending on April 24th, 1947, and a call to the Church in Britain (1947).
Typed copy of a broadcast Rattenbury made in Shanghai [China] on 18th December 1946 recalling his war-time experiences in China and of those he encounters. Also recounts Pollard's work amongst the Miao [A-Hmao].
Copy of an article written by Y C Tu entitled 'Church & its Environment' regarding the situation in China, particularly for Christians, mid 1940s.
Typescript with photocopies of Rattenbury's diary of his deputational visit to Burma and China, July 1946 and April 1947. Incomplete as appears to be lacking 81 pages (from 14 January to 6 March & 24 March to 1 April 1947). 281 pages.
Copy (mainly photocopies) of Rattenbury's diary of his deputational visit to Burma and China, July 1946 and April 1947. Appears to be complete but poorly paginated. With some hand annotations and corrections. 362 pages.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury (MMS/China/Correspondence/Wuchang/FBN 20 & MMS/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 6-9). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, as well as the work of his colleagues, in the Wuchang/Hupeh District (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-5).
Correspondence, extracts from his diaries and a few newspaper cuttings dating from part of the period when Rattenbury was in Central China (1920-1925) are available (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts/FBN 7, item 141). Furthermore, a typescript of his diary covering his secretarial visit to Burma and China during 1939 & 1940 can be consulted (MMS/Special Series/Notes & Transcripts /FBN 6, item 62).
A few images of Rattenbury with his family and colleagues (MMS/Home/Photographs/Box 2) as well as some photographs taken by him whilst in China (MMS/China/Photographs/Boxes 1197a-b, files 1, 36 & 50) are available. A number of these images can be found on the Internet Mission Photography Archive (
Scripts - written by Rattenbury or based on a couple of his books - to accompany lantern slide shows can be consulted (MMS/Home/Photographs/Scripts/Box 5). Currently (June 2011) there is an ongoing JISC funded project to make these (along with other MMS lantern slides) available digitally and online.
The Methodist Archives and Research Centre at John Rylands University Library Manchester hold some papers of H B Rattenbury (DDHb). These consist of several hundred letters written between 1927 and 1947, the majority from Rattenbury to his wife Emily, as well as a few of her letters to her family. There is also his travel journal for 1934 and his journal whilst President of Conference, 1949-1950. Papers relating to his grandfather (John) and his brother (John Earnest) are also held by MARC at JRULM.
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Born 8th August 1889. Sent by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society to the Wuchang district, China, 1915; studied languages in Hankow [Wuhan]; served initially at the Hodge Memorial Hospital, Hankow [Wuhan]; matron at the Anlu Men's Hospital from c1917; played a pioneering role in training indigenous nursing staff; active in founding the Nurses Association of China, becoming its President, 1924; appointed Principal of the School of Nursing at the new Union Hospital in Hankow [Wuhan], c1927; appointed Director of Nursing Service for the National Flood Relief Commission by the Chinese government, she was active in addressing the effects of serious floods on the refugee camps, 1931; on furlough, 1940; interned in Lungshwa Internment camp, Shanghai, 1942-1945; retired, 1951; settled in Southall, London; deaconess; unmarried; died 14th June 1981.
Further reading:
Stephenson, G. E., A short outline of nursing history (1936);
Stephenson, G. E., Some pioneers in the medical and nursing world (1924);
Webb, P. M., Women of our time (1963).
Papers, c1909-1976, of Sister Gladys Stephenson, comprising diary of journey to China, 1915; journals of visits to Korea and Peking [Beijing], 1926, 1936 and undated; journal of her time in Lungshwa Internment camp, Shanghai, 1942-1945; diaries recording daily events, 1946-1971; long letter from Gladys Stephenson, 1945, from the Lungshwa Internment camp, Shanghai, recounting her experiences, and typescript copies; manuscript and typescript accounts of a journey to Hong Kong, Malaya and the Holy Land, 1961; other typescript and manuscript notes, accounts, or addresses by Gladys Stephenson recounting her experiences, largely undated, including one relating to the great floods in China (1931); two photographs of a chapel used by the Methodist hospital, Hankow [Wuhan], and papers relating to a stained glass window, 1940; printed material on Christianity, missionary work and missionaries, nursing and training, and other aspects of life in China, including hospitals in Hankow [Wuhan], 1909-1976, largely dating, 1920s-1960s.
Only to be viewed on microfiche
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society (MMS) which includes the surviving records of the Women's Work department. Letters written by Gladys Stephenson to the Women's Work department from China should be contained within the Hupeh District correspondence (MMS/WW/Correspondence/ China/Hupeh/FBN 3-5 & Box 1321).
Within the Methodist Missionary Society Library (MMSL) are reports for some of the hospitals Nurse Stephenson worked in. Further information on these reports can found on the SOAS Library catalogue. There are also a few manuscripts by Gladys Stephenson within Notes and Transcripts including 'The Story of Christian Nursing in China 1915-1951' & 'Notes on the Building up of the Nursing Profession in China and' (MMS/Special Series/Notes and Transcripts/FBN 7).
SOAS also holds further papers of Sister Gladys Stephenson (including diaries) within the Missionary Records Project. This material is restricted access. Please ask an archivist for further details.
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Florence Gooch was born on 13 September 1881 and joined the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1905. On 9 January 1906 she departed Southampton aboard the 'Princess Alice' for the Wuchang District of China, arriving in Hankow [Wuhan] on 25 February. She was charged with supervising the day schools and undertaking evangelical work amongst women. Despite ill health in 1911 (leading to an enforced furlough in England until early 1912) her mission continued to expand to the extent that additional help was required, with Miss Edith Wagstaff being dispatched from England to assist her in 1914. In 1916 her work focused on Kuling [?Lushan] where she remained (excluding a furlough in 1918) until she relocated to Wuchang itself. Here she continued her evangelical work and supervised bible and day schools.
An extended furlough in England began in 1925 and continued until she returned to Hankow [Wuhan] in 1932. Here she remained (excluding a furlough from 1936 to 1937) until her work was halted by the Japanese occupation. She was initially interned in 1943 in Lunghwa camp, near Shanghai, but was then transferred to the Methodist missionary home for 'elderly people and invalids'. She remained in the home until the autumn of 1945 and had returned to England by 1946. She died on 9 February 1953.
Travel log and diary of return to England for furlough. First volume records her departure from China, a stop off in Japan and time spent in Hawaii (200 pages), 14 October 1936 to 7 December [1936]. Second volume continues with her stay in Hawaii, her time spent in mainland of the USA and her journey back to England (121 pages). With expenses at rear. 7 December [1936] to ?March 1937.
Memorandum book. Approximately the first half of the volume records her time in a [Methodist] Missionary home in Shanghai, China, whilst under Japanese occupation and her subsequent release. The second half of the volume records her thoughts and those of friends and colleagues on a number of matters, along with copies of poems and hymns. 1 January 1944 to 1 December 1946.
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Transferred to SOAS Archive from MCOD, 29 October 1984.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
No correspondence for the Wesleyan Methodist Women's Auxiliary's from China survives for before 1920. Any extant letters written from 1920 onwards by Ms Gooch should be amongst the correspondence for the Hupeh District (MMS/WW/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 4-5). A few of her letters (or extracts from them) are reproduced in the publications of the Women's Auxiliary. Photographs of Ms Gooch are also available and can be found amongst the Margaret Crabtree papers (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/China/Crabtree/Box 1202A files 3, 4 & 9).
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Lois Anne Malpas was born to Wesleyan Methodist parents, James and Kezia (d.1877), at Pwllmeyric, near Chepstow, Monmouthshire, in 1858. In response to James Hudson Taylor's appeal for missionaries she applied to serve in China and was accepted by the China Inland Mission (CIM). She set sail on 10th October 1883, arriving in Shanghai on 14 December. She spent over a year in Che Fu [Chefoo] learning Chinese before (in February 1885) being sent to Yang Chou [Yangshou] on the banks of the Yangtze River. Here she was involved with evangelising to both men and women but by the summer had relocated to Yunnan Fu [Kunming]. Evangelising to women - both in the city and in surrounding villages - she worked in co-operation with the Bible Christian missionaries Samuel Thorne and Thomas Vanstone. In June 1887 she moved to Kweiyang [Guiyang] and then a few weeks later to Chungking [Chongqing].
In 1888 Malpas left the CIM in order to wed Samuel Thorne (1860-1891). They married on 24 April 1888 at Pao Ning and by June had moved to Chaotung. Mrs Thorne now assisted her husband with his evangelical work (including class meetings and visits to local villages) and the sale of Christian texts but also developed her own work specifically amongst women as well as providing a basic medical service. Throughout 1889 her health was poor and by June 1890 she required rest at the CIM sanatorium in Che Fu [Chefoo]. By March 1891 her health had improved enough for her to return to Chaotung and resume her duties. However, later that year her husband became ill whilst visiting a local village and was forced to return to Chaotung where he died of typhus on 23 September 1891. After a few weeks grieving in Tungchuan [Tangdan] Mrs Thorne returned to Chaotung but was encouraged by her colleagues to take a furlough in England.
Mrs Thorne was back in England by the summer of 1892 and was soon involved in giving talks to members of the Bible Christians. Her popular talks about her missionary experiences often included her appearing in Chinese dress and singing familiar hymns in Chinese. Her health having recovered she was asked by the Bible Christian foreign mission to represent them in Chaotung and she arrived there in June 1894 (having set sail from England aboard the ss Parmatta on 21 December 1893).
After three years in Chaotung developing on the previous work she and her husband had begun she relocated to Yunnan Fu [Kunming]. There had been no mission for over a year so during the summer of 1897 Mrs Thorne began to re-establish the mission by securing new property and developing a congregation and Methodist community. A riding accident meant she had to leave Yunnan Fu [Kunming] during the summer of 1899 with her relocating to the more established mission at Tungchuan [Tangdan] where her experience and language skills were much appreciated. The outbreak of the Boxer "Rebellion" brought difficulties throughout the province for missionaries and Mrs Thorne, along with some of her other European colleagues, decided to leave Tungchuan [Tangdan] in August 1900 for Hong Kong. By October 1900 Mrs Thorne was back on English soil and again she found herself in demand to give talks at missionary meetings, etc. However, by February 1901 her health had begun to deteriorate again and this lead to a long and difficult period of convalescence. By the autumn of 1903 her health had recovered sufficiently to enable her to return to lecture work and she applied to return to China. The latter was declined on medical grounds and as the year wore on her health suffered and worsened until she died from an internal haemorrhage on 26 November 1904 at Newport, Isle-of-Wight.
Further Reading:
Parsons, R. K., My moving tent : a biographical sketch of Lois Anna Thorne 1858-1904 (1985).
Hymn book (in Chinese), 1894.
Diary for 1900 containing brief and infrequent entries (mainly for the months of April, May, August and September), with a few mentioning the Boxer rebellion and Thorne's subsequent departure for England. Brief notes and financial accounts at rear of volume.
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Transferred to SOAS Archive from MCOD, 29 October 1984
The Hymn book (and possibly the diary as well) was previously in the custody of C J Byworth, niece of Lois Malpas.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Little primary material is extant for the Bible Christian Missionary Society, although minute books (MMS/Home/Minutes/Bible Christian/FBN 8) do exist for some of the period Lois Thorne was in China.
Copies of or extracts from Thorne's letters are reproduced in the Bible Christian Magazine. Material relating to her work whilst unmarried and a member of the China Inland Mission can be found within that collection, including amongst the pages of their publication 'China's Millions'.
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Clement Noble Mylne was born at Leyton in North London on 4th March 1885. He was trained for the ministry at Shebbear College in Devon, then a Bible Christian College. Mylne was the last candidate to be accepted for the Bible Christian ministry prior to its amalgamation with the United Methodist Church in 1907. In 1908 he was appointed to Chao Tong Fu, China to work among the Nosu or I-chia people. By 1911 he was one of only two missionaries left in Tung Chu-an to witness the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty. Between 1912 and 1917 he built up a network of schools, Bible Study groups, using the Roland Allen method, and churches across an area half the size of Wales.
Forced to return to England by ill health in 1917, Mylne worked in home circuits before returning to China in 1921, where he was based at Kunming [Yunnan]. Ill health again forced his withdrawal from missionary work in 1927. He served the remainder of his ministry in home circuits. He lived in Jersey from 1939 to 1946 where he and his family were for a time imprisoned by the Germans. He retired from the ministry in 1951 and died on 21st January 1970.
The papers, the majority of which date from 1908 to 1936, include: letters to Mylne, chiefly from a fellow-missionary, W H Hudspeth (1887-1976), a colleague of Samuel Pollard, working with the Miao people in South West China and 3 letters about Mylne written to his daughter, Vivienne, following his death in 1970; notebook diaries and diary extracts 1908-1916 and 1922-23; notebooks containing texts of talks and unpublished typescripts about work, travel and experiences in China and photographs (negatives and prints) of people, including Nosu individuals and groups, and places.
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These papers were bequeathed via Lady Margaret's Hall, Oxford, by Professor Vivienne Mylne, C N Mylne's daughter and were received in 1996.
Not available on microfiche
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
The minutes of the Bible Christians and United Methodist Missionary Society are extant (see UMMS section of catalogue). Further photographs of the Nosu and the Yunnan area, including a handful by Mylne, are located within the China section, photograph series of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society collection.
Professor Vivienne Mylne's papers relating to their time in Jersey are held by the Jersey Archive Service and the remainder of her personal papers are at the University of Kent.
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The majority of the correspondence is written to Mylne (mainly from Rev W H Hudspeth) between 1914 and 1936. There are also a few letters written to Vivienne Mylne in 1970 regarding the death of her father.
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Letters to C N Mylne, mostly from Rev William Hudspeth.
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Letters to Vivienne Mylne regarding the death of her father, C N Mylne.
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Comprising Mylne's notebooks, extracts from his diaries, manuscripts and typescript articles. Some of this material was used Mylne in his talks..
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Notebook containing diary entries
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Notebook containing diary entries
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Diary extract
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An ms entitled 'Nosu Lady of West China: Journey to get to Nosu-land' which includes a list of dates [when delivered as a talk].
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Notebook containing ms 'Preparing to trek in Yunnan' and list of dates [when delivered as a talk].
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Notebook containing ms 'New Years Day in China' and list of dates [when delivered as a talk].
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Notebook containing ms 'The Life of Chinese Women' and list of dates [when delivered as a talk].
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Notebook containing ms. 'Dr Savin of Chaotong'.
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Typescript of 'Some Bowls of Chinese Stew' by C. N. Mylne comprising:
i) 'A Fore-ladle. By the Cook' (3pp);
ii) 'The First Bowl. Mountain Treks (with digressions)' (50pp);
iii) 'The Second Bowl. Hotel de l'Orient' (70pp);
iv) 'The Third Bowl. Bandits, Bedding and Beggars (or the Biter, Bitten)' (58pp);
v) 'The Fourth Bowl. The Curse of the Jade Bracelet' (61pp).
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Typescript of Squeeze
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Typescript of 'In Memoriam: Sir George Macartney, KCIE'
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Typescript of Under the Crooked Cross: Jersey 1940-1945.
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Negatives, photographs and postcards of China including images of people (particularly the Nosu) and places (notably areas in south-west China, the Upper Yangtse and Peking [Beijing]). There also a few images of Siam [Thailand] as well as of the Mylne family and their friends.
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Comprising:
i) 3 Nosu Girls;
ii) 3 Nosu leaders;
iii) A Nosu student trained as a teacher-preacher, murdered by brigands;
iv) An Lao Kuan Cheh Chioh. A very powerful landlord [glass negative] ;
v) Group of boy scholars at S.H. [glass negative] ;
vi) A distinguished group of Nosu leaders [glass negative];
vii) An T'i To. Ex Nosu wizard;
viii) Meh and family [glass negative].
The glass plate negatives (items iv, v, vi & viii) are only available by special arrangement. Please consult the an archivist for further details
Restrictions Apply
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Black and white photographs of people and scenes in the Yuan Chiang area [?south-west China] and Siam [Thailand].
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Photographs of people and places in China.
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Black and white photographs and negatives of Mylne, family and friends.
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Picture postcards of North China being specifically around the Upper Yangtse. Images include boats on the river, people at work on and beside the river, landscape scenes and buildings near the river (including temples).
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Picture postcards mainly of sites in Peking [Beijing]. Includes images of the Ming Tombs, Summer Palace, Winter Palace, the Forbidden City and temples.
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Two large mounted black and white wedding photographs, one of which is from Mr and Mrs H A J Clark and dated Xmas 1926.
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A mix of publications (some by Mylne), press cuttings and ephemera on missionary work and China.
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Including press cuttings on the United Methodist church and its work; pamphlets and flyers regarding talks, concerts and exhibitions; calendars; calling cards of and pamphlets by Mylne and Hudspeth; a small number of papers in Chinese; some Chinese money.
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Margaret Crabtree was born in 1897. She began working as a student teacher at Bedford Elementary School in 1914. In 1915 Crabtree began a course in Education at the University of Leeds, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Board of Education Certificate in 1918. Subsequently Crabtree worked from 1918 to 1921 as an Assistant Mistress at Doncaster High School.
A lifelong Wesleyan Methodist, Crabtree applied to serve as a missionary in January 1921, specifying a preference to be posted to the China field. She was appointed to David Hill Girls' School in Hanyang, Wuchang district and sailed for China on the 1st September 1922. Crabtree remained stationed at Hanyang until the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Crabtree died in England on 8th February 1978 aged 80.
The David Hill Girls' School was founded in 1898 in the city of Hanyang. The first principle of the school was Miss E.A. Eacott. Initially the school catered for eight Chinese students, by 1922 the total number of attendees had risen to one hundred and forty.
In 1926 the David Hill Girls' School was forced to close by the Chinese Government and when allowed to re-open was required to adhere to the regulations of the Board of Education. These new regulations banned the teaching of the Christian religion in the curriculum and required an indigenous Chinese principle as head of every school. The David Hill Girls' School re-opened with Anna Lie (Liu Kueh Fang) as its principle and Bible study was run as an extra-circular activity.
The David Hill Girls' School was closed briefly due to the occupation of the school grounds by government soldiers at Easter 1928 but re-opened in July that year. By 1930 Mrs Wang (the daughter of the first indigenous Chinese Wesleyan Methodist Minister Rev. Chu Shao An) had been appointed Principle and the number of enrolled students risen again to one hundred and sixty. The school escaped the severe flooding of the surrounding areas in 1931 but was temporarily closed to house the refugees from Hanyang and Hankow [Wuhan]. The school was again used to house refugees following the Japanese bombing of Hankow [Wuhan] in 1938.
For the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the school, a new hall, library, staff room and classrooms were opened. The total number of girls at the school had risen to three hundred and sixty students.
The papers and photographic material primarily relate to Margaret Crabtree's service at the David Hill Girls' School. The papers comprise: correspondence to Crabtree (1932-1948) and other correspondence, primarily relating to the school (1928-1950). Personal material relating to Crabtree, including photostat copies of her teaching certificates (1918-1928). Published material, in English and Chinese, including items relating directly to the David Hill Girls' School (1920s-1950). Visual material, including two photograph albums and eleven files of photographs, primarily depicting the school buildings, school staff and students and surrounding areas (1900-1970); postcards, slides and illustrations.
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Deposited by William Leary, Connexional Archivist of the Methodist Church Archives and History Committee, April 1980
Not available on microfiche
Given to the Methodist Church by Mr J Byatt of Bradford, before 24 April 1980
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Methodist Church
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society (MMS) which includes the surviving records of the Women's Work department. Any surviving letters written by Margaret Crabtree to the Women's Work department from China should be contained within the Hupeh District correspondence (MMS/WW/Correspondence/ China/Hupeh/FBN 4-6).
Correspondence relating to the David Hill Girls' School may also be found in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society correspodnence for Wuchang and later Hupeh Districts (MMS/China/Wuchang/Correspondence/FBN 19-20 and MMS/China/Hupeh/FBN 6-9). The work of the David Hill Girls' School may also be mentioned in the Wuchang and later Hupeh MMS Synod minutes (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 2-6).
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Correspondence, including letters sent to Margaret Crabtree and copies of other correspondence mainly relating to David Hill Girls' School.
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Correspondence sent to Margaret Crabtree by her students and others in English and Chinese. Includes three envelopes addressed to Margaret Crabtree.
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Envelope sent to E.M. Crabtree in 1932
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A letter from a former student relating life at a Catholic University
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A letter from a former student relating to the departure of Margaret Crabtree for England.
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A letter offering help with fundraising for the school.
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Christmas Greetings
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Relates her departure from China and requests information about Methodist Hospital.
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A letter thanking Margaret Crabtree on her departure from China
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Letters primarily relating to David Hill Girls' School. Including correspondence by Molly Bolton and Harold B. Rattenbury to Miss Hornby (Wesleyan Mission House, London).
The correspondence to Miss Hornby appears to have been removed from Box 661(now obsolete) and thus do not appear to have been originally part of the Crabtree papers. The date when this rearrangement took place is unknown but would have been before 1987.
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A letter reporting on Women's Work in Calcultta, Sarenga, Bankura and Raniganj [all in India]
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A letter reporting on the return by staff to the school following occupation of the grounds by soliders.
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Circular letter reviewing the last year at the school
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A letter relating to rumours of a Communist attack on Wuhan; recent flooding in Hanyang; and increasing hostilites between China and Japan.
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A letter reporting on the new school term.
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A letter reporting on Chinese government's recognition of Miss Liu Kweh Fang as head of the girls' middle school and the financing of building work at the school. Also covered are health of workers and Miss Hill's furlough.
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A letter relating to the health of Miss Driver and Miss Pullan and proposed building work at David Hill Girls' School
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A letter from the architect discussing the re-development of David Hill Girls' School, Hanyang. Includes a rough sketch of proposed development.
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A letter requesting a reference for Maud Williamson.
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A letter of reference for Maud Williamson
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A letter relating to a number of issues including movement of missionaries, allowances for Chinese workers and schools in Kunming.
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A letter relating to the health of Nancy Harris and Miss Hudson's arrival in China.
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A letter relating to finances and lodgings.
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A typed letter regarding David Hill Girls' School's 1949 summer term. Reporting on the situation at the school during the Chinese Civil War.
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Circular letter reporting on the situation at the hospital following the Chinese Civil War.
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Personal Material relating to Margaret Crabtree, including her business cards, an address book, identity papers and photostats of her qualifications.
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Nine business cards for Margaret Crabtree at the David Hill Girls' School, Hanyang
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Margaret Crabtree's internal travel papers within China
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Manuscript material, in English and Chinese, including items relating directly to the David Hill Girls' School and general items.
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Manuscript material relating directly to the David Hill Girls' School. Including hand-written notes on the history of the School and student school work.
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A typed copy of David Hill Girls' School 'Scheme of Development'
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A brief handwritten note by Margaret Crabtree on the school's history between 1938 and 1948.
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A brief hand written note by Margaret Crabtree on the school's history between 1946-1949.
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Short typed article or speech relating to the development of the school.
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Hand-drawn sketch map of school grounds with annotations.
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Short handwritten programme for school day of hymns, speeches and drama
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Student exam answer paper on world history
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Hand-written student project entitled 'Escaped' relating to life as a refugee. Includes two images of children in Christmas dress.
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Manuscript material in English and Chinese. Including notes the role of Chinese Christian school and university students during the Second World War and Chinese Christian sheet music.
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A typed note on the health of Miss Pullan
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A copy of a typed report on Miss Miriam Driver given to The Missionaries' Meeting, Wuchang Synod by H. Owen Chapman, Acting Superintendent, The Union Hospital, Hankow.
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Handwritten notes by Margaret Crabtree on the role of Chinese Christian school and university students during the Second World War.
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Handwritten notes by Margaret Crabtree on 'The Expansion of Europe into the Far East' by Sir John Pratt.
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An incomplete typed bulletin containing information relating to the situation of Chinese individuals associated with the Methodist Missionary Society.
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A typed note on 'Old Chinese Stories'.
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Handwritten notes in diary format by an unknown individual relating to the flood of Hankow [Wuhan]
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Published material including works relating directly to the David Hill Girls' School, general works and newspaper cuttings.
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Published material relating directly to the David Hill Girls' School. Including school prospectus and magazines.
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Two David Hills Girls School 50th Anniversary Magazines. One copy includes annotations in English.
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Includes annotations
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Love in Action: David Hill Girls' High School leaflet by Methodist Missionary Society - Women's Work.
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'Our Hanyang Schoolgirls' leaflet by Women's Auxiliary, W.M.M.S
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Published material including Margaret Crabtree's copy of the 'Daily Light on the Daily Path'.
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Inscribed to M. Crabtree from L.A. February 1927
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Transferred from Methodist Church House, October 2006
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Pamphlet produced by The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (London)
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Pamphlet produced by The British Fund for the Relief of Distress in China.
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A pamphlet by Winifred Warr (London: Cargate).
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Pamphlet
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Book, illustrated by 30 facsimile colour reproductions of Chinese paintings. By William Wilson (China Inland Mission).
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Pamphlet published for the China Sunday School Union by the Methodist Publishing House.
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Four newspaper cuttings re David Hill Girls' School and Christianity in China.
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Newspaper cutting
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Newspaper cutting being portrait of David Hill Girls' School Basketball Team with handwritten note by Margaret Crabtree.
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Newspaper cutting
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Newspaper cutting being photograph of David Hill Girl's student and two other individuals
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Visual material, primarily comprising photographic material relating to David Hill Girls' School. Also includes postcards, slides, paintings and illustrations.
Photographic material has been retained together in files following the arrangement photographs were found in envelopes at the time of cataloguing in 2009.
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Containing images of David Hill Girls' School and its staff and students
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Album containing 23 photographs of David Hill Girls' School, Hanyang. Including school group portraits, classroom scenes and views of the school compound.
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Album containing 49 photographs of David Hill Girls' School, Hanyang, primarily depicting scenes of school physical education.
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Photographic material has been retained together in files following the arrangement photographs were found in envelopes at the time of cataloguing in 2009.
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Subjects include: David Hill Girls' School buildings (1936). Group portraits of school students and staff. London Missionary Society Sunday School, Hankow [Wuhan]. Group portrait of Hupah district annual Synod (1950).
Individiauls pictured include: Margaret Crabtree, Mrs Wang (School principle), Flo Gooch, Margaret Simons, Nora Booth, May Lowry, Lilian Grand, Ethel Wagstaff, Miss Eacott, Miss Ingram and Alice Cooper.
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Subjects include: Scences from the flooding of Hankow [Wuhan] (1931). Hankow [Wuhan] following the Japanese occupation (1938). Guild buildings in Hankow [Wuhan], David Hill Girls' School buildings (1933). David Hill Girls' School sports day. Reunion of former school girls (1948).
Individuals pictured include: Margaret Crabtree, Molly Bolton, Miss Gooch, Ethel Wagstaff, Neil Pritchard, Mrs Perriam, Miss Wang, Miss Mao, Miss Fang, Rev. Rattenbury, Dr. Pell, Dr Cundall, Hilda Palen, Mr Pillow, Miss Pillow, Lily Radcliffe, Miss Benson, Margaret Simons, Dr Chapman, Louie Joyce, Edith Milner, May Lowry, Mrs Chapman., Grace Reidge, Mrs Dixon, Mrs Ross, Mr Bonsall.
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Subjects include: Building work for new day school (1923). Girls school students drilling. Revolution Day. David Hill Girls' School staff group portraits. Hanyang City Wall (1924). Flooding of Hankow [Wuhan] (1931).
Individuals pictured include: David Hill Girls' School staff: Margaret Crabtree, Miss Wang, Miss Su, Miss Tiu; Miss Green, Miss Gregg, Ethel Wagstaff, Molly Bolton, Mrs Chu (school nurse), Miss Su, Miss T'u. David Hill Girls' School students: Mei, Su, Len Hai, Luh Teh, Hua T'ang and Esther.
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Subjects include: David Hill Girls' School classroom scenes (1936). Views of the main school hall. David Hill Girls' School staff portrait (1925). Photograph of deeds signed by Margaret Crabtree. Farwell dinner for Rev. H.B Rattenbury with Mrs G Clayton, Rev S. Dixon, Miss Nora Booth, Dr. R. Bolton (1931). Wounded soldiers in emergency hospital warehouse treated by Hankow Methodist Hospital (1938). Classroom scenes from Wesley College for Boys, Wuchang. Scenic views of Switzerland. Scene of exams in Union Church Hall Hankow [Wuhan] (1940) rented since Japanese occupation in 1938.
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Subjects include: Series of David Hill Girls' School classroom scenes (1936), series of scenes of school exercise activities (1933), David Hill Girls' School portrait (1946). Scenes of Japanese bombing of Hanyang and refugees housed at school (1938). Revolution Day (1924). Wuchang Pagoda School Group (1923). Photograph of Miss Liu Kueh Fang (David Hill Girls' School principle, 1938).
Also: Han Freeze Dec 1929-Jan 1930 (2 photographs); Flood 1931 (10 photographs); and Wankien 1944-1946 (10 photographs). With an envelope addresses to Miss Crabtree in Yorkshire.
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Subjects include: David Hill Girls' School Staff recreational break August 1926 featuring Margaert Crabtree, Molly Bolton, Mr Pillow, Mrs Pillow. Mrs Cundall, Mr Heady, Mr Clegg. Opening of the new chapel at Wu Shen Miao, Hankow [Wuhan] (1930).
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Subjects include: David Hill Girls' School buildings (1933). Old student's farewell to Miss Crabtree group portrait (1948). Floods in Hankow [Wuhan] (1931). Sailors from H.M.S Suffolk (1933). Refugees in Hankow [Wuhan] following Japanese occupation (1939). Opening of Wu Shen Miao Chapel, Hankow [Wuhan] (1930).
Notable individuals: Feng Ill Hsaing (Christian General). General Chang, Rev Shen Wen Chiu and Dr. Lo (American Bible Society) (1932). Mr Clegg, Mr Thompson, Mrs Chapman, Molly B (Kuling trip, 1926), Flo Gooch, May Lowry, Margaret Simons, Ethel Wagstaff, Mrs Chapman, Hilda Porter, Mr Clegg.
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Subjects include: David Hill Girls' School speech day (1924) and sports day (1933). David Hill Girls' School graduation day performance of Macbeth (1947). Opening of new school dormitory (1933).
Series of photographs of the flooding of Hankow [Wuhan] including Union Hospital compound (1931). Scenes following the Japanese occupation of Hankow [Wuhan] (1938). Crowds awaiting vaccination, Methodist Missionary Hospital, Hunan.
Individuals include: Margaret Crabtree, Molly Bolton, Mrs Green, Mrs Sandy, Miss T'ao, Miss Yen with school choir. Miss T'ao (David Hill Girls' School principle, 1947) and Mr Liu (Wesleyan Boys School principle). Mrs Ko, Mrs Chü, Dr. Bolton. Ethel Wagstaff, Grace Ridge, Gladys Hodges, Winifred Brown, Mrs Sandy, Mrs Wang, F. Rothwell.
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Six photographs of bomb damage to League of Nations Epidemic Commission Isolation Hospital, Hanyang
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Photographs of refugees staying in David Hill Girls' School during the school holiday
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13 photographs of group trip including Margaret Crabtree. Includes views of beaches and group photographs.
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Group portrait of David Hill Girls' School Staff, Winter 1947. Identified individuals include Miss T'ao (Principle), Miss Yen and Miss Ko.
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Group portrait of David Hill Girls' School staff and students, including Margaret Crabtree.
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Group photograph of former David Hill Girls' School students and a separate legend compiled by former student identifying individuals in the photograph
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Rev Piercy (1829-1913) was a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary in the Canton district from 1851 to 1883.
Founder of the Wesleyan Canton Mission, 1851
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Mrs Wang was a former matron and principle of David Hill Girls' School
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Mostly unused postcards: including both commercial postcards and mounted personal photographs.
Subjects include: Temples including at Hangchow [Hangzhou]. Street scenes including Nanking [Nanjing] and Singapore. Dockyards (Kobe, Japan). Kiu Kiang [Jiujiang] under flood July 1924. David Hill Girls' School Young Women's Christian Association group portrait including Margaret Crabtree.
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Commercial postcards including images of the Great Wall of China and Peiping [Beijing] street scenes.
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Twelve 35mm slides, primarily depicting scenes of Chinese working life.
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Water colour paintings, primarily depicting animals and plants.
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Miscellaneous Chinese language material
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Bill in Chinese for $32
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Two Business Cards in Chinese for a Construction Company and a Finance Company.
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Negative holder with Chinese text
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Ethel Gough, the daughter of the Rev C H Gough, was the first trained medical practitioner to work for the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society overseas. She left England on 20 December 1895 aboard the 'Arcadia' arriving in Hankow [Wuhan] on 5 February 1896. She took charge of the Hankow Hospital for Women and Children and a few months later opened dispensaries in Kong Tien and Hanyang. However by April 1897 ill health forced her to leave China and return to England (via the USA). She returned to Hankow [Wuhan] in October 1898. Her proficiency in Chinese was now such that she was able to involve herself more actively with evangelical work by holding society classes for women. After a furlough in England during 1904 she returned to China in the summer of 1905 and married the Rev William Rowley (born Newport, Shropshire, 1867), a Wesleyan missionary in the Hupeh section of the Wuchang District. As a result of her marriage Dr Rowley had to formally resign from the Women's Auxiliary but was accorded the status of 'honorary worker' although her contribution to medical work did not seem to diminish in anyway - in fact, in 1907, she created basic midwifery and nursing texts in Chinese. (Missionary reports and magazines, however, often refer to Dr Rowley as Mrs Rowley).
After a furlough in England the couple returned to China in 1909 but to Anlu (sometimes referred to as Chungsiang) in the Hupeh District, with Dr Rowley assuming responsibility for the medical care of women and girls. The couple began to expand the facilities available (including contributing with some of their own funds and asking wealthy patients to assist). Within four years the membership of the society had increased from 60 to 159 with a chapel, mission house, schools and medical centres being opened (including a Women's Hospital under Dr Rowley's direct supervision in 1913). Dr Rowley also supervised the training of many Chinese nurses. By 1917 the need for a children's hospital was evident and they succeeded in opening it in 1919.
Throughout the 1920s they advocated the necessity of a devolved Chinese Methodist Church which should be run by the Chinese themselves. By 1928 they had transferred to Hankow [Wuhan] and in 1929 took up posts in Wusueh. Here they began again with basic facilities but by their departure in 1934 had significantly expanded facilities and Dr Rowley had again organised the training of many Chinese nurses. In 1934 they relocated to Wuchang and remained there until 1937 when they retired to Kuling [?Lushan]. Even in retirement they were active members of the Church until ill-health forced Dr Rowley to undergo surgery in Shanghai in 1941. Unfortunately, due to the Japanese occupation, she was forced to return to Kuling [?Lushan] earlier than desirable and, combined with her insistence in continuing to conduct her hospital rounds (at times having to be physically carried), her health deteriorated and she died before the end of 1941.
She was survived by her husband and their adopted daughter Joy Hwa. Rev Rowley remained at Kuling until interned by the Japanese in Lunghua camp, Shanghai, in 1943. Upon being released at the end of the war he remained in China until forced to leave by the Communist revolution. He resettled in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, attending missionary meetings at Old Bramley Methodist Church. He died on 18 April 1854.
An exercise book with the title 'Reminiscence' which was written by Dr Ethel Rowley (nee Gough) towards the end of her missionary career. Details her arrival in China, her work at Hankow [Wuhan], her joint work with her husband at Anlu (especially her medical work) and subsequent postings to Hankow [Wuhan], Wusueh and Wuchang. Also comments on her health, her colleagues and events (e.g. 'Boxer Riots', 1911 Revolution and floods).
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
No correspondence for the Wesleyan Methodist Ladies Women's Auxiliary from China survives for before 1920. Any extant letters written by Dr Rowley in the 1920s and the 1930s should be amongst the correspondence for the Hupeh District (MMS/WW/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 4-5). A few of her earlier letters (or extracts from them) are reproduced in the publications of the Women's Auxiliary. Three photographs of Dr Rowley (MMS/Home/Photographs/Box 2) and a small number of photographs taken by her husband (MMS/China/Photographs/Box 1197b file 27) are also available.
Correspondence for the Rev William Rowley - which may mention the work of his wife from 1905 onwards - is available (MMS/China/Correspondence/Wuchang/FBN 18-20 & MMS/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 6-9). The synod minutes for the districts they both worked in should give an account of their work as well as the work of their colleagues (MMS/China/Synod/FBN 2-6).
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Charles Wilfrid Allan was born into a Methodist family in York in 1870. After training at Headingley College he was accepted in 1895 by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Wuchang District in China, its chairman being the Rev David Hill who was known to Allan's family and an inspirational figure to Allan himself. In 1913 he was invited to participate in the preparation of the Union Bible but evangelical work and the First World War (where he was stationed in France with Chinese labourers) intervened. From 1919 to 1922 he served as a minister in Beverley, Yorkshire.
Upon his return to China in 1922 he taught at the Union Theological College in Changsa [Changsha] and then in 1930 was seconded to the Christian Literature Society whilst also serving as a minister in the Union Church in Shanghai. During this period he worked on a translation of Hasting's 'Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels' and edited Feng's Chinese language 'Life of John Wesley'.
In 1943 Allan, along with his wife and his daughter Winifred, were interned by the Japanese at Lunghwa camp. Upon his liberation he returned to England and became a supernumerary in Hull, Yorkshire, where he continued to contribute to pastoral work until ill health forced him to stop in 1955. He died in Hull on 12 May 1958.
Further Reading:
Allan, C W, Chu and Lo, two Chinese pastors (1906);
Allan, C W, Is Chiang Kai-shek a Christian?;
Allan, C W, Makers of Cathay (1936);
Allan, C W, Our entry into Hunan [1909].
Typescript manuscript entitled 'China Mission. Memoirs of a Devoted Christian Missionary. The Rev C Wilfred Allan'. Autobiographical work but finalised after Allan's death. Gives overview of Christian missions to China and then an account of his own personal experiences as a missionary in the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society districts of Wuchang and Hunan from 1895 until the end of the Second World War. As well as his evangelism and translation work he comments on indigenous beliefs and customs, the 'Boxer' movement, notable figures in Chinese politics, the Hunan uprising, 1911 revolution, civil war, Sino-Japanese war and internment.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Allan's daughter, Winifred, July 1984
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for C W Allen (MMS/China/Correspondence/Wuchang/FBN 20, MMS/China/Correspondence/Hupeh/FBN 6-7 & MMS/China/Correspondence/Hunan/FBN 4-5). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of Allen, and his colleagues, in districts he was stationed in (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 1-6).
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Dorothy Jean Purry was born on 30 October 1886 and became a Methodist at an early age. She trained as a teacher and applied to serve as a missionary with the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Once the Society had accepted her she was appointed to work in their South China District, leaving England in October 1913.
Her work, principally in and around Canton [Guangzhou], focused on providing a Christian education to children and women. She was also involved in the training of teachers and bible women who would then assist in educational and evangelical work amongst women and children. Purry also provided some help with non-medical work in the mission's hospital. Purry, like many British missionaries, was interned by the Japanese in 1943, probably at the Oriental Missionary Society in Canton. After liberation she returned to England in 1946 and died in September 1961.
A small notebook containing the account of a female missionary working in southern China in the 1920s and 1930s. The missionary would appear to be Dorothy Purry who was involved in Women's Work for the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society in their South China District and specifically within the Canton Circuit.
The first two-thirds of the notebook is an account of Purry's experiences as a missionary principally between 1929 and 1935 and focuses on her literary, educational and evangelical work. She also records the work of her Chinese colleagues, who are principally bible women and teachers. Much of the discussion of her and her colleagues work also reflects on the political situation in China in the 1920s and 1930s.
The last third has general notes, the vast majority of which are extracts from Joy Homer's 1941 publication 'Dawn Watch in China'.
The notebook contains three inserts: two additional dated entries from 1935 and a small copy of A J May's 1934 design for a Methodist Church on Hennessey Road in Hong Kong.
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Gift to Methodist Church Overseas Division from Mrs Enid Crawford Walters, 26 May 1982
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Thomas Leslie Thexton was born into a Methodist family in Pinner, Middlesex, on 25 March 1911. He was educated at Taunton School and Kingston Grammar School and then entered into the family business as a tailor's cutter. After four years ministerial training at Richmond College he was appointed by the Methodist Missionary Society to their South-west China District in 1936.
His first posting was to the walled city of Hweitseh [Jinzhong] where he served with the Rev Fred Cottrell and his wife Margaret - the latter of whom Thexton assisted with her medical work. However, Thexton focus was evangelising within the city and in surrounding villages whilst all the while learning Chinese. After 18 months Thexton relocated to Chaotung [Zhaotong] which had a mission hospital, preacher's training institute and church. He spent some of his time tendering to the physical and spiritual needs of the local leper community. Thexton also had oversight from Chaotung [Zhaotong] of the mission to the Nosu [I-chia]. In 1938 Thexton moved to Weining, working with Rev Vernon Stones, which had a mission primary school, dispensary and residence. Both worked to increase the provision for education and evangelism. In Kunming on 2nd February 1939 Thexton married, without the permission of the missionary society, his colleague Hilda Rudkin (whom he had met in Chaotung [Zhaotong]).
Hilda Rudkin was born in Bristol on 27 July 1910. She trained as a Wesleyan Deaconess and worked in Popular and Bow, London, in 1932 and afterwards for a time in Edinburgh. In 1934 she was accepted by the Women's Work department of the Methodist Missionary Society and began her studies at Kingsmead. After training she was selected as a candidate for the South-west China District and set sail in September 1936 for Chaotung [Zhaotong]. Her work there included organising a kindergarten, arranging and attending ladies' meetings, assisting with the Sunday school and visits to evangelise in the local homes and the hospital. On her marriage to Thomas Thexton she resigned from this work.
The Thextons' work in Weining led to an expansion in education and health provision as well as greater evangelising amongst the Nosu [I-chia]. Whilst the area had not been invaded by the Japanese the impact of the Sino-Japanese war meant an expansion in the infrastructure (particular roads) in and around the city which lead to much more traffic through the area (including those escaping the war). The couple took a furlough in 1943 but because of the worsening situation with World War Two they did not return to China until August 1945. After initially being stationed in Weining they were relocated to Kunming. After some initial resistance to the mission, particularly amongst students, the mission began to expand with a strong body of Chinese evangelists. In the 1948 election for the chairman of the synod Thexton argued that this role should go to a Chinese candidate. None-the-less he was elected and despite his misgivings accepted the role. The Thextons' then moved back to Chaotung [Zhaotong] and oversaw the expansion of the Nosu [I-chia] mission between Yunnan and Tibet with the Yangtze River to the east. With the fall of the Nationalist Government and with control passing to the Communists the mission’s fortunes began to suffer. At this point Rev Thexton required medical treatment in Hong Kong and he and his wife were subsequently unable to return to China.
On their return to England the Thextons worked in a number of Home circuits including in Birmingham and Yorkshire. In 1974 Rev Thexton became a supernumerary and they relocated to the South Petherton and Crewkerne circuit in Somerset where they were involved with the local community and Rev Thexton continued to preach. He died there on 20 April 1986 whilst his wife died at Poole, Dorset, on 16 June 2003.
Photographs (in albums and loose) depicting mission life and work in the Methodist Missionary Society's South-West China District as well as buildings, lanscapes, local communities, etc, in area. With two scrolls commemorating the election of Rev Thexton as Chairman of the South-West China District.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mr John Hollow, August 2003
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Also within the records of the Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for T L Thexton (MMS/China/Correspondence/FBN 15-16 and box 1292). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of Thexton and his colleagues (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 5-6 and boxes 1287-1288). An overview by Thexton of his and his wife's work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207).
Any extant correspondence by Hilda Rudkin whilst engaged in Women's Work will be in their South-west China District correspondence (MMS Box 1318).
Catalogued
Photographs (in albums and loose) depicting mission life and work in the Methodist Missionary Society's South-west China District. Also includes images of towns and villages, temples, local communities and landscapes. The photograph albums have very few captions identifying images.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Photographs principally of South-west China but with no caption information. Includes images of interior and exterior of Richmond College, London; sailing to China in 1936; buildings (including gate, wall and temple) and colleagues (including Rev Fred Cottrel) in Hweitseh [Jinzhong]; a Chinese Christian wedding; local area and population near Hweitseh [Jinzhong]; church meetings; images of Weining (including gate, stone bridge and street scenes); interior and exteriors of unidentified churches and temples (possibly near Kunming); Leslie Thexton & Hilda Rudkin. With insert of photograph of Ethel Wagstaff's cook's young child in Hupeh.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Photographs principally of South-west China but with only a few faded captions for information. Images of buildings and landscapes in or near Kunming; missionary colleagues (including Fred & Marjorie Cottrell, Leslie & Mildred Pacey; Ken May); church meetings; agricultural life; street scenes; wedding of Leslie Thexton and Hilda Rudkin, Feb 1939. These images date from c1937 to 1941.
Album contains envelope with 5 photographs (at least one of which from this album) including images of Hilda Rudkin, Pearl Evans in Hong Kong [1962] and street scene in Weining.
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Images do not appear to have been removed from either of the two photograph albums in this collection. Comprises views of a temple [?Yufeng] near Kunming, Weining (city wall and ancient stone bridge), Hweitseh [Jinzhong] city wall, horse road between Kunming and Chaotung [Zhaotong], Suihsiew, Pearl Evans, group photograph of guild of friendship (includes Mrs Liang, Joyce Sellars, Hilda Thexton, Beatrice Moody and Ruth Kendall), members of S W China Synod, 1950.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Two scrolls commemorating the election of the new chairman [Thexton] at the conference [Synod] of the South-west China region [District] with the intent of greater co-operation and equality between Chinese and non-Chinese. Gold Ink on red paper with patterned border. Both scrolls are 39.5cm wide and 168cm and 161cm long respectively.
Items unavailable due to poor physical condition
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Winifred Elsie Hardy, known as 'Clippie' to family and friends, was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, on 15 August 1913. Her family moved to Bedfordshire when she was a child and she was educated at the local high school and became a member of the Methodist Church. She studied French with English at Westfield College, University of London and after graduating she undertook a teaching diploma at Clapham, south London. She taught French at Purley County School for Girls in Surrey (1937-1941) and then at Luton High School in Hertfordshire (1941-1945).
In 1945 she was accepted as a candidate for the Women's Work section of the Methodist Missionary Society and began a year training at Kingsmead. Upon finishing she was selected for the Hupeh District in China and arrived there in October 1946 to work in the David Hill Girls' School at Hanyang [Wuhan] which had only recently returned from its war time location in Szechwan [Sichuan]. For her first few months she focused on learning Chinese and continued with her studies for the next two years. As her language skills progressed she was given greater teaching responsibilities and increased her participation in bible classes. During 1949 the communists took control of the area and religious teaching on school premises was soon prohibited. By 1950 the teaching of English was also being curtailed and outreach work in villages was no longer possible. Hardy was taken ill in December 1950 and transferred to Hankow [Hankou] but upon recovering she was unable to teach in Hanyang [Wuhan] again. In May 1951 she received permission to leave China and return to England.
On her return to England she took up a post teaching French at St Michael's School in Hurst Green, Sussex. She also involved herself in the work of the local circuit (Oxted and East Grinstead) including with the foundation and administration of a new Methodist church at Hurst Green. In retirement she learnt braille to translate texts for the blind. Hardy died on 5 July 2001.
21 letters written by Winifred [Hardy] to Emily [Naish], who was a fellow student at Westfield College, University of London, in the 1930s. Most of the letters were written from the David Hill Girls' School, Hanyang [Wuhan], Hupeh [Hubei], China between 1946 and 1951.
The letters touch on a wide range of personal and contemporary matters including her journey to China (including a week in Hong Kong), her initial impressions of Hanyang [Wuhan] and the school, comments on missionary colleagues, discussions of mutual friends and their respective families, learning Chinese, her and her colleagues' work at the school (including specific examples of speech therapy and music), evangelism, Christian festivals (particularly Christmas), Chinese festivals (particularly New Year), holidays in Kuling [Guling], missionary meetings (particularly synods) and the economic situation.
From November 1947 there is increasing mention of the civil war and then the communist victory. Hardy mentions fighting in nearby areas, impact on missionary work, martial law and difficulties of working under communist government (particularly restrictions on religious instruction and teaching English).
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs Jean Yeomans of Ilkley, Yorks, August 2009
Given by the family of Emily Naish to Mrs Jean Yeomans
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Any extant correspondence by Winifred Hardy will be in the Women's Work Hupeh District correspondence (MMS/Women’s Work/Correspondence/China/FBN 4 & 5) or general China correspondence (MMS box 1308).
A brief overview by Hardy of her work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207).
Catalogued
David Hill (1840-1896) served as a Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary in China from 1864 until 1896, For further information on him see the entry for his papers.
Joseph Kimber Hill (1867-1952), nephew of David Hill, served the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in their Wuchang District from 1890 to 1922.
Papers also include references to other members of the Hill family and families related by marriage including Lyth, Green and Allan.
Collection contains a small number of letters by the Wesleyn Methodist missionaries David Hill and Joseph Kimber Hill, albums relating to two of their relatives (Harriet and Mary Hill), and printed works mainly relating to David Hill.
The collection has been structured in two series - letters & albums and printed material - with additional sub-series as appropriate. Cataloguing within this has been chronological.
Whilst all original items are available for consultation a few are very fragile. Please do not remove an item from a melinex sleeve where there is a note stating that it must remain in said sleeve.
Restrictions Apply
Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Prof J Allan Patmore (via Mrs R Alison Lewis), September 2005
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Various copyrights
Catalogued
Letters written by David Hill and Joseph Kimber Hill as well as albums relating to Mary Hill and Harriet Hill.
Whilst all original items are available for consultation a few are very fragile. Please do not remove an item from a melinex sleeve where there is a note stating that it must remain in said sleeve.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Letters written by David Hill in China and Joseph Kimber Hill in retirement in Wetherby, Yorkshire.
Whilst all original items are available for consultation a few are very fragile. Please do not remove an item from a melinex sleeve where there is a note stating that it must remain in said sleeve.
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Received no letter in last mail. First baptism in chapel at Lung Ping. Good congregation at Wusueh [Wuxue] with sermon on the 'Widows Mite' and three lessons which can be drawn from it. In the afternoon spoke on the grace of Jesus Christ. Health of Mr John of the London Mission [London Missionary Society] who in five weeks will marry Mrs Jenkins in Shanghai. Native preacher T'ien in Hankow [Hankou] dismissed for wife beating, weaken Mr Scarborough's position and suggest the native Christians need prayers said for them. Out-station of the Kiukiang [Jiujiang] Mission abandoned due to Rev John Ing's return to America. Mr Cox has been ill with dsynetary but will next week go to Kiukiang [Jiujiang]. Very hot weather recently with thunderstorms likely soon. Rumours about problems with Japanese on Tai Wan, Formosa [Taiwan] and connection to recent comet. Been invinted to visit Mr Foster in Hankow [Hankou] but unsure he will be able to go.
With typed transcript.
Please do not remove this item from its melinex sleeve
Restrictions Apply
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Been thinking about him [his father] and the [Wesleyan Methodist] Missionary Committee. Thinks he would be able to assist the committee in their work but realises there may be no vacancy and the travel at his age would be difficult. From his perspective has an increasing objection to supervising others work. Thinks he should speak with the missionary secretaries on how he could best serve God. Suggests another may come forward to undertake the work here, possibly from the local community.
Damage to letter means some text is lost.
With typed transcript.
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Catalogued
Received his letters - first for two months - today. Hopes mail will become more regular. Sends love to friends. Thanks him for the money and books from Edward. His knowledge of German has declined. On sorrowful errand from Shukow Shien with Mr Turner as Mr Whiting died last Thursday. Gives circumstances of Whiting's death (typhus). Difficulties in sending corpse to his wife in Tientsin [Tianjin] four hundred miles away. Describes their earlier journey from Shanghai and how Whiting gave an address on Heaven.
Tomorrow he and Turner will go on to Shu Kow whilst Mr Richard will remain in T'ai Yuan [Taiyuan]. Much work to be done as some are starving. Given relief to 11 villages (about 6,000 people) with about £1000 spent and another £1000 to spend.
At Shu Kow have enquired which villages are most in need. After some delay received a list of 12 villages requiring relief and visited each to speak to the headman and after some negotiation agreed who were in distress. Asked for lists of names which Hill, etc, would then post in vilages to ensure no discrepancies and in some instances visited house to pass out sums (600, 400 and 300 'cash'). Last village visited 'persons there on the very verge of starvation'. Many living of 'roots of reeds, the husks of mullet, leaves of the willow'. Some demolishing house to sell timber for food. Hundreds dead, hundreds left homes. Emotional affect on him. Negative impact on idigenous belief ('their idolatry') of the drought. Done little preaching during relief work. Positive opinion of Richard.
Sends love to various family members and friends. Unsure how long current situation may continue but if money is all spent and people still dying he will be requesting further sums. Leaves it to his brother's judgement on how money should be raised.
Damage to letter means some text is lost.
With typed transcript.
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Catalogued
Happy birthday greetings. Wonders if she will read Charles Wesley's Birthday Hymn 'which Uncle David read to me 62 years ago'.
Letter removed from Rattenbury's 'Greatheart'
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Sends birthday greetings. Sends book to read to Junior Guild.
Letter removed from Rattenbury's 'Greatheart'
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Sends birthday greeting in case she is not at home when they visit. Wife sends love and prayers. Hopes books will be useful. Not given anyone in the family HBR's [Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury] latest.
Letter removed from Rattenbury's 'Greatheart'
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Writing to her and including Harriet and Nora to ask them to accept the enclosed cloth [not extant] which belonged to his wife (who died three months earlier) as has seen nothing else they would care for. With help from others been going through wife's possessions and offering items to family and friends. Been putting his own affairs in order as well. Expects probate to be completed in a few weeks. Not getting out much and walking unlikely to improve soon.
Letter removed from Rattenbury's 'Greatheart'
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Catalogued
Belated birthday wishes. Sends book by WET [William Ernest Tomlison] who had hoped to go to China but served in India. Thinking about her mother.
Letter removed from Rattenbury's 'Greatheart'
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Sending autographed copy of 'Greatheart'. HB [Harold Burgoyne Rattenbury] feels conveyed influence of father [J Kimber Hill] in his lifetime. Profits will go to Methodist International House which has a debt of £12,000. First publication run is 3,000 - please help with sale of book.
Letter removed from Rattenbury's 'Greatheart'
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Memorial album for Mary Hill and 'Book of Life' for Harriet Hill.
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Memorial album for Mary Hill, probably a child who died in 1841. Entries are mainly from texts, poems, homilies, etc, which are either quotations from Christian texts or Christian in sentiment with some quite melancholy. There a number of different contributors (some only identified by initials) but include members of the Hill family (notably David senior and his wife Eliza), Lyth family (Mary and John) and the Allen family. Other contributors mainly from York, Wetherby and Spofforth in Yorkshire. Includes a small number of drawings and prints. Entries are not chronological.
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'Book of Life' for Harriet Hill (cousin of the missionary David Hill). Entries are mainly from texts, poems, homilies, etc, which are either quotations from Christian texts or Christian in sentiment. There a number of different contributors (some only identified by initials) but include members of the Hill family (notably David senior), Green family and the Allen family. Other contributors mainly from York and Wetherby in Yorkshire. Includes a few drawings and prints. Entries are not chronological.
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Printed material mainly relating to David Hill.
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Various copyrights
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Funeral service for Joseph Kimber Hill and material relating to the 150th anniversary of David Hill's birth.
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Various copyrights
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Copyright not known
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Conference to take place on 18th December 1990 at Central Methodist Church, York.
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Promoting event to celebrate 150th anniversary of David Hill's birth and request for family remembrances on Hill.
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Privately produced. Comprises a lecture by David Mullins on David Hill (given at event commemorating 150th anniversary of Hill's birth) and the reproduction of a Christmas Day sermon by Hill.
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Publications mainly on David Hill.
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Various copyrights
Catalogued
Published by Charles H Kelly. This volume belonged to A S Allan.
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Out of copyright
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Published by Charles H Kelly. This volume belonged to A S Allan.
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Copyright held by author
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Ilustrated by Mabel R Peacock. Published by Edinburgh House Press. Presented to Allan Patmore for best essay, David Hill Centenary 1940.
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Published by Epworth Press. Copy signed by author for H[arriet] & N[ora] Allen.
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Biography of Joseph Kimber Hill. Published by Cargate Press. Copy signed by author for H[arriet] & N[ora] Allen.
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Catalogued
Albert Leslie Pacey was born in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, on 14 September 1910 although he grew up and was educated in Spalding, Lincolnshire. In the late 1920s he passed his civil service exam and was employed in 1929 at the Ministry of Pensions in Bradford, Yorkshire. He applied to be a minister in the United Methodist Church and having been accepted he began his training at Victoria Park, Manchester, Lancashire in August 1930. By the time his training was completed Methodist Union had taken place and the Methodist Missionary Society decided to send him in August 1933 to their South-west China District to work in a well established former United Methodist mission field. After a brief period studying at the College of Chinese Studies in Peiping [Beijing] he began his evangelical work in Tungchwan [Jinzhong] as well as teaching English to children. In April 1935 he relocated to Kunming where the mission's work was sometimes disrupted by the ongoing civil war (forcing a brief exodus for mission staff to Hanoi in French Indo-China [Vietnam]). Pacey's work here also included the occasional visit to the well established indigenous churches amongst the Miao [A-Hmao], Nosu [I-chia] and Kopu [Go-p'u] in Yunnan and Kweichow [Guizhou] provinces. On 1 August 1936 Pacey married his colleague Mildred Button in Chaotung [Zhaotong].
Mildred Button was born in Kessingland, Suffolk, on 7 November 1907 and was educated in local village schools and was active both with the Methodist Church and the Girls' Light Brigade. At 15 she was working in embroidery and needlework in Southwold, Suffolk, but two years later was employed in a department store in Acton, Middlesex. She began training as a nurse in 1927 at East Suffolk Hospital in Ipswich becoming an SRN in 1930. Having expressed a desire to serve the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society they encouraged her to qualify as a midwife which she achieved in 1932 having worked in Woking, Surrey, for a while. She also gained some brief experience working amongst lepers in East Hanningfield, Essex. She was accepted as a candidate for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society but was asked to forego her missionary training at Kingsmead, Birmingham, to fill an urgent vacancy in Chaotung [Zhaotong] in China for the United Methodist Missionary Society. She arrived in December 1932 and was initially restricted to administrative and light duties until she had learnt some Chinese. By March 1933 she was on full duties (including midwifery) in the local hospital but also occasionally accompanied the Rev Ken May in his work amongst the Nosu [I-chia] in Si-fang-ching. Ill health, caused by working at altitude (c2000m), forced a relocation to Kunming in the autumn of 1934. In addition to her medical work she also undertook evangelical work amongst women and girls but all of this was impacted by the ongoing civil war, requiring relocation in May 1935 to Wenchow [Wenzhou] where she continued her medical work including a period as acting matron in Blythe Memorial Hospital. Upon marrying she resigned.
The Paceys work continued in Kunming before relocating to Chaotung [Zhaotong] where they had their first child in 1937. Lesley Pacey continued his evangelical work, provided some assistance to the British and Foreign Bible Society as well as some work amongst the Miao [A-Hmao], Nosu [I-chia] and Kopu [Go-p'u]. Along with child care Mildred Pacey supported her husband's work and started a local Girls' Light Brigade. After briefly relocating to Tungchwan [Jinzhong] ill health forced the couple to return to England in January 1939 of the firm view that more should be done to train local preachers, teachers and medical staff.
Their first posting on return was to Skegness, Lincolnshire, with in the following years appointments predominately in Yorkshire but also Hertfordshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. Mildred Pacey also undertook some nursing as well as raising a family. Leslie Pacey became a supernumerary in 1975 residing in the Grassington and Ilkey circuit in Yorkshire and in retirement Mildred took up painting as well as organising a couple of local exhibitions on China whilst Leslie undertook some preaching duties as well teaching Vietnamese refugees English. Leslie Pacey died on 30 April 1987 with Mildred dying six years later on 26 July 1993.
Further reading:
Pacey, A, ed, A Small Link: 1932-1939, memoirs and diaries of Mildred Button (Mrs MIldred Pacey) (2005);
Pacey A L, Yunnan Service (1983).
The collection comprises letters written by Rev Leslie Pacey and to a lesser degree his wife, Mildred, mainly from Yunnan in China to his parents; reports and notes on the Methodist mission in Yunnan by Leslie Pacey; Mildred Pacey's register of midwifery and an account of her life and career; a small number of letters from Rev Alf Evans to the Paceys; a photograph album of their life and work in Yunnan.
Arranged as follows: letters, papers of Rev Leslie Pacey, papers of Mildred Pacey, papers of Rev Alfred Evans, photograph album.
One item (Midwifery Register) is closed under Data protection legislation.
Restrictions Apply
Material deposited by Mr Arnold Pacey and the Methodist Church between 2000 and 2006.
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Copyright vested mainly with Pacey family
Also within the records of the Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for A L Pacey (MMS/China/Correspondence/FBN 15-16). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail the work of Pacey and his colleagues (MMS/China/Synod Minutes/FBN 5-6).
Any extant correspondence by Mildred Button whilst a missionary nurse will be amongst the Women's Work South-west China District correspondence (MMS Box 1318).
An overview by Mildred Pacey of her and her husband's work is also available (MMS/Special Series/Celebrate Together/Box 1207).
Catalogued
Correspondence written mainly by Leslie Pacey (and later his wife Mildred) principally to his parents. Letters mainly written from the mission field in Yunnan but also include his letters from the College of Chinese Studies in Peiping [Beijing].
Two series of page numbers created by the family for the letters (first red then green). Some gaps in sequence due to misnumbering and a few letters (such as to younger siblings) having been removed.
Earlier letters (page nos 1-69) were not deposited with the Methodist Church.
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Copyright vested with Pacey family
Some of the letters in this series are transcribed or summarised in 'Yunnan Service' by A L Pacey (1983). Furthermore, some letters are also transcribed or summarised in the work in this collection entitled 'A Small Link: 1932-1939, memoirs and diaries of Mildred Button (Mrs MIldred Pacey)'.
Catalogued
Letters from Leslie Pacey to his parents written principally from the College of Chinese Studies in Peiping [Beijing] with also a few from Tsinan-fu [Jinan] and Witingfu, China. Matters discussed include: experiences on arriving in China; Methodism in Shanghai; travel in China; comments on college staff and students and description of college life; description of Peiping [Beijing] with also a few remarks on Tsinan-fu [Jinan] and Witingfu; social activities (cinema, sightseeing, tennis, dining, shopping, lectures, etc); learning Chinese; teaching English; festivals and celebrations (Chinese and Christian); family and friends in UK; his health, the weather.
Includes four unnumbered printed circular letters: two written by Pacey (Feb & Nov 1934) and two by his colleague Edward Moody (Feb & July 1934).
The red ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field.
Open
Transferred to SOAS by the Methodist Church, September 2000
Folder deposited directly with the Methodist Church by Arnold Pacey, date unknown.
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Catalogued
Three letters (two incomplete) from Leslie Pacey to his parents written from Pekin [Beijing, China] in February 1934. Matters discussed include: holiday in western hills; family and friends in UK; dining. With undated and authorless document entitled 'Some thoughts on the proposed School for Preachers to be run in the South West China District'.
Three typed circular letters by Leslie Pacey written from Tungchwan [Jinzhong, China], dated 20 June, 7 July and 18 September 1934. Matters discussed include: journey to Tungchwan [Jinzhong] and description of it; his accomodation and mission property; work routine; visitors; health of colleagues. These copies were sent to L Alcock. Number system on these letters doesn't match main sequence.
The red ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Catalogued
Letters from Leslie Pacey to his parents written principally from Tungchwan [Jinzhong] with a few from Yunnanfu [Kunming], China. Matters discussed include: colleagues; his health; weather; travel in china; colleagues' work in Wenchow [Wenzhou] and Shanghai; learning Chinese; teaching English; friends and family in UK; social activities (sightseeing, walking, etc); mission house and other property in Tungchwan [Jinzhong]; evangelical work; need for dispensary; his work routine; pets; domestic matters.
The green ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, September 2005
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Copyright vested with Pacey family
Catalogued
Letters from Leslie Pacey to his parents written principally from Tungchwan [Jinzhong] and Yunnanfu [Kunming], China with three letters written to them by Mildred Button in Kunming. Matters discussed include: family and friends in UK; his work routine; weather; domestic matters; pets; social activities (sightseeing, dining, walking, sightseeing, cinema, tennis, gardening, etc); colleagues; visitors; travel in China; teaching English; learning Chinese and exams; festivals; relationship then engagement between Pacey and Button; April 1935 Pacey relocates to Kunming (where Button is); impact of Communists in area; brief relocation to Hanoi in French Indo-China [Vietnam]; description of and activities in Hanoi; account of communist occupation of Tungchwan [Jinzhong]; Button relocated to Wenchow [Wenzhou].
The green ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field. Numbers 302A to 304V were apparently originally added incorrectly as 343 to 390.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, September 2005
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Catalogued
Predominately letters from Leslie Pacey to his parents written from Yunnan (principally Kunming), China, with six letters written to them by Mildred Button in Wenchow [Wenzhou]. Matters discussed include: family and friends in UK; colleagues; their wedding preparations; their health; his work routine; domestic matters; pets; weather; visitors; travel in China; social activities (tennis, sightseeing, dining, cinema, etc); synod and developments in South-west China district; visit to and comments on Shih-men-k'an or Stonegateway; communist activities in area and impact on mission; government forces reactions; release of Bosshardt of the CIM by communists; Button returns (June 1936) to Kunming.
The green ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field. Numbers 343 to 390 were apparently placed here in error and then renumbered 302A to 304V.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, September 2005
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Copyright vested with Pacey family
Catalogued
Letters from Leslie & Mildred Pacey predominately to his parents written mainly from Kunming, China. Matters discussed include: their wedding (1 August 1936) and honeymoon; their health; weather; colleagues; family and friends in UK; domestic matters; visitors; events re 25th anniversary of Republic; YMCA; social activities (tennis, sightseeing, dining, cinema, walking etc); travel in China; learning Chinese and exams; Government encouraging western New Year.
The green ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, September 2005
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Copyright vested with Pacey family
Catalogued
Letters from Leslie & Mildred Pacey predominately to his parents written mainly from Kunming and Chaotung [Zhaotong], China. Matters discussed include: weather; recent disasters (fires, drought, boat capsizing); their health; colleagues; family and friends in UK; their work routine; domestic matters; visitors; travel in China; social activities (sightseeing, dining, etc); relocated to Chaotung [Zhaotong] (July 1937); Girls Life Brigade; visit to and work amongst the Miao [A-Hmao] and Kopu [Go-p'u]; Mildred's pregnancy and birth of son, Arnold; local troop moved to combat Japanese and comments from colleagues on impact of fighting.
A few letters are incomplete.
The green ink page numbering system used by the family is noted in the title field. There are a few gaps in the sequence due to misnumbering or letters having been retained by the family. A few letters were not numbered but were placed by the family in chronological order.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, September 2005
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Catalogued
Mainly reports and notes on mission work in Yunnan.
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Typescript report noting missionary work in city of Kunming and 'tribal stations' around Hsun-tien. Gives historical overview of missionary work in Yunnan and current situation in K'un-tien Circuits.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Typescript report. Indicates places visited, evangelistic work, educational work and requests (mainly for Christian publications in local languages). Focus of report is on Kopu [Go-p'u] and Miao [A-Hmao].
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Typescript report or article. Argues against the peception that Yunnan is 'backward' or disconnected from the surronding region. Discusses developments in the area culminating in the completion of the new trunk road to Nanking [Nanjing].
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Hand annotated typescript report. Lists salaries of educational and support staff and then overview of educational and evangelical work. Mentions some practical matters as well which indicates these may be handover notes.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Probably for Tungchwan [Jinzhong]. Covers period from July to September with the Chinese character Pei (for Pacey) highlighted in red.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Catalogued
Possibly produced by the Methodist mission in Chaotung [Zhaotong].
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright not known
Catalogued
Register of midwifery cases in England and China as well as a privately printed account of her life and career, mainly relating to her time as a nurse and missionary wife in South-west China.
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Catalogued
Mildred Button's register of her midwifery cases at the Maternity Home, Woking [Surrey], 1931-1932, Chao T'ong [Zhoatong], Yunnan, 1933-1934, and Blyth Hospital, Wenchow [Wenzhou], 1935-1936. Register includes mother's name and age, time and date of birth of child, gender, whether baby born dead or alive and then if premature, doctor attending, condition of mother and baby and general remarks. Only first 14 pages of register used. Some additional notes inserted on cases 67 to 71.
Closed under Data Protection legislation
Closed
Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, September 2005
Copyright probably vested with Pacey family
Catalogued
Privately produced printed account of the life and career of Mildred Pacey (née Button) focusing on her time in South-west China as a missionary nurse and then a missionary wife. Includes extracts from her brief diaries and memories recounted to her son, Arnold Pacey. Also includes extracts from the letters of her husband, Leslie Pacey
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright vested with Pacey family
Catalogued
Alfred Evans was born in Holdenhurst, near Bournemouth, Dorset in 1879, and was educated at Bournemouth Technical College. He spent the latter part of his childhood in Southampton and whilst worshipping at St Mary's Road Bible Christian Church he became aware of their missionary work in China and met his future wife, Bessie Alice Bull (1876-1941). After finishing his training for the ministry at Shebbear College, Devon, in 1903 he spent two years as a minister in St Columb, Cornwall, and then was sent to work as a Bible Christian missionary in Yunnan, China. He arrived in the spring of 1906 and married Bessie Bull (who had been an evangelist in China since 1903) in Yunnan-fu [Kunming] on 11 January 1908.
The three main achievements of his service in Yunnan was encouraging and supporting the significant numbers of Kopu [Go-p'u] Chinese to convert to Methodism, the growth of the Methodist Church in Kunming, Yunnan, throughout the 1930s and his work as chairman of the district.
His wife Bessie died in 1941 of typhus and he became a supernumerary in 1943. He remained in the area and was viewed as an elder statesman by the Methodist community (amongst whom he was affectionately known as 'Uncle Alf') until forced to leave his home in China after the Communist takeover in 1951. He relocated to Hong Kong where he continued to evangelise to both the Chinese and English Methodist communities. He died in Hong Kong on 4 February 1967.
Plan for Shih Chu'an [missionary] subdistricts in China and letters written from Yunnan and Hong Kong by Evans to Leslie and Mildred Pacey.
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes and estate of Alfred Evans
Catalogued
Probably created by Rev Alfred Evans. Sections on the [Methodist] Church, education, standards of living and charities.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Typed letter. Sorry to receive Pacey's letter re future retirement from mission work in district. Sympathises with his feeling but rejects his points. Refrains from combating some of his points as this is a matter of 'conviction of your call'. Reminds him that Mr Yin and Mr Wang speak highly of him and the impact of his teachings and assistance.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Typed letter. Shock of 'Stonegateway tragedy' Assumes they have similar new at Tong Chuan [Jinzhong] as he does - about 100 men attacked Stonegateway with guns and swords and Heber [Rev Reginald Heber Goldsworthy] killed. Sympathises with their task in sorting out aftermath and funeral arrangements. Ken [May] and family and Moodys go on leave soon. With Heber now dead all cover work will fall to Fred [Cottrell] so we need to find way to lighten load as can't postpone furloughs. Asks them to consider some alternative working arrangements, which Fred agrees with. Asks them to send telegram stipulating which arrangement suits them.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright vested with Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Handwritten letter. Thanks them for Christmas present. Sent greetings to her [probably his daughter Pearl] who I receive a letter from every two or three weeks. She has some rheumatic pain. His hearing better. Leaving at ?Nugges new flat with her aunt and sister. Encloses photographs [not extant] of dedication service attended by him and the Revs [Paul] Jefferies and [Frank] Evison.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright vested with estate of Alfred Evans
Catalogued
Handwritten letter. Thanks them for letters, some of which delayed reaching him. Not wise now to send letters from England directly to Pearl [his adopted daughter in China]. Letters in English are treated with suspicion and even some of his letters in Chinese are opened by the authorities. Pearl been unwell - arthritis and headaches. Friend of hers one of the many 'volunteers' for expansion and development in Ulan Bator [Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia]. He is in good health and has been attending services at both Chinese and Englsih Methodist churches in Kowloon. J E Sandbach on furlough currently but been doing very good work here.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright vested with estate of Alfred Evans
Catalogued
Handwritten letter. Thanks them for their letter. Sorry to hear of Cath's great loss and has sent sympathies. First met her when arrived at Tong Chuan [Jinzhong, China] and was staying with the Dymonds. Sent on your message [to Pearl his adopted daughter in China]. Comments Chinese architecture disappearing in favour of high rise buildings. Glad to hear of their children - buses here crowded with children travelling to schools some distance from their homes. Comments on his health and hopes appointment at [Methodist] Conference is 'happy and fruitful'.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, November 2005
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Copyright vested with estate of Alfred Evans
Catalogued
Album containing photographs - almost all dating from the 1930s - taken mostly by Leslie Pacey with some by his future wife Mildred Button of their life and work in China (especially Yunnan). Nearly all images have captions although those at the front of the album are faded.
Comprises: Pacey's journey to China on board the SS Mantua with images of and from the ship and fellow travellers as well as ports visited (Gibraltar and Port Said, Egypt), 1933; College of Chinese Studies, Peiping [Beijing], Dec 1953; visit with colleagues to Western Hills, Pekin [Beijing], includes images of group, temples, methods of travel, Feb 1934; Wenchow [Wenzhou], travel and sightseeing with Rev & Mrs Stedeford and Roy Aylott, April 1934; travel to and arrival in Yunnan and meeting H B Rattenbury and Ted Moody, May 1934; boat journey near Yunnanfu [Kunming] with Rev & Mrs Evans; travel to Tungchuan [Jinzhong] with 'Rats' [H B Rattenbury]; Tungchuan [Jinzhong], city, temples mission property, school sports, Mildred Button and Pearl Evans (some Yunnanfu [Kunming]), Dec 1934; Journey to and colleagues at Chaotung [Zhaotong] including Francis & Emma Tucker, Fred & Marjorie Cottrell, Ken May, Ida [and Heber] Goldsworthy, Miss Bull, Jan 1936; wedding of Leslie Pacey and Mildred Button, Zion Methodist Church, Kunming, 1 August 1936 and honeymoon at Hsi Shan; travel in Yunnan and city walls and gates of Yunnanfu [Kunming], Dec 1936; Pacey visiting Miao [A-Hmao], April 1937; Pekin [Beijing] including summer palace; Wutingfu, Leslie Pacey and Alan Dale, Christmas 1933; events and trips with those meet on SS Mantua, 1934-1935; Tungchwan [Jinzhong], images of town including school as well as colleagues and associates (Mr Wang, Mrs Li, Peng Ta Ma, Mr Fu, Wu Te Tzu, Chian P'ei Tzu and Mr Yang) and Mildred Button and her horse Rusty,1934-1935; Miao [A-Hmao] Nosu [I-chia] and Kopu [Go-p'u] in Yunnan and Kweichow [Guizhou] provinces, c1934-1938; mission house at Tungchwan [Jinzhong], 1934-1935; photographs by Mildred Button of travel in Yunnan and Chaotung [Zhaotong] including Pu Toa Ching, 1933-1935 [some of the following images are likely to be hers as well]; rural Yunnan; image of evacuation to Hanoi [Vietnam] in May 1935]; funeral of Mrs Hsü at Kunming with mourners including Mr Chao, Rev & Mrs Evans, Rev Liao Fu-Ch'eng, Hsü Po Man and Dr Hsü; group images including Francis & Emma Tucker, Mr Ch'i, Miss Feng, Ida and Heber Goldsworthy, 1935; Wenchow [Wenzhou] maternity home and mission hospital, Mildred Button and Lilian Cooper with baby, 1935-1936; Kuan Yin Temple, May 1936; Paceys with William and Mr Ch'en; christening of the son of Rev & Mrs Mölgaurd; Chaotung [Zhaotong] new hospital and Connie Pullen, 1937; friends and colleagues including [Rev & Mrs May with children], Oliver Lyth, Roy Hooper, Dr Stedeford, Roland Stedeford, Mrs Stedeford, William Hooper, Pearl Evans (1930s, 1948 & 1959), group photograph possibly of student nurses (Hefeng, Huijun & Xinxian), nurses (including Juxiang) graduating at Wenchow [Wenzhou] 1937, Ch'en Shun J, Shouzhuang Chu & ?Jing Min 1935, girl guides group (including Rulan) 1937, Guiling 1937, group photograph outside entrance to Jiangcheng school.
The first 55 pages of the album were captioned in the 1930s by Leslie Pacey's sisters based on his notes and are in chronological order. For subsequent pages images added in an adhoc manner and were not captioned until the 1990s. There is the occasional absent photograph which would have been removed from the album prior to deposit at SOAS.
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Accepted as a deposit on behalf of the Methodist Church from Mr Arnold Pacey, August 2006
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright vested with Pacey family
Ocassionally the Pacey's letters mention photographs they have sent home. Such remarks probably relate to a few of the images within this photograph album. Furthermore a couple of the images depicted in this album have annotations refering to Leslie Pacey's 'Yunan Service' .
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of missionaries who worked for the MMS (or its predecessors) in their districts in Australia, New Zealand and the Islands of the South Seas. Papers relate mainly to missionary work in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Australia (principally Tasmania and New South Wales). There is also a small amount of material relating to South Africa and Jamaica. Includes the papers of John H Bumby (WMMS), James Calvert (WMMS), John Hunt (WMMS), Richard Burdsall Lyth (WMMS) and John & Sarah Thomas (WMMS).
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in the Australian & South Seas districts along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
John Wesley's 'A Collection of Hymns for the use of the People called Methodists' (London, 1816) as owned by Samuel Leigh (1782-1852). Faded pencil notes at the start of volume and note from 1821 re Leigh being in New Zealand. (FBN 37, fiche 1676-1684).
Extracts from the diary of Nathaniel Turner (1793-1864), 1829. Covering the months of April to June when he was stationed at and Nukvalofa [Nukuʻalofa], Tonga, with [William] Cross. Records visits to Tofua and Boula, a visit by naval officers, sermons, conversions and baptisms, congregation sizes, literacy and need for more staff (FBN 37, fiche 1671).
Manuscript entitled 'Memoir of the Revd John Polglase, Missionary to Fiji' by John Smith Fordham, 31 January 1861 (FBN 37, fiche 1685).
Photocopies of six letters written by Rev John Whiteley (1806-1869) in New Zealand (mainly whilst at Kawhia) to his parents, 1833-1859. (FBN 33, fiche 1441).
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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The original letters written by Whiteley are held by the The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Library of New Zealand.
Photocopies of the Whiteley letters were received by the MMS from Mr N A Morris in 1969.
Leigh hymn book presented to Museum of Methodist Antiquities by Mr Cheetham of Manchester, 9 November 1882.
Copyright mainly held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Catalogued
John Hewgill Bumby was born in Thirsk, Yorkshire, on 17 November 1808. From a religious family he became a Wesleyan Methodist at the age of fifteen and later a lay preacher. He entered the ministry in 1830 beginning his career in Waltham Abbey, Essex, but spent many of the following years working in and around Birmingham where he acquired the reputation of being a fine preacher. He offered his services to the WMMS and was accepted as a candidate being dispatched for New Zealand aboard the 'James' in late September 1838.
Having arrived in New Zealand at Hakianga on 9 February 1839 he travelled onto the mission station at Mangungu. From April he undertook a three month tour of the Bay of Islands to preach to the local inhabitants and to assess the case for a mission. Later that year he undertook a smaller expedition to Wesleydale - just north of Mangungu - to see if it was possible to re-establish the mission there. Bumby was by this time chairman of the district and implementing mission policy in New Zealand.
In May of 1840 the newly commissioned Wesleyan Methodist mission ship the 'Triton' arrived in New Zealand with further missionary staff. Bumby joined the ship travelling down the west coast as far as Kawia [Kawhia] with the intention of travelling back overland to Mangungu. Whilst crossing the Hauraki Gulf in a canoe with nineteen colleagues he, along with 11 Maoris and one Tongan, drowned between Rangitoto and Tiritiri Matangi on 26 June 1840.
Further Reading:
Barrett, A, The life of the Rev. John Hewgill Bumby, with a brief history of the commencement and progress of the Wesleyan mission in New Zealand (1864);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 3, 1921);
Whyle, I (ed), Rev. John Bumby sesquicentennial commemoration June 26 1990.
Correspondence, mainly received by John H Bumby, from colleagues and friends including John Waterhouse, Mr & Mrs J Tomkinson and John Smedley. There a few letters by Bumby himself and the odd letter where he is just the subject matter. With some posters and printed notices advertising events, the odd membership list and brief notes on a sermon. 1827-1872.
File of 21 letters written by or relating to John H Bumby: 7 letters (1836-1838) written by Bumby whilst in Birmingham, Thirsk [Yorkshire] and aboard the 'James' to friends (principally Mrs Tomkinson of Snow Hill, Birmingham); 14 letters (1839-1857) mostly written in the aftermath of Bumby's death in 1840 by family (Bumby's father) and colleagues (principally W[illia]m Woon). A couple of Woon's letters are written on a printed circular announcing Bumby's death.
Manuscript entitled 'Extracts from the journal of John Hegwill Bumby', c1838. Extracts begins on 2 March 1829 with Bumby at Morton Hall [Lincolnshire] and his work as a local preacher. The subsequent extracts record his post ordination work in home circuits (principally Birmingham) and his preparations for missionary life. Concludes on 21 September 1838 having just left England bound for New Zealand.
Printed circular entitled 'Particulars of the Lamented Death of the Rev. John H Bumby, Wesleyan Minister, Missionary on the Island of New Zealand', c1840.
Print depicting the drowning of Rev John H Bumby and some of his colleagues whilst travelling by canoe in New Zealand, mid C19th. (This print is based on a sketch by James Garland, a survivor of the tragedy, and is attached to a letter dated 8 September 1840 by W[illia]m Woon which is with the MMS New Zealand correspondence).
Only to be viewed on microfiche
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The 21 letters were given to MMS by Rev W L Doughty of Langley Park, London (although previously the property of Dr Nelson of Birmingham).
Correspondence (1827-1872) gift to the MMS from Mr G D H Grant, 1968.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Hewgill Bumby (MMS/Australiasia/Correspondence/New Zealand/FBN 7-8). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, as well as the work of his colleagues, in New Zealand (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/New Zealand/FBN 1).
The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Library of New Zealand holds correspondence, journals and manuscripts, 1832-1840.
The Mitchell Library at the New South Wales State Library in Australia holds correspondence between Bumby and John Beecham in 1840.
Catalogued
Born in Pickering, Yorkshire, England, 3rd January 1813; a printer, bookbinder, and bookseller; whilst ill, a mystical experience drew him to missionary work, 1831; completed his studies at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, 1837; married Mary Fowler (1814-1882) on 22nd March 1838 and, with his wife and his friend John Hunt, sailed to Fiji for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in the same year; worked at Rewa and Lakemba; returned to England to oversee publication of the Fijian Bible, 1856; returned to Fiji, 1857; returned to England, 1866; served as a missionary in South Africa, 1872-1880; minister at City Road, London, 1881; Croydon, 1882; went to Fiji for the mission jubilee, 1885; toured Australia and America on behalf of the mission; retired to England; minister at Finsbury Park, 1887; continued to revise the Fijian Bible; died at Hastings on 8th March 1892.
Further Reading:
[Calvert, J], Friendly Islands (1886);
Calvert, J, letter to J. Hannah with notes on John Hunt (1848);
Calvert, J, Fiji and the Fijians (Vol 1 1858, Vol 2 1860);
Calvert, J, Fiji District: letter to the Rev. S. Rabone, General Secretary of Wesleyan Missions in Australia and Polynesia (1865);
Calvert, J, Native agents and their support (1878);
Calvert, J, The story of Fiji (1887);
Hall, C M, Calvert of cannibal Fiji (1918);
Rowe, G S, James Calvert of Fiji (1893);
Telford, J, Makers of our missions. Pages from the lives of Methodist missionaries (1895);
Vernon, R, James Calvert; or, From dark to dawn in Fiji ([1890]);
Williams, Thomas, Fiji and the Fijians (1870);
WMMS, Events in Feejee - narrated in recent letters from several Wesleyan missionaries (1856).
Papers, 1837-1910s, of James Calvert and his wife Mary, including James Calvert's journals, 1838-1886 (some gaps), including his experiences in Fiji and South Africa; Mary Calvert's journal, 1863-1866; certificates, 1838, including those for ordination and marriage; personal and family papers, 1839-1887, including baptismal certificates, 1839-1846, photographs of children, and poems; correspondence of James and Mary Calvert, 1837-1892, the correspondents including John Hunt and other ministers, and members of the Calvert and Fowler families; memoranda books on missionary conferences in Adelaide, 1866, Grahamstown, 1873, 1880, and Bloemfontein, 1874; printed proceedings of conferences at Pietermaritzburg, 1877, and Natal, 1878; manuscript notes and addresses, 1830s-1890s, including autobiographical notes, sermons, and anecdotes of mission life; c30 bills, 1870-1890; press cuttings and articles by or about Calvert, 1840s-1910s.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Official correspondence by James Calvert whilst a missionary in Fiji is located within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Fiji/FBN 5-6). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Fiji district (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Fiji & Tonga/FBN 2). Correspondence is also extant from his period in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Bechuanaland/FBN 5 & MMS/South Africa/Correspondence/Bloemfontein/FBN 6). Synod minutes will also detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in South Africa (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 3-5).
Information on his work in later life promoting the WMMS in North America and Australia might be found within the Home correspondence and minutes.
Handlist available
Catalogued
Born, 1812; educated in a parish school; farm labourer from c1822; became a Methodist, c1828; studied in his spare time and became a preacher at Swinderby and Potter Hanworth, Lincolnshire; went to study at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, 1835; was ordained and married Hannah Summers (b 1812), 6th March 1838; Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society missionary to Fiji, 1838-1848; worked in Rewa, Somosomo, Lakemba, and Vewa [Viwa], travelling to visit various mission stations on the Fijian islands; worked on the translation of the Bible, completing the New Testament and beginning the Old Testament; knowledgeable about Fijian culture; his evangelistic work was successful and he was instrumental in the conversion of the warrior Varani, 1845; died of dysentery, 4th October 1848; buried at Viwa [Vewa]; survived by his wife and children, including their eldest daughter, Eliza-Ann, and their second daughter, Hannah, who married Lewis Richings.
Further Reading:
Birtwhistle, N A, In his armour. The life of John Hunt of Fiji (1954);
Calvert, J, letter to J Hannah with notes on John Hunt (1848);
Nettleton, J, John Hunt pioneer missionary and saint ([1906]);
Finney, R C, Among Fijian cannibals, John Hunt (1957);
Hunt, J, Private Journal of John Hunt;
Hunt, J, Memoir of the Rev W Cross ... missionary to the Friendly and Feejee Islands; with a short notice of the early history of the Missions (1846);
Hunt, J, An explanation of the Christian religion: comprising its evidences, doctrines, duties and institutions: in a course of lectures (1850);
Rowe, G S, The life of John Hunt, missionary to the cannibals (1859);
Telford, J, Makers of our missions. Pages from the lives of Methodist missionaries (1895);
Williams, T, Memoir of the late Rev. John Hunt, Feejee.
Papers, 1833-1938, of and relating to John Hunt and his family, comprising correspondence, 1833-1868, of John and Hannah Hunt, the correspondents being mainly family members but including some other missionaries; 'scrapbook' kept at the Wesleyan Theological Institution, Hoxton, commencing 1835, containing entries by Hunt on religious subjects; certificates, 1838, of ordination and oath of allegiance; Hunt's journals, 1838-1848, including the journey to Fiji and life and work there, one volume including an autobiographical account of his early life and religious experiences; Hunt's sermon notes and religious writings, largely undated [1830s-1840s], including a volume presented to R B Lyth, 1842; poems by Hunt, including some Fijian verses, undated; Hunt's manuscript memoir of the Rev William Cross [1843-1844]; pen believed to have belonged to John Hunt; photographic copies of a portrait of Hunt; the first Tongan Bible [published in 1839], with an inscription regarding its provenance, 1842; printed letter by James Calvert on Hunt's death, 1848; biographical account of Hunt [by R B Lyth] [after 1848]; notebook [of Hannah Hunt], some entries inscribed E A Hunt and dated 1860, including notes on Lincolnshire and other English localities, the Scriptures, poetry, Shakespeare, and history; notebook of poems from Elsie and Hannah Hunt to their mother [Hannah Hunt], 1875; photograph [of Hannah Hunt]; miscellaneous papers of Hannah Hunt Richings, 1864-1881, including photographs of her and her husband Lewis, undated; notebook of Eliza-Ann Hunt, containing diary entries, 1874-1888, and other entries including poetry and stories; papers, 1920-1938, including letters, press cuttings, and notes, relating to John Hunt, his work in Fiji, and his Lincolnshire connections.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for John Hunt (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Fiji/FBN 5-6). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Fiji district (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Fiji & Tonga/FBN 2).
The Methodist Archives and Research Centre at John Rylands University Manchester, holds Hunt's memoranda book and diary, 1836-1837.
The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Library of New Zealand holds seven volumes of Hunt's journal and sermons, 1841-1848.
The Mitchell Library at the New South Wales State Library in Australia holds correspondence by Hunt, 1835-1850.
Handlist available
Catalogued
Richard Burdsall Lyth was born in York in 1810 to John Lyth (1777-1853) and Mary Lyth (nee Burdsall, 1782-1860). His ancestry, on both sides, was strongly Methodist, with his brother John also ordained as a Methodist minister (he served as a missionary in Germany for six years) and later his nephew, David Hill, served as a WMMS missionary in China. However, Richard Lyth first trained in medicine, being articled to the York surgeon Mr Mateson, later studying for a diploma at the University of London and in 1836 qualifying as a surgeon. Also in 1836 Lyth married Mary Anne Hardy and his candidacy for missionary work was accepted on the understanding his medical work would come second to his evangelical work. The newlyweds departed for the Friendly Islands [Tonga] where they remained for nearly three years until they were relocated to the more difficult mission field of Fiji, arriving in the summer of 1839.
After briefly serving in Rewa Lyth, along with John Hunt, were invited to establish a mission at Somosomo, Taveuni, by chief Tui Kilakila. However, upon their arrival they found they were not as welcome as they had believed and restrictions were placed on their evangelical activities. Furthermore, their attempts to lessen some of the more violent elements of Fijian custom were resisted and only achieved limited success. However, both men used the opportunity to further their translation work on the New and Old Testament into Fijian dialects and Lyth's medical skills were often called upon.
After five years and with little spiritual success (although his medical skills had been much appreciated) Lyth relocated to Lakemba. As well as continuing his translation work Lyth promoted his interest in encouraging the development of the indigenous mission and the training of Fijians for pastoral and teaching work. Over the next few years the Lyths worked in either Viwa or Lakemba, as well as undertaking voyages around the coast of Viti Levu to evangelise, finally settling in Lakemba in 1850. From Hunt's death (1848) Lyth continued their translation work as well as his own interests, including work on a Fijian grammar and composing hymns. Lyth's interests in training lead to the foundation of a training institution for Fijian Methodists and he presented a report to the WMMS committee in 1853 recommending how training should be implemented. The committee accepted his recommendations and his work formed the foundation of theological training in Fiji for years after. However, Lyth's health was now failing him and he left Fiji (with his family) in October 1854 although he remained in the minds of the Fijians as the 'carpenter of sickness' and was commemorated with the mission house at Rewa being named Lythville.
Lyth did not return to England though but spent three years in New Zealand as Governor and Chaplain of the Wesleyan College in Auckland. Upon their return to England in 1858 Lyth worked in home districts as well as continuing his translation work, in particular for the British and Foreign Bible Society. In 1866 he became a supernumerary in York but was tempted out of retirement in 1869 to serve as chaplain to the military and minister to the residents of Gibraltar. He returned to England in 1874 as a supernumerary initially in Shorncliffe, Kent, and then for the remainder of his life in York, residing at the Fulford barracks. Lyth died in York on 17 February 1887 whilst his wife, Mary, died on 14 September 1890.
Further reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 3, 1921);
Lee, H, A memoir of the Lyth family of York in the nineteenth century (1987);
Wood, A. H, Overseas missions of the Australian Methodist Church (vol 2, 1978).
Letter book containing copies of four letters sent by Richard Burdsall Lyth to his family, December 1836-July 1837. With index.
Letter book containing copies of letters sent by Richard & Mary Lyth to their family and friends, February 1840-December 1841. With index.
Letter book containing copies of letters sent by Richard & Mary Lyth to their family, September 1850-November 1853.
Letter book containing copies of letters sent by Richard & Mary Lyth to their family and friends, August 1852-September 1855. With newspaper cutting re sacredential address given by Rev Dr Lyth at a Sheffield District meeting at Doncaster [Yorkshire].
Volume containing extracts from Lyth's journal (1843 & 1851), copies of the 'Lakemba Note' (1846) reporting on the state of the mission, sermons, a copy of a quarterly letter from December 1847 and notes on building, health and weather in relation to the mission in Fiji. One section of the volume is in Fijian.
Letter, dated 12 December [19]52, from Margaret Early of Oxford to Miss Longstaff [Mission House, London] re marriage of Richard Burdsall Lyth and Mary Hardy and the birth of their first child.
Memo from the W[omen's] W[ork] finance department to the archives department [of the MMS] recounting the details of a recent letter received by them from Dr E C Hudson, regarding some artefacts relating to the Lyth family and Dr Hudson's intention to place these in museums in Australia and Fiji, 12 January 1967 (fiche 1671).
Microfilm containing copies of correspondence written by Richard Burdsall Lyth to his family (principally his parents) between 1829 and 1856. Letters written from York, Tonga and Fiji with occasional extract from his diary. Also includes an account drawn from the diary of William Cross regarding the wrecking of a canoe he was travelling in [between Nuku'alofa and Neiafu, Tonga] in 1832 when his wife and 20 colleagues drowned.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
Please ask an archivist if you wish to consult the microfilm of letters.
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The microfilm was created by the MMS on 29 June 1955 from original letters in the possession of a Mr Early
Official correspondence by Richard Burdsall Lyth whilst a missionary in Australasia and Spain can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive. Letters (including extracts from his journal) are extant for Tonga (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Tonga/FBN 13), for Fiji (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Fiji/FBN 5-6), for New Zealand MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/New Zealand/FBN 10) and Gibraltar (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Gibraltar/FBN 16). Furthermore, the synod minutes should detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in Tonga and Fiji (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Fiji & Tonga/FBN 2), New Zealand (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/New Zealand/FBN 1) and Gibraltar (MMS/Europe/Synod Minutes/FBN 1).
A letter by Lyth can also be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46). An image of Lyth can be found within file 2 of MMS/Australasia/Photographs/Box 1196b. A few items by or relating to Lyth are amongst the papers of John Hunt (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/South Seas/FBN 36-37).
The Mitchell Library at the New South Wales State Library in Australia holds correspondence, journals, translation work and other papers by or relating to Richard Lyth, 1832-1889, as well as diaries and correspondence of his wife, Mary, 1838-1853.
The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Library of New Zealand holds correspondence by both Richard and Mary Lyth, 1829-1856.
Catalogued
Henry Hanson Turton (the son of the Wesleyan Methodist Minister Isaac Turton) was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, on 5 July 1818. He was accepted for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1839 but prior to his departure to undertake mission work he married Susannah Lindsay Kirk in August of that year. Along with his wife he left England on 14 September on the maiden voyage of the newly commissioned mission ship the 'Triton'. They arrived in New Zealand on 8th May 1840 along with the Rev & Mrs Thomas Buddle, Rev & Mrs John Skevington, Rev Gideon Smales, Rev John Aldred and Rev George Buttle. It was initially proposed that the Turtons be posted to Kawhia but this was reconsidered and they were asked to open a new mission just to the north at Aotea. Rev Turton's missionary career began in a tent until after eight weeks the mission house was made partially habitable and his wife joined him. They were quite isolated as is best illustrated by Mrs Turton only having her husband to assist her with the birth of their first child in 1841.
Turton shared responsibility for the circuit with the Rev John Whiteley at Kawhai and both of them spent much time travelling in order to evangelise. In December 1842 Turton embarked on a 6 week round trip through the area travelling as far east as Mokau and as far north as Waipa - a distance he estimated of some 600 miles. In early 1843 he followed this with a trip to Auckland and later in the year relocated to New Plymouth where he remained for much of the next decade.
Turton was in the forefront of the rejection of Bishop Selwyn's views regarding the status of Methodist ministers. Selwyn argued that the Methodists were more teachers than ministers, that Anglicans should administer the sacrament and that Maoris baptised by Methodists should be re-baptised by Anglicans. This dispute not only caused a clear division between the two Protestant faiths but also caused confusion amongst, as well as some offense to, Maoris converted by Methodists. Turton, in 1846, also vigorously disputed Dieffenbach's criticisms of missionaries in New Zealand and raised strong objections to comments made by Edward Jeringham Wakefield in his 'Adventure in New Zealand'.
From the mid 1840s Turton assisted in land claim negotiations for Governor Fitzroy and with his wife founded a school for Maoris in 1845 (later known as the Grey Institute). Mrs Turton died, soon after the birth of their fourth son, on 21 October 1849. In 1851 Turton remarried on 10 April Mary Emily Walsall. Turton interests increasingly turned to business ventures and this began to bring him into conflict with the missionary society. After a furlough in 1856 Turton returned to discover that John Hobbs was to be dispatched to review Turton's business activities. By this time Turton had relocated initially to Kawhai and subsequently Manukau but Hobb's report did establish a case to answer. In 1858 Turton went to England briefly and upon his return in 1859 resigned from the WMMS.
Turton found employment as a translator with the Native Minister Donald McLean and was later appointed a Goldfields Warden at Coromandel in 1862. He served as Member of Parliament for New Plymouth between 1863 and 1864, leaving to act as Commissioner to investigate Maori land claims and titles. In 1874 he relocated to Wellington where he was involved with creating and recording land purchases in the North Island. He died in Wellington on 18 September 1887.
Further Reading:
Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland (online);
Laurenson, G. I, Te Hahi Weteriana. Three half centuries of the Methodist Maori mission 1822-1972 (1972).
Manuscript entitled 'Tritonia: or Memoranda of the First Voyage of the Wesleyan Missionary Ship "Triton" from England to New Zealand in 1839-40' by a 'New Zealand Missionary' [Henry Hanson Turton]. With advertisement and contents page. Account beings with preparations for voyage and author's ordination in England during August 1839 and ends with an account of Rev John Bumby's death in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand, in June 1840. In the appendix the author offers advice on what preparations should be made before departing for missionary service (including what to take) and on how to behave aboard ship - including how to interact with fellow passengers and the crew, hygiene, religious devotion and private study. Covering letter, dated 5 May 1846, from H Hanson Turton, New Plymouth, New Zealand, to Rev John Beecham, Bishopsgate, London, suggesting that the enclosed manuscript could be published.
Poor quality copy of the manuscript and letter, some of which may not be contemporary. ?Mid C19th.
Only to be viewed on microfiche.
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For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright probably held by Methodist Missionary Society.
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Henry Hanson Turton (MMS/Australiasia/Correspondence/New Zealand/FBN 8-10). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, as well as the work of his colleagues, in New Zealand (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/New Zealand/FBN 1).
Papers relating to the missionary ship 'Triton' are also available within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive (MMS/Special Series/Ships' Papers/FBN 47-48).
The Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Library of New Zealand holds a small amount of material relating to Turton.
Catalogued
Joseph Rennard Orton was born in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire, on 10 October 1795 to John (d. 1811) and Elizabeth (d. 1808) Orton. In 1810 Joseph Orton moved to London to live with his brother Thomas and three years later he joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church. During this period at St George's he served as a Sunday school teacher and local preacher before being accepted by the WMMS as a missionary candidate. He, along with his wife (Sarah Jane Bragg of East Smithfield, London, whom he married on 19 November 1815), left England on 25 February 1826 for missionary work in Jamaica where they arrived 3 months later.
Orton initially served in St Anne's Bay but later relocated to Montego Bay. He developed a mission to the Maroons in Accompong Town, south of Montego Bay, and like many of his colleagues preached to slaves (often at the displeasure of local plantation owners and officials). In 1828 Orton returned to visit St Anne's Bay where colleagues were being prosecuted by local magistrates for allegedly preaching without a licence. Whilst supporting their cause Orton himself preached and was arrested and imprisoned for not having permission to preach in that parish (despite once having been a minister there). After 10 days in prison Orton's case was, by writ of Habeas Corpus, passed to the Supreme Court where the charges against him were quashed and the original magistrates criticised for their conduct. However, Orton's incarceration had left him with significant health problems compelling him to leave Jamaica on 5 December 1829.
After having spent a couple of years preaching in home circuits (Bath, Somerset, and Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk) Orton was asked to serve as superintendent for the New South Wales District in Australia and he duly departed England on 3 August 1831. The district was in need of re-organisation so Orton improved communication with the missionary society in London, reformed financial proceedings, encouraged discipline and introduced better pastoral oversight. As a result the district gained more members and expanded its territory. In February 1836 Orton was relocated to the Van Diemen's Land District to serve as superintendent. As well as supervising the work of the district he joined John Batman in seeking to found a mission in Melbourne, particularly amongst the Aborigines, laying the foundation for the Port Phillip circuit and Buntingdale mission. In 1840 he relinquished control of the Van Diemen's Land District in the hope of returning home but was instead asked to assist in the fledgling 'Australia Felix' District. He and his family arrived in Melbourne on 3 October and over the next year the mission grew. Orton also found time to visit and report on the prospects of a mission in Adelaide. By 1842 Orton's workload combined with his poor health necessitated his return to England. Leaving Melbourne in March 1842 with his wife and seven children his health further deteriorated due to the poor weather conditions the ship encountered. Orton's health finally failed him and he died at sea on 30 April 1842.
Further Reading:
Blacket, J, Missionary triumphs among the settlers in Australia and the savages of the South Seas: a twofold centenary volume (1914);
Colwell, J, The illustrated history of Methodism: Australia, 1812 to 1855: New South Wales and Polynesia, 1856 to 1902: with special chapters on the discovery and settlement of Australia, the missions to the South Sea Islands, New Zealand and the aborigines, and a review of the movement leading up to Methodist union (1904);
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 2 & 3, 1921);
Orton, J. R, Aborigines of Australia (1836);
Pretyman, R. D, A chronicle of Methodism in Van Diemen's Land 1820-1840 (1970).
Journal of Joseph Orton probably compiled between 1826 and 1837 but including reference to events dating back to 1795. Begins with an overview of Orton's life up to 1826. Individual dated entries begin on 25 February 1826 and end on 15 January 1832. Journal covers the period leading up to his acceptance as a missionary for the WMMS and then records his service in Jamaica, England and New South Wales. Journal ends whilst in the early stages of his superintendency in Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania]. Rear of volume has chronology of family events (e.g. births, deaths, etc). With index at front of volume.
Manuscript, probably composed by Orton after 1830, entitled 'Memoranda for the Committee' recording thoughts and ideas regarding the missions in New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land [Tasmania] and New Zealand.
Manuscript on Tonga (divided into two sections sections) which was probably composed by Orton after 1830. The front section is entitled 'No 1 Government and Succession of Friendly Islands Chiefs' whilst the rear section is entitled 'No 2 Queries and Memo[rand]a regarding the War Friendly Islands'.
Manuscript on Tonga, probably composed by Orton after 1830, entitled 'No 3 Information on Queries Friendly Islands'.
Manuscript on Tonga, probably composed by Orton after 1835, entitled 'No 4 General Information Friendly Islands'.
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Official correspondence by Joseph Orton whilst a missionary in Jamaica and Australia can be found within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archive. Correspondence (including extracts from his journal) for Jamaica can be found within MMS/West Indies/Correspondence/General/FBN 6-8. Correspondence written from the districts within which he worked whilst in Australia, along with papers relating to the mission to the Aborigines, can be found amongst MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Australia/FBN 1 and MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Tasmania/FBN 11. Furthermore, the synod minutes should detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the West Indies (MMS/West Indies/Synod Minutes/FBN 1) and Australia (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Australia/FBN 1).
The Mitchell Library at the New South Wales State Library in Australia holds journals and correspondence by Orton, 1825-1842.
Catalogued
Born at Worcester, England, 1796; blacksmith at Hagley, Worcestershire; became a Methodist and soon began to preach; married Sarah Hartshorn (d 1867); accepted by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS), 1824; pioneering missionary to the Friendly Islands [Tonga] in the South Seas - arriving in 1826; preached at Hihifo, Tongatapu, 1826-1828; moved to the island of Ha'apai, 1829; baptized the chief Taufa'ahua Tupou, 1831; a Tonga-wide revival movement began, 1835; Thomas enthroned Tupou, with English rites, as first king of all Tonga, 1845; although the WMMS withdrew from Samoa (1839) by agreement with the London Missionary Society, Thomas advocated re-entry and supported Tupou's policy of sending Tongan Wesleyan missionaries to Fiji and Samoa; persuaded the Australasian Wesleyan conference (which took over the Pacific from the British Wesleyans in 1855) to reverse the LMS decision regarding Samoa; following a visit to England his influence with Tupou waned, 1850s; retired to England and became supernumerary minister at Stourbridge, Worcestershire, 1860; died, 29th January 1881.
Further Reading:
Latukefu, S, Church and state in Tonga: the Wesleyan Methodist missionaries and political development, 1822-1875 (1974);
Luckock, John Thomas: extracts from the journals and private diaries of Rev. John Thomas; edited by Mrs Stuart Luckcock, with an outline of his life and times by Rev. Francis Luckcock (1981);
Luckcock, J L, Thomas of Tonga, 1797-1881: the unlikely pioneer (c1990);
Rowe, G S, A pioneer. A memoir of the Rev. John Thomas, missionary to the Friendly Islands (1885);
Telford, J, Makers of our missions. Pages from the lives of Methodist missionaries (1895);
Thomas, J, Hymns, catechisms, prayers, &c. for the use of the Wesleyan Societies in the Friendly Islands (1861).
Papers, 1786-1875, of John and Sarah Thomas, including John Thomas's journals and memoranda books, 1821-1875, including his religious reflections, life in England and Tonga, and missionary work; sermon notes, undated; manuscripts on Tonga and the South Seas, including mythology, religion, history, and ranks of chiefs, undated; photographs, prints and drawings, most unlabelled, of people and places in Tonga, undated [1820s-1850s?]; two accounts of the life of Sarah Thomas by John Thomas [after 1866]; miscellaneous correspondence, 1825-1873, of John and Sarah Thomas, including letters from John Thomas to Wesleyan Mission House; journals of Sarah Thomas (née Hartshorn), 1826-1855, including her experiences in Tonga; account book for building a new Methodist chapel in Glasgow, 1786-1792; steward's account book, 1813-1820, of the Methodist Society, Glasgow, including Leaders' meetings minutes, 1813-1820.
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Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence (with extracts from journals) for John Thomas (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Tonga/FBN 12-14). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in the Friendly Islands district (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Fiji & Tonga/FBN 2).
In addition, we hold a photocopy of a letter (1857) from Thomas in Tonga to his brother-in-law, referring to mission activity there (MS 380449). A letter by him can also be found within the Steele Collection (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46).
The Mitchell Library at the New South Wales State Library in Australia holds letter books, correspondence, manuscripts, etc, by or relating to Thomas, 1829-1879.
Handlist available
Catalogued
Thomas Adams, the son of Thomas Adams and Tabitha Adams (nee Grylls) was born at Litcott, Laneast near Launceston in Cornwall in 1820. He was one of seven children with two of his siblings achieving national significance: his brother William as professor of Natural Philosophy at Kings College, London, and his brother John Couch the eminent astronomer who discovered the planet Neptune.
Thomas Adams was accepted for the Wesleyan Methodist ministry in 1845 and received his training at Richmond in Surrey. In September 1846 he married Maria French and shortly afterwards they departed for the Friendly Islands District in the South Seas. He served at Tongatabu [Tongatapu, Tonga] for three years before relocating to Vavan [Vava'u, Tonga]. After five years in Vavan [Vava'u, Tonga] he returned to Tongatabu [Tongatapu, Tonga]. From about 1848 he began work on translating the Bible into Tongan which was published by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1852. Adams was also one of the negotiators for peace at the end of the Tongan civil war.
In 1854 Adams and his wife transferred to Paramatta in the New South Wales District of Australia but after two years returned to the Friendly Islands District to serve once again in Tongatabu [Tongatapu, Tonga] and Vavan [Vava'u, Tonga]. By 1859 Adams was chairman of the district but his wife, Maria, died the following year (on 25 February) and he returned to England in 1861.
Although he retained an interest in missionary work Adams never returned to the overseas mission field again but instead worked in a number of circuits and districts in the UK - principally Wigan in Lancashire, London, Newport on the Isle of Wight and Cambridge. Whilst in Cambridge he was instrumental in obtaining the estate that the Leys School was later built on. He became a supernumerary in 1877 and died at Chatteris, Cambridge, on 24 October 1885. Two of his sons, Thomas & Alfred, became Anglican ministers.
Further Reading:
Findlay & Holdsworth, The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, (vol 3, 1921);
Toy, H. S, The Adamses of Lidcott, at Laneast, Launceston (1969);
Wood, A. H, Overseas missions of the Australian Methodist Church (vol 1, 1975).
Five folders of photocopies relating to Thomas Adams being:
(I) correspondence between Adams and his parents and siblings written whilst he was in England, 1841-1846;
(II) correspondence between Adams and his parents and siblings whilst he was travelling to Friendly Islands [Tonga] and once resident there, 1846-1853;
(III) correspondence between Adams and his parents and siblings written whilst he was in New South Wales, Australia, 1854-1857;
(IV) correspondence between Adams and his parents and siblings written whilst he was in Friendly Islands [Tonga], 1859-1860;
(V) correspondence and miscellaneous material. Correspondence is between Adams and his parents and siblings written whilst in England including once he became a supernumerary, 1861-1881. Miscellaneous material includes sermons, a catechism, description of Tongan traditions and autobiographical note re his early religious experiences (undated).
Folder of photocopies of letters written between members of the Adams family, including Thomas, written in England, 1854-1885. With preachers' plan for the Camelford circuit in Cornwall, 1847/1848 and handwritten sketch of Adams family tree (undated).
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The five folders of photocopies were made by the MMS from originals in the possession of Miss Hilda Harrison, Girton, Cambridge, 1969.
The other folder of photocopies was made by the MMS from originals in the possession of Miss Hilda Roseveare, Saltash, Cornwall.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Also within the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society is the official correspondence for Thomas Adams (MMS/Australasia/Correspondence/Tonga/FBN 14). Furthermore, the synod minutes will detail his work, and that of his colleagues, in both the districts he served (MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Fiji & Tonga/FBN 2 & MMS/Australasia/Synod Minutes/Australia/FBN 1).
The papers of the Adams family of Laneast (Ref: AM) are held by Cornwall Record Office.
Handlist available
Catalogued
Comprises the personal papers of Rev A J Hopkins (UMMS).
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Brief biographical information on Methodist missionaries who worked in Kenya along with references to where further information appears in printed sources is available from the Methodist Missionary Register. Please contact us for details.
Catalogued
Arthur Joseph Hopkins was born on the 11 May 1883 in Birmingham, Warwickshire, to the Rev & Mrs J G Hopkins, who were United Methodists. He was educated at King Edward's Grammar School, Birmingham, and entered the ministry in 1908. After postings to English circuits (including Birkenhead, Bristol South and Rochdale) followed by one year of medical training he was sent overseas to East Africa in May 1918. By 1929 ill health forced him to return to England (working in the Sheffield circuit for one year and then the Bristol South circuit for four years) but he returned overseas in 1934 and remained in Kenya until his retirement in 1950.
Hopkins' (or 'Hoppy' as he seems to have been universally called by friends and colleagues) missionary work began in Ribe in 1918 but by 1921 he had been posted to work along the Tana River, where prior to the First World War German missionaries had worked. After two years his health forced him to relocate to Meru, then he returned briefly to England before locating to Ribe again. In 1929 his health was sufficiently poor for him to be recalled to work in English circuits. In those eleven years in Kenya Hopkins assisted in expanding the mission as well as encouraging education and literacy, particularly through the founding of a teacher training institute in Ribe.
Hopkins returned to Kenya as Chairman of the District in 1934 after the sudden death of the Rev R T Worthington (amongst the first things Hopkins oversaw was the building of a memorial church in Meru to his predecessor). From the start of his tenure he advanced the growth of education and literacy in mission schools including supporting the Native Council's call for the foundation of a large teaching training centre which was realised in 1949. In the post war period he and his colleagues provided greater resources for adult education. Under his tenure there was also growth in medical provision as well as agricultural and industrial interests.
Hopkins used his tenure as Chairman to facilitate the growth of an indigenous church, chairing the meeting that wound up the Kenya Missionary Council and being involved in the creation of the Christian Council of Kenya in 1944. He often stated the view that what the Church saw as problematic African customs were best resolved by African Christians themselves. Hopkins also served on a number of colonial committees and inter-church organisations. To the Meru he was known as 'Mwigithania' ('The Reconciler').
In 1950 he retired to England and was a supernumerary first in Witney, Oxfordshire, and later in Bournemouth, Dorset. He spent much of his remaining years on translation work. Previously, in 1946, he had been involved in the translation of the Four Gospels & Acts into Kimeru, and in retirement this was followed by the New Testament in 1952, Psalms in 1955 and lastly the complete Meru Bible in 1964. Hopkins was awarded an OBE in 1951 and died in Bournemouth on the 20th May 1965.
Further Reading:
Hopkins, A. J., Trail Blazers and Road Makers (1928);
Hopkins, A. J., The Methodist Church in Kenya: the Meru Bible: translation of the Scriptures into Kimeru (1962);
Nthamburi, Z. J., History of the Methodist Church in Kenya (1982).
Letters written and received by Rev A J Hopkins; papers on and photographs of the Methodist mission in Kenya; notes, etc, on regional languages (particularly Meru); published translations of Christian texts into regional languages.
The four accessions have been combined and arranged as follows: correspondence, manuscripts, visual material, personal papers and published material.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Mrs R Alison Lewis, in 2002, 2004, 2009 & 2013
Mrs R Alison Lewis acquired the papers from the Hopkins family between 1965 and 2002
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright mostly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Unfortunately the only archive source extant for the records of the United Methodist Missionary Society (UMMS) is their minutes (MMS/Home/Minutes/FBN 6). After 1932 the records of the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS) do include synod minutes (MMS/South Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 8 & Box 1255) and correspondence (MMS/Southern Africa/Synod Minutes/FBN 39 & Box 1256) for Kenya up to 1950. Hopkins, as Chairman of the District, will be well represented in both of these.
Hopkins wrote quite a large number of articles for both the annual reports and missionary magazines of the UMMS and the MMS.
Catalogued
Correspondence written by or written to Rev A J Hopkins.
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Copyright mostly held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Principally comprising letters written by Rev A J Hopkins to his wife.
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Arrived at Golbanti [Kenya] yesterday. Describes problems of journey getting there [from Ribe] - poor sleep, difficult terrain, injuries, lack of porters - as well as reception on arrival. Held service today but after a couple of days rest plans to visit German stations.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Transcript of letter available in same box (file 7).
Catalogued
Letter appears to have been written on 18th, 19th and 20th February.
Wednesday: begun visiting German stations - comments on the Wa-Pokomo and the area they inhabit. Visited mission at Mwanadhamba before arriving at Kilusu [sic].
Thursday: problems with mosquitoes. Travelling by dug-out canoe.
Friday: yesterday visited Gaden and Kulessa. Today visited Marembo and camped at Mwira. Describes local wildlife.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Transcript of letter available in same box (file 7).
Catalogued
Letter appears to have been written on 22nd and 23rd February.
Sunday: left Mwira yesterday morning then stopped at Mnagini before travelling onto Kosi. Describes Kosi, which is the headquarters of the tribal elders. Today travelled, again by canoe, to Mombesassa. Meets European from British Museum who is collecting birds. Arrived today in the early morning at Wenji. Will start religious duties tomorrow and has decided not to continue further upstream.
Monday: Describes Wenji. In areas not visited since the days of [Charles] New and criticises employers for this. Emphasises that in last eighteen months travelled more distance and visited more missions then any of his brethren ever have - visited every station in Duruma, travelled to Nairobi and Golbanti and now has been to every German station on Tan River bar Hola. Hopes to visit Meru later in year. Believes will give clearest view of needs of mission in area but suspects Committee will not accept it.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Transcript of letter available in same box (file 7).
Catalogued
Letter appears to have been written on 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th February.
Monday: held service and baptised ten adults and thirty received the Sacrament. Wa-Pokomo attitude to the Sacrament.
Tuesday: travelled by canoe all day heading home. Returned to Mwina then Kusi before moving onto Kulesa [Kulessa]. Describes behaviour of local monkeys and crocodiles.
Wednesday: travelled to Marembo then Kulesa [Kulessa] where prepares the Sacrament.
Thursday: at yesterday's service he baptised 70 adults and 95 received the Sacrament. Arrived here at Chunoni last night. Baptised 50 and 70 received the Sacrament. Then called at Mnagina, Gadeni and Garisene [Garsen] (baptising the sick in each). Others travelled with him to Kibusu where he baptised 30 and 50 received the Sacrament. Reached Ngao after dark.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Transcript of letter available in same box (file 7).
Catalogued
Letter appears to have been written on 27th, 28th and 29th February.
Friday: recovering from journey. Describes Ngao church where a service takes place for 250 people of whom 66 were baptised and 150 received the Sacrament. Describes large house and surronding area. Travels to Golbanti and talks with Elders.
Saturday: travels to Mji Mkuu ("the large town") where he baptises 54 and a large crowd attends service. Praises quality of local food. Describes huts of Wa-Pokomo. Returns to Golbanti.
Sunday: Baptises 11 adults and 7 children. Calculated the time in months, weeks, days and hours before they will see each other again.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Transcript of letter available in same box (file 7).
Catalogued
Incomplete letter which appears to have been written on 2nd, 7th and 11th March.
2nd: Thinking of his wife on her birthday. Leave Golbanti on Thursday. Problem of dust and vermin in hut.
7th: On return journey and been going well (bar swollen feet). Bike damaged so no use. Describes journey from Kurawa to Fandesa, then to Melindi and Mida. Travelling to Roka next then onto Ribe.
11th: Arrived at Ribe.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Transcript of letter available in same box (file 7).
Catalogued
Letter dated in error and should be 1963.
Brief comments on weather and health. Been reviewing manuscript of Meru bible translation. Informed publishers that after publication he would welcome comments from readers. Two queries: firstly the doubling of the vowel in the case of the long vowel and between the vowel; secondly, the use of 'ni' or 'i' before the verb.
Misses his input and states doesn't think the committee [?of the BFBS] is functioning. Merle Wildis interested but lacks appropriate educational background whilst Freddie well informed but experience is limited. Worries Meru dialect will disappear under influence of Kikuyu.
Understands [Godfrey] Benson's dictionary of Kikuyu is on the way and will be published by OUP. Doubts Methodism will produce a member of staff with equivalent skills for Meru - probably be done by the Roman Catholics.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Asks to be called 'Hoppy'. Happy to be of service with his knowledge of Kimeru, particularly with regard to the complete verb. Written to Harry Laughton regarding his two queries but won't receive an answer soon. He'll ask for Fred Valendar's help as well. Most Methodist staff only had working knowledge of Kimeru except Laughton who was too busy with other things to devote more time. Not criticism as put their religious devotion first and unlike others (CMS, CSM, Roman Catholics) Methodists didn't give staff same level of training or opportunity with regard to language. Wishes Laughton had been given that opportunity. Problem still of no consistent and accessible Meru grammar and vocab.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Reply to this letter in same box (file 2)
Catalogued
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Letter appears to have been written on 26th and 27 February.
26th: Comments of winter and glad to know they are well. Poor state of Yorkshire roads. Visited the Humber recently. Further comments on cold weather and impact on home. Received a letter from Johana Mbogori who has been in Switzerland and will soon be in Rugby [Warwickshire]. Wrote to Naaman in Kimeru recently but no specific news. Dick Lindup produced a pantomime at the Meru Club and Carey Francis has retired from AHS headship and taken job as assistant master at Pumwani [Kenya]. Little remains of the 'old brigade' in the Education Department.
Responds to his two language queries from recent letter [24 February]. Firstly, in all cases vowel sound resulting from a coalescence is a long one. Secondly, never had an adequate explanation of 'ni' and its uses. Not really clear himself - will need time to clarify what he thinks is complete and incomplete form of 'ni'.
27th: Adds relationship of 'ni' when used as a verb similar to when it occurs with nouns as copula.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Hopkins' letter in same box (file 1)
Catalogued
Thomas Godfrey Benson (1899-1993) was lecturer in Bantu languages (1952-1967) and temporary lecturer in Swahili (1967-1968) at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
Thanks him for his recent letter and copies of Laughton's notes. Feels God is directing him to his current work. Discusses different approaches that could be undertaken and suggest analysis of a Meru text written by a Meru. Discusses a number of specific points of grammar making comparisons with Bantu and Kikuyu. Asks if there is a collection of Meru proverbs (perhaps by [Rev Philip M] Inoti) and if not is this something Hopkins could do. He has begun a card index of Meru words and definitions in the absence of a dictionary. Could help him by providing examples from texts, particularly anything by Inoti. Discusses and gives examples of the use of primary and secondary extensions in Kikuyu. Maybe work of Mr Muganbi will help.
Postscript: includes copy of lesson 6.
Typescript of 'Lesson 6' of Meru course presumably taught at SOAS in 1963.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Copyright held by SOAS, University of London
Hopkins' letter in same box (file 1)
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Sending copy of Meru Bible separately. Enjoyed their working relationship and offers thanks for his work. Importance of text to Meru people.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Copyright held by British and Foriegn Bible Society
Presentation Meru bible in same box.
Catalogued
Papers on the Methodist mission in Kenya, notes, etc, on languages (particularly Kimeru) in the region and transcripts of letters written by Rev A J Hopkins to his wife.
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Includes articles by Hopkins written for 'The Missionary Echo' in 1920s. Some loose items.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Possibly a proof for a planned booklet on the Meru teacher training course between 1947 and 1949. With photographs of staff and students.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
Ms Alison Lewis acquired this item from Hopkins' son in 2002
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Typed statement on the impact of Rev A J Hopkins on the development of the MMS Kenya District.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Rev Philip M Inoti (d 1952) was the first Methodist minister from the Meru and served the Methodist Church in Kenya from 1934 until his death. He was also a Chief of the Meru and known amongst his people as 'The Torch'.
Death of Rev Inoti in a motor car accident and his improtance to Methodism in Kenya and amongst the Meru.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Apparently tune should be any short metre.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Overview of grammatical structure of Kimeru, with examples given.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Handwritten and typescript papers including a vocabulary, with notes on phonetics, grammar, translation of the bible, anagrams, etc.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired theses papers upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Rev P Kenneth Parsons (1916-2005) served the Methodist Missionary Society as a missionary in China from 1940 to 1950 and in Kenya from 1953 to 1965.
Letters describing a missionary's journey in 1920 from Ribe [Kenya] into the area around the Tana River and back again. With comments by Rev P Kenneth Parsons.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2002
The six original letters transcribed and commented on here ae also available in this box (file 1)
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Photograph albums and loose photographs depicting the Methodist mission in Kenya as well as a few personal photographs of Hopkins.
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Thomas Butler was an ardent supporter of the missions of the United Methodist Church's Foreign Committee. He served said committee for over a decade and was, with his wife, part of a deputation led by the Rev C Stedeford that visited China and Kenya in 1921 and 1922. A keen photographer he captured the work of the missions whilst on deputation and then he, his wife and others, used these images to promote the missionary society's work through talks, lantern slide lectures, etc, in the UK. Butler also served on the Chapel Committee for 17 years whilst his wife served as a President of the Women's Missionary Auxiliary from 1914 to 1921. He died on 20 January 1931.
Photographs taken by Thomas Butler during his deputation to Kenya in 1922. No captions.
Images of the deputation party (including Mrs Butler); Rev Hopkins and his wife and son; local commiunities; mission property; church congregations; local settlements; landscape.
Places include Mazeras, Mombasa, Ribe and areas around the Tana river such as Lamu, Golbanti and Ngao.
Album contains 4 loose photographs, probably 1940s and 1950s and not taken by Butler: a parade at Nairobi, staff at Maua Hospital (1949), Hopkins with colleagues outside a Church, two St John's nurses receiving an award.
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Some areas had been identified by Ms R Alison Lewis, otherwise information gleaned from secondary sources.
Some of these images were reproduced in 'The Missionary Echo' of the United Methodist Church
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Herbert Shaw Gerrard was born on 25 August 1886 at Swinton, Lancashire, into a devout Primitive Methodist family. After studying at Elmfield College, York, he studied medicine at Manchester University graduating in 1910 with further training at Hull Royal Infirmary. Ministerial training took place at Hartley College finishing in 1915. He married Doris Watson (1895-1971) at Clowes Chapel, Hull, on 17 March 1915.
In 1915 the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society posted him to Kasenga, Northern Rhodesia [Zambia], to serve as a medical missionary with both medical and pastoral duties. He served both the indigenous population as well as the mission staff treating a very wide range of medical conditions. After 16 years at Kasenga he relocated to Kanchindu and served for a further three years in Northern Rhodesia [Zambia]. In 1934 he was transferred to Maua, Kenya, where he continued his medical and ministerial work but now for the recently created Methodist Missionary Society.
In 1941 he left Kenya and returned to England eventually setting up a practice in Hazel Grove, Stockport [Cheshire]. Rev Dr Gerrard died in Stockport on 23 August 1969 whilst his wife, Doris, died in Oxford on 11 October 1971.
No captions but photographs taken by Rev Dr H S Gerrard in and around Maua, Kenya. Images depicted include: mission property, missionaries, Hopkins preaching, portraits of individual Meru males and females.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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Bertha Jones was born in Liverpool on 6 August 1905 to a Primitive Methodist family. After teaching training in Liverpool and some teaching in schools there she was accepted by the Women's Work Department of the Methodist Missionary Society and begun training at Kingsmead, Birmingham, in 1937. Upon leaving Kingsmead after a year she went to work at the Kaga Girls' School in Meru, Kenya. During the following 23 years she supervised Methodist village schools in Meru between 1947 and 1948, was involved in the creation of a teacher training college for women and the establishment of the Girls' Intermediate School at Mwithumwiru. In 1960 she returned to England and taught in schools in Devon until her retirement in 1967. In 1970 she returned to Kenya for 5 years when she was asked to be the warden for the Methodist Guest House in Nairobi. Jones died in Exmouth, Devon, on 2 January 2001.
Grace Elizabeth Marguerite Ovenden was born in Brighton, Sussex, on 19 April 1915. After teaching in local schools in Brighton and Kent she was accepted by the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and spent a year at Kingsmead, Birmingham. Arriving in Kenya in 1940 she begun work at the Meru Girls' School but later was also involved with village schools in Ribe and visiting communities along the Tana River. From 1950 she concentrated on developing teacher training in Meru. Active in the Revival Movement and a witness to attacks by the Mau Mau on Kikuyu Christians she was tragically killed in a road traffic accident on 23 January 1955.
Album compiled by - with some images also probably taken by - Bertha Jones and Grace Ovenden from images dating from 1949 and 1950 in and around Ribe, Maua, etc, [Kenya]. Photographs are captioned and include images of: synods, mission staff, Meru Girls' Guildry, sunday school children, Mwithumwiru Primary Girls' School, local Christians, lanscapes, Worthington Memorial Church, Mulathankari social centre, Hopkins' leaving party.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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William Henry ('Harry') Laughton was born on 28 August 1906 to the Rev & Mrs G W Laughton of the United Methodist Church. After studying at Sheffield University he joined the United Methodist Church and was posted to Kenya as a lay educational missionary. Appointed as Director of Education for the missions in Meru (later all of Kenya) he built Kaaga Boys' School in 1932 and supervised the 'bush' or 'out' schools.
In 1933 he returned to Britain on furlough and spent three months at Livingstone College on a lay missionary course. Whilst on furlough he married Margaret Johnson and the two returned to Kenya working as a husband and wife team mainly amongst the Meru (who nicknamed him 'Kagitoju' - a little rabbit with big ears because of his attentiveness). Margaret Johnson was born in Preston, Tyne and Wear in 1906. She trained as a nurse and worked in North Shields from 1923 until 1933. She consistently provided support for the mission, particularly with regard to the oversight of boarding and student welfare.
Whilst on furlough at Cambridge during 1937 and 1938 Laughton completed a master's dissertation entitled "An Introductory Study of the Meru People" and upon his return to Kenya continued to expand teaching and the training of teachers for the mission and government schools. In 1946 he founded and run a teacher training school in Meru and in 1957 he was appointed principal of Kagumo Teacher Training College near Nyeri which was an Anglican institution. During the Mau Mau uprising he assisted the Kenyan Police as an interpreter.
In 1961 they returned to England with Laughton (assisted by his wife again) taking up responsibility for overseas students at the Institute of Education at the University of Hull until 1972. Harry Laughton died at Stillingfleet, Yorkshire, on the last day of 1996, with his wife, Margaret, dying a few years later on 20 July 2000.
Photograph album from Harry & Margaret [Rev & Mrs William Henry Laughton] recording tea party prior to Rev & Mrs Hopkins departure back to England.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
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4 negatives, 4 prints and original envelope for chemist, A H Wardle & Co Ltd. Photographer unknown.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
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Images have no captions or information on rear. Photographers unknown.
Postcard of Hopkins, 1910s.
Photograph of Hopkins using typewriter, early 1950s.
Photograph of group with shield: Mary Holding, Hopkins (both on left), William Henry ('Harry') Laughton (middle), Margaret Laughton (on right) with local church and village leaders in Kenya, mid C20th.
Group photograph outside Worthington Memorial Church, Kaaga [Kenya], taken after the ordination of Korineto with (back row) Laughton, minister of Church of England, RAF Chaplian; (front row) two ministers of Church of Scotland; Koundo M Mukura; Hopkins; Rev Philip M Inoti, ?1950.
Group photograph: (foreground) Hopkins, Inoti and probably two Meru church leaders, (background) Bertha Jones and Mary Holding, mid C20th.
Photograph of European male feeding monkey, mid C20th.
Colour photograph of Rev & Mrs Hopkins outside their house in Boscombe, Dorset, possibly on Golden Wedding anniversary, cAug 1962.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
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Most information on identifying images supplied by R Alison Lewis.
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Includes Hopkins' certificate granting an OBE and records relating to his son's education.
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Hopkins' son, born 20 June 1914, studied at Shebbear College [Devon].
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, August 2013
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item from the Hopkins family
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item from the Hopkins family
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by British and Foriegn Bible Society
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Published translations of Christian texts into Kikuyu, Swahili and Meru with cuttings of obituraries for Rev A J Hopkins.
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New Testament in Kikuyu published by the British and Foriegn Bible Society.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by British and Foriegn Bible Society
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Bible in Swahili published by the British and Foriegn Bible Society. Maps and illustrations at rear.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by British and Foriegn Bible Society
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The Bible in Meru published by the Bible Societies in East Africa. With maps at rear.
Bible presented to Rev A J Hopkins by the Committee of the British and Foriegn Bible Society 'in grateful recognition of the service rendered in preparing this edition', 5 November 1964
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, September 2009
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired this item upon the death of A J Hopkins in 1965
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by British and Foriegn Bible Society
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Published obituaries by or from: Samuel Davis, 'Methodist Recorder' (unknown), W[illiam] H[enry] L[aughton], Rev John C Hattersley.
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Gift, accepted on behalf of the Methodist Church, from Ms R Alison Lewis, October 2003
Ms R Alison Lewis acquired the papers from Hopkins' son in 2002
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These include: Anti-slavery papers - letters (mostly printed), articles, propaganda, etc, late C18th-late C19th; Niger Expedition papers - correspondence, reports, journals, etc, 1835, 1841 & 1857-1858; Government publications and papers- acts, minutes, reports, etc from South & West Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, India and West Indies, 1800-1877, but also some manuscript material including papers and correspondence regarding the licensing of preachers in Jamaica, etc; Rev Thomas Jackson Collection - correspondence and printed material on Methodist History, 1736-1839; Steele Collection - Methodist preachers' correspondence, 1788-1866.
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A collection of printed material (including Parliamentary Papers) as well as a few manuscripts, dated 1774-1891 and entitled Anti-Slavery Papers formed and kept as a collection in the offices of the Methodist Missionary Society. The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, later the Methodist Missionary Society, had had a presence in the West Indies [Caribbean and Americas] since the late 18th century and became closely involved in the campaign to end slavery in those islands as in all British colonies. The Secretary of the WMMS in the years leading up to the Emancipation Bill of 1833, and afterwards, was the Rev John Beecham (1787-1856). The WMMS also participated in campaigns to stamp out the African slave-trade.
60 separate items, dated 1774-1891, of which 5 are dated before 1800 while 15 relate to the anti-slavery campaign prior to the 1833 act prohibiting slavery in British colonies, or to the act itself. Other items relate to the slave trade in Africa.
The manuscript items comprise an album, entitled "Anti-Slavery Movement, 1833" containing correspondence and papers chiefly addressed to the Rev John Beetham, Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, 1831-1855; a similar file of mission secretaries' letters and papers, dated 1836-1861; and a memo book belonging to W Fergusson, dated 1840, which includes a manuscript copy of a narrative by James Will of "the land of Akue" [possibly Gambia] in Africa mainly recalling his homeland and life prior to enslavement and his subsequent conversion to Christianity.
Printed items include a copy of John Wesley's "Thoughts upon Slavery" published in 1774; "An address to the people of Great Britain on the utility of refraining from the use of West India sugar and rum" published in 1791; a printed letter from the London Female Anti-Slavery Society, dated 1833; "Hymns adapted to the celebration of the 'Negro's' Jubilee", dated 1834; "A Narrative of the Travels etc., of John Ismael Augustus James", an African of the Mandingo tribe who was captured, sold into slavery, and subsequently 'liberated by a benevolent English Gentleman' published in 1836; and undated items issued by the African Aid Society.
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"The African slave trade and its suppression : a classified and annotated bibliography of books, pamphlets and periodical articles" Hogg, P. C. (Peter Carlquist), 1938-, London, Frank Cass, 1973
Handlist available.
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Wesley provides a potted history of slavery and a critique of the African slave trade. He describes the barbaric treatment of slaves in the Colonies, particularly in the Americas.
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Appeals to members of the British public urging them to refrain from purchasing West Indian sugar and rum which are produced by slaves. The writer(s) argue that ceasing to purchase these products will help to end the slave trade. They further argue that the introduction of anti-slave trade legislation alone is not enough to end slavery.
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Appeals to members of the British public urging them to refrain from purchasing West Indian sugar and rum which are produced by slaves. The writer argues that ceasing to purchase these products will help to end the slave trade. They further argue that the introduction of anti-slave trade legislation alone is not enough to end slavery. Has a note at the front of the booklet stating that there is no authority to attribute this tract to Wesley. Signed F.F.B.
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Printed circular booklet entitled 'A short sketch of the evidence for the abolition of the Slave Trade' delivered before a committee of the House of Commons to which is added 'A recommendation of the subject to the serious attention of people in general'.
Contains arguments highlighting the vices of the slave trade. Contains parts of speeches presented to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and William Wilberforce.
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Valton criticizes the elaborate language used in 'An address to the people of Great Britain', on 'the utility of refraining from the use of West India, sugar and rum'. He provides a simpler argument which the 'common people' will understand. Includes qoutations from the Bible and prayers from psalms.
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Contains a note from James Stephen to the Duke of Gloucester explaining that this is the speech that he intended to deliver at the annual meeting of the African Institution on 26 March 1817.
Stephen attempts to describe the recent hostilities demonstrated towards the African Institution and explain their origins.
The African Institution's desire to create a Registration Bill (register of African slaves) is cited as the primary reason. Stephen also seeks to defend the slanders made against his son's character.
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Thorpe provides a critical commentary of the treaties entered between Britain, Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands to abolish the slave trade. He argues that rather than ending the trade it will strengthen it. He criticizes the establishment of Commission Courts arguing that they will protect the slave trade.
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The writer criticizes the success of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act (1807) and highlights the continued existence of slavery in the West Indies. They encourage readers to refrain from purchasing products created by slaves in an effort to end the practice immediately.
Includes an appendix containing 'Clarkson's comparison between the state of the British peasantry and that of the slaves in the colonies-to confute the opinions that the latter are happier in their bondage than the former in their freedom'.
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Clarkson highlights the weaknesses of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act (1807), its flaws and the methods employed in the British Colonies to undermine it. The writer uses evidence to persuade his readership to support complete emancipation and proposes ways in which this can be achieved.
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Manuscript report concerned with the failed indictment of Mr Whitehouse a sectarian preacher who was prosecuted in Jamaica for preaching, teaching and lecturing without a license and doing all of these things as a member of a dissenting religious sect. The Colonial Office over-turned the indictment.
This is a transcript of extracts probably taken from The Royal Gazette, October to November 1828.
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The statement is concerned with a series of incidences occurring throughout February and March, during and after martial law, when a number of Baptist missionaries were subject to religious persecution in Jamaica. Also contains references to the religious persecution of Wesleyan Methodist Missionaries in Falmouth.
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The support of the Friends of Negro Emancipation is called upon to ensure that the forthcoming Slave Emancipation Act is passed through Parliament.
An annotated statement is included entitled 'Immediate extinction of Colonial Slavery: What is meant by immediate emancipation?'
Includes a postscript by Tho[mas] Pringle.
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An appeal made to Members of Parliament to unite and vote in support of the forthcoming Slave Emancipation Act when it is presented to Parliament on 23 April 1833. It urges them to refrain from being influenced and divided by West Indian interest. Crisp proposes a plan to prevent this from occurring.
A petition is printed after the letter for the electors and inhabitants of Britain to sign to demonstrate their support for the immediate abolition of slavery in the British Empire.
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Printed circular letter from John Beecham, Secretary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society and two petitions: one addressed to the House of Lords and the other addressed to the House of Commons.
The letter provides details of issues discussed at the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Committee meeting that had recently taken place. Topics of discussion include the religious persecution of missionaries in Jamaica and the proposed Slave Emancipation Act which is to be presented to Parliament soon. The letter presents a petition in support of the Slavery Abolition Act which is to be presented to the House of Lords. All members are urged to sign it.
(4 copies)
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Letter includes:
A printed list of 350 representative delegates from the Anti-Slavery Society who attended a meeting with the Colonial Minister at Exeter Hall on the 18th April 1833. The resolutions that were created are printed beneath and signed by Samuel Gurney, Chairman of the meeting. These same delegates also signed a 'Memorial to the Right Honourable The Earl Grey, K.G.'. The memorial is printed beneath and signed by Samuel Gurney, chairman.
A report of the delegates meeting with the Foreign Office which took place at Downing Street, London, 19th April 1833, is printed below this and signed by Tho[mas] Pringle, Secretary to the Anti-Slavery Society and John Crisp, Secretary to the Agency Anti-Slavery Society.
(2 copies)
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Contains a printed copy of a petition in support of the proposed Slave Emancipation Act which is to be presented to Parliament. A letter is included which urges all society members to sign the petition.
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Signed by the Chairman Robert Kaye Greville L.L.D, Tho[mas] Pringle, Secretary to the Anti-Slavery Society and John Crisp, Secretary to the Agency Anti-Slavery Society.
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Printed circular, being an offprint from the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine. The writer argues that British slave owners should not be compensated for their loss when Colonial slavery is abolished. They believe that instead the slaves should receive compensation for their appalling treatment. The writer also outlines their objections to the British ministerial plan of free slaves becoming apprentices.
(4 copies)
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The report recounts recent events involving the Anti-Slavery Society. In particular the presentation of a memorial to the British Government and a meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society Committee which took place on the 29th May 1833. It states the aims and opinions of the Anti-Slavery Society Committee and criticizes the terms of the forthcoming Slavery Emancipation Act, particularly the clause which proposes the apprenticeship of former slaves. The report is 'signed' by Tho[mas] Pringle, Secretary.
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Contains:
Letter from the Earl of Mulgrave to Viscount Goderich, at the British Colonial Office. The letter presents the minutes of evidence of the trial of Henry Williams which took place at St. Anne's, Jamaica, 16 January 1832.
The signed minutes for the trial.
Letter from Viscount Goderich to the Earl of Mulgrave. It expresses Viscount Goderich's opinion on the trial.
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Includes a letter from the Earl of Mulgrave to Lord Viscount Goderich of the Colonial Office presenting a copy of the memorial and statement of the Baptist Missionaries; dated 19 April 1832.
The memorial appeals to the Colonial Office to protect Baptist Missionaries living in Jamaica who have been subject to religious persecution from groups of European settlers. The memorial is signed by the following: Joshua Tinson, William Knibb, Edward Baylis, Joseph Burton, Henry C. Taylor, Samuel Nichols, John Clarke, Francis Gardner, William Whitehouse, Thomas F. Abbott, Josiah Barlow, Walter Dendy and John Kingdom. This is a second appeal in response to the government's failure to act upon the Proclamation of Authority.
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Annotated copy of said act.
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Printed sheet containing 8 hymns which were printed in celebration of the Slavery Emancipation Act. It is accompanied by a note which states that profits arising from the sale of the hymns will be donated to the fund for rebuilding the thirteen chapels in Jamaica which were destroyed in 1832.
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The Slavery Emancipation Act introduced a legislative policy for the construction of Schools in West India and the Colonies. This was to be a joint venture of the British Government and the missionaries. Parliament proposed to give grants to the missionary societies to help them to establish new schools. The letter reveals that the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Committee has chosen to apply for a grant. It requests its members to assess the demand for educational facilities, and the availability of local financial support at each of its stations. Included is a typed extract from a Government circular concerning its policy of providing financial support for education in West India. Letter 'signed' by Jabez Bunting, John Beecham, Robert Alder, Elijah Hoole.
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An account of the experiences of John Ishmael Augustus James, a member of the African 'Mandigo Tribe' who was captured and sold into slavery, subsequently being 'liberated by a benevolent English Gentleman'.
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Includes a statement from a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society who remarks that Methodists in Great Britain are failing to realize the extent to which members in the United States are involved in slavery. In addition there is an extract from a letter dated 30 April 1836, written by a Joseph Sturge, who resided in America. He demonstrates the weakness of support amongst American Wesleyans for the abolition of slavery.
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Contains articles on slavery including a report on an anti-slavery meeting which took place at Exeter Hall on the 11 July 1837. The meeting discussed the Slavery Emancipation Act and its faults, including the introduction of apprenticeships for emancipated slaves.
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Includes a report on legislation pertaining to the marriage of ex-slaves.
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Report includes:
Letter from Lord Howard de Walden to Viscount Palmerston, Lisbon, 20 May, 1838. Lord Howard de Walden reports the difficult negotiations between himself and the Viscount de Sa da Bandeira, (of the Portuguese government) with respect to the signing of a treaty which would make the slave trade a piracy in Portugal.
Several inclosures and sub-inclosures between Lord Howard de Walden and the Viscount de Sà da Bandeira and one between Lord Howard de Walden and Viscount Palmerstone.
A typed memorandum - 'Inclosure No.3' - is included at the end, which provides a summary of the outcome of the negotiations.
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A copy of four resolutions that the Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society agreed to at a meeting in June 1840. 'Signed' by Thomas Clarkson, the President of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society.
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Peggs challenges the popular view that slavery no longer exists in British India. He draws evidence (some statistical) to support his argument from a variety of different areas of British India.
The original printed date of 3 January 1840 is crossed out and replaced by hand with 17 March 1841.
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The circular proposes ways in which the British Government and 'the friends of Africa' can improve Africa politically, economically and socially.
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Report from the Select Committee of the House of Lords appointed to consider the best means which Great Britain can adopt for the final extinction of the African slave trade. Presented in Session 1850.
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Evaluates the measures that the British Government employed to suppress the slave trade. Signed by a number of religious ministers, professionals and officers of the armed forces who are in support of complete abolition.
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The booklet highlights the perceived social and economic benefits that the abolition of the slave trade brought to Europe and Africa; including the recent defeat of the 'tyrant' King Dahomey, the Chief of Lagos and their armies whose power, the author claims, dominated the smaller African countries.
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The letter (dated 11 July 1853) appeals to the British Government to protect the native tribes of South Africa and British missionaries from the Transvaal Boers.
A statement entitled 'Statement of Sechele, Paramount Chief of the Bakwaina', being an English translation by Samuel Edwards (Enclosure no. 1). Sechele describes an attack which was recently staged by the Boers against Sechele's tribe. 'Signed' by Sechele, Cape Town, 21 April 1853.
A statement, reprinted from the 'Port Elizabeth Mercury', entitled 'Transvaal Boers' (Enclosure no. 2). Reports on battles that have occurred between the Boers and African tribes, such as the Borolongs who reside Westward of the Mooi River.
A letter from J. W. Ludorf to Rev. W. Shaw (Enclosure no. 3). Reports on the hostilities between the Boers, the African tribes and missionaries. Ludorf describes the hardships that he, his family and fellow missionaries have experienced.
'Minutes of a meeting held at the place of Mr. P. A. Venter' between Major W. S. Hogge and C. M. Owen, Esq, 16 January 1852. 'Signed' by W.S Hogge, Assistant Commissioner, C. Mostyn Owen, Assistant Commission, A. W. J. Pretorius, Commissioner General and J.H. Visagie, Secretary. (Enclosure no. 4). Outlines the terms of settlement between the British Government and the emigrant farmers who reside beyond the Vaal River in South Africa.
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The African Native Agency Committee's mission statement is printed and is accompanied by a description of the ways in which it is being fulfilled. The society's expenses and proposed budget are also included. A list of guaranteed subscribers and their financial contributions over the last three years is printed at the bottom of the report.
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Letter A, appeals for the appointment of a Consul in Abbeokuta [Nigeria] to supervise the economic development of cotton in the area. Followed by a copy of the associated treaty.
Letter B, appeals to the government to persuade the King of Dahomey to support the abolition of slavery. It is suggested that the King of Dahomey may be persuaded to support it if he was given sufficient compensation for the loss of his slaves.
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Appeals to members of the Methodist Episcopal Church to support the motion that all slaveholders should be declared ineligible for membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The motion will be proposed at the General Conference at Buffalo, New York [USA], 1 May 1860. Includes a list of members who support the rule.
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Appeals to members of the public to purchase shares in the British Cotton Company Ltd. An application form is printed at the bottom of the prospectus.
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The report includes:
Three resolutions that were agreed at a meeting held on 6 July 1860 and a list of members who attended. A statement of objects and rules that were adopted by the society at a subsequent Committee meeting.
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Includes:
The names of the society's President, vice President and its Council members.
The society's statement of objects and rules.
An appeal to the Christian philanthropic and commercial classes in the United Kingdom to buy their cotton from Africa and not the USA.
A copy of the treaty made between the authorities of Abbeokuta and the Commissioners of the Niger Valley Exploring Party, on behalf of the African descendants of the United States and Canada.
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Newspaper article from the 'Glasgow Herald' which includes:
A letter from Thomas Clegg, Southport, dated 24 December 1860, in which Clegg argues that it is cheaper to cultivate cotton in Africa than in the USA.
Extracts from the 'Iqe Irohin' which was published at Abbeokuta [Nigeria], September 1860. The advantages of producing cotton in Africa are discussed.
(3 copies)
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Biography of two slaves from America: Tarb Gross who became a minister of the African Episcopal Church in Cincinnati [USA] and Lewis Smith, a member of the Presbyterian Church in Ripley, Ohio [USA].
Includes an appeal for donations to be given to the Mission House for Mr Gross and Mr Smith. A list of those who have already contributed to the fund is also provided.
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A published version of James Hunt's paper which shares the same title. It was published at the request of the Council of the Anthropological Society of London.
Hunt compares the physical and mental characteristics of Negroes with Europeans. Hunt aims to determine the position of Negroes in 'animated nature' and the station assigned to him in the 'genus homo'.
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Cotterill challenges the popular view amongst the British public that the treaty signed between Great Britain and the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1873 has successfully led to the abolition of slavery in East Africa.
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The lecture was delivered at the Court Hall, Free Town, Sierra Leone, 31 August 1881.
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See publication: From Slavery to a Bishopric, or, The Life of Bishop Walter Hawkins of the British Methodist Episcopal Church Canada. by S. J. Celestine Edwards, London: Kensit, 1891.
Article about Bishop Hawkins, a former slave.
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The booklet records the existence of slavery in the United States, Cuba and Brazil despite strong efforts to abolish it.
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Extract from the Church Missionary Society report for 1860 appealing for financial support to help abolish slavery and regenerate Africa. 'Signed' by Alfred Spencer Churchill, Chairman of the Committee.
(3 copies).
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Comments on agricultural experiments in Africa.
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An appeal for information about Abou Bekr, a former slave and a member of the Royal family of Timbuctoo [Tomboctou, Mali] who disappeared when he and his companion, Mr. Davidson, were attacked by members of the Idowlet 'tribe', Wold Abou tribe and members of the El Harib Arabs whom were all returning from a war at Bousbeyah.
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A brief critique of how the King of Dahomey rules his country
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Outlines the African Aid Society's plans to help Africa become independent of the United States of America. It challenges the European's negative perceptions of the African people.
[2 copies]
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The writer appeals for support in a campaign to detach the King of Dahomey from the slave trade. Notes to the 'foregoing appeal' are included.
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An Africa Aid Society blank application form for emigration to Africa 'the land of your Forefathers'
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The present cotton crises caused by small exports from America is addressed. Cotton production in West Africa is promoted as an alternative.
Contains extracts from a number of letters including one that was published in the 'Cotton Supply Reporter'. Other extracts are taken from the letters of the Hon. J. T. Comissiong, Member of the Council of Sierra Leone; Mr John Taylor, Wellington Mill, Oldham; Mr W[illia]m. Hamer, Nob End Mill, near Bolton; Mr J. B. Cooke, Liverpool; Mr John Creetham, Eastwood, Staylbridge; Messers J. & P. Coates, Paisley; and Mr Tho[mas] Emmott, Vale Mills, Oldham.
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Comprising letters - written mainly to John Beecham - on various matters relating to the campaign to emancipate slaves. Includes letters from Thomas Fowell Buxton and his wife Priscilla, Thomas Pringle, Richard Matthews and John Byng.
Also includes Beecham's printed circular letters (writing as Secretary of the WMMS) on slavery for the attention of the society's members and supporters.
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Includes letters written to key members (Beecham, Butterworth, Hoole, etc) of the WMMS, draft petitions, extracts from minutes and comments on legislation.
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A copy (seemingly incomplete) of the account of James Will's life up to his capture by slavers [in the 1830s]. His account contains information on his homeland - 'Akue' [Possibly in the Gambia]- including its produce, resources, employment, social structure, religion, wars and the effects of slavery. Will also gives an account of his attempts to avoid capture by slavers as well as his conversation to Christianity.
Extract from a proclamation of George IV, dated 12th July 1826, regarding English currency.
Rear of book: contains two pages of accounts, headed 'Augusta', noting money received from Wilberforce [?Sierra Leone] during 1841.
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The continuation and completion of James Will's narrative can be found in MMS/Special Series/Biographical/West Africa/FBN 4 (fiche 123).
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Material relating to the 1841 and 1857 Niger expeditions. Only a few printed papers for the 1841 expedition but for the 1857 expedition there are journals, notes, financial and general papers, albeit mainly from a Wesleyan Methodist missionary persepective.
General papers include information on the WMMS Foulah mission and in particular a volume entitled 'West African Translations', relating to the work of Rev Robert MacBrair, as well as a few printed papers of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilization of Africa.
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Volume, entitled 'West African Translations', relating to the work of Rev Robert MacBrair and papers relating to Africa (principally West Africa) including the 1841 Niger Expedition and anti-slavery publications.
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The Rev Robert Maxwell MacBrair began his ministerial career as a missionary for the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1833. However, in 1835 the Society asked for a volunteer to work in West Africa on translating the Bible into indigenous languages and to assist with the spreading of the Gospel. MacBrair answered this call and was accepted (in part due to his knowledge of Arabic). He was sent to the Foulah Mission on McCarthy's Island in the Gambia. This mission had been recently founded to evangelise primarily to those Foulah tribes that had no specific homeland and to those individuals who had escaped slavery.
MacBrair was issued with instructions to establish a school at the mission and to begin writing textbooks for it. In both these tasks he was aided by 'Native Missionaries'. His knowledge of Arabic was also used to assist with the Society's attempts to counter the spread of Islam in the area. By 1837, when he had returned to England, he had completed a translation of St Matthew's gospel into Mandingo as well as a grammar of the Mandingo language.
From 1837 MacBrair worked in various ministries in the UK (including Portsmouth, Rochester and Sheffield West) until his retirement in 1856. He did, however, maintain an interest in both the languages and people of Africa which he expressed in a number of publications between the 1840s and 1860s. His manuscript work on the Foulah language was published in 1854 to coincide with the Niger expedition of that year.
Further reading:
MacBrair, R M, Issal'-anjilo, kila Matti ye men safe. Mandinga kangoto - St Matthew's Gospel in the Mandingo language (1837);
MacBrair, R M, A grammar of the Mandingo language, with vocabularies (?1842);
MacBrair, R M, The African's at home: being a popular description of Africa and the Africans condensed from the accounts of African travellers from the time of Mungo Park to the present day (1861);
Norris, E (Ed), Grammar of the Fulah language by R M MacBrair (1854);
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Annual Reports for 1836 & 1837.
Inside page of volume annotated "Books with which Rev M MacBrair was furnished on going to the Gambia with the view of reducing the Foulah and Mandingo languages to writing, and effecting a translation of the New Testament with the same. September 26 1835". Contains a list of the books received from Rev William Jowett of Church Mission House and a list of the books received from Josiah Foster, with attached correspondence. There are also summaries of three letters written by MacBrair whilst in the Gambia between December 1835 and February 1836 as well as two pamphlets. The first is undated and is advice on how to reduce African languages to writing, produce elementary books for 'Native' Schools and translate the scriptures into indigenous languages. The second pamphlet is the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's instructions to MacBrair on his departure for Western Africa for the mission among the Foulahs, 11th November 1836.
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Rev MacBrair's correspondence whilst a missionary in Alexandria is extant within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society archives (MMS/Europe/Correspondence/Egypt/FBN 3). His correspondence, along with related papers, for the period he was stationed at the Foulah Mission are also available (MMS/West Africa/Correspondence/Gambia/FBN 3).
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Through the encouragement of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilization of Africa, and the Church Missionary Society, the British Government agreed to back a second expedition to the Niger River and its tributaries. (The first had been organised by Macgregor Laird in 1832). The main objective of the expedition was to encourage what the British saw as "legitimate trade" and in doing so undermine the slave trade. The expedition, lead by Captain H D Trotter, intended to do this in part through the establishment of trade agreements with tribal leaders in the Niger region.
The expedition was made up of three ships - the 'Soudan', the 'Albert' and the 'Wilberforce' - which left Liverpool between December 1840 and February 1841. After picking up two representatives (Rev J F Schön and Samuel Adjai Crowther) of the Church Missionary Society in Sierra Leone they arrived at the mouth of the Niger on 15th August 1841.
The expedition did manage to agree a number of treaties with local tribal leaders, as well as creating the circumstances to establish a CMS mission in Yoruba, but suffered severely though sickness and death on the part of the European crew members. The 'Wilberforce' and 'Soudan' were forced to turn back in September whilst the 'Albert', after passing Egga in the Nupe region but before reaching Rabba, was forced to turn back on 4th October 1841. Of the 162 European crew members 54 died during the expedition.
Further reading:
Dike, K O, Origins of the Niger mission, 1841-1891 (1957);
Hollet, D, The conquest of the Niger by land and sea: from the early explorers and pioneer steamships to Elder Dempster and Company (1995);
McWilliam, J O, Medical history of the expedition to the Niger during the years 1841-2: comprising an account of the fever which led to its abrupt termination (1843).
Comprises three sets of papers on the 1841 Niger expedition, slavery and some general papers on Africa, as well as two miscellaneous items.
Printed papers relating to the 1841 Niger expedition comprise: 'The Effectual Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man Availeth Much'; form of prayer used on the ships 'Albert', 'Wilberforce' and 'Soudan'; 'Copies or Extracts of any Correspondence which may have passed between Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonial Department and the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, relating to an Expedition to be sent to the River Niger' (1840); J M Trew's request for prayers for the success of the expedition particularly considering the recent sickness of the crew (1841).
Printed material relating to slavery from the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and for the Civilization of Africa including: their prospectus (1839), minutes of a meeting of the 3rd July 1839, copies of printed correspondence (1840) and questionnaires on the rivers and coast of Africa and one entitled 'Africa. Queries relative to the State of the Slave Trade...'.
General papers on Africa (principally West Africa) comprising: a letter and printed pamphlet by John Beecham on the WMMS Foulah mission and local tribes (1839 & 1836); report of the African Civilization Society (1842) which includes remarks on the recent Niger expedition, the Slave Trade and promotional work in the UK; notes and correspondence (some in French) with and relating to the Institut d'Afrique (1840-1841); prospectus of the African Agricultural Association (1842).
The two miscellaneous items consisting of a very brief letter regarding a meeting on religious freedom in the Turkish Empire and a pamphlet entitled 'Invitation to Prayer' noting the state of the Jews, the condition of the Eastern Churches and the work regarding the extinction of the slave trade and the 'general civilization of Africa' by James Haldane Stewart (1841).
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After significant encouragement from the Church Missionary Society (CMS), the British Government entered into a five year contract with Mr Macgregor Laird to explore by steamship the River Niger and its tributaries. The main intentions of the expedition being to establish factories or trading posts at Aboh, Onitsha and Lairdstown [Lokoja] and to encourage missionary endeavours. However, the expedition also planned to chart and navigate the Niger and its tributaries, explore adjacent areas, establish anti-slavery treaties and promote British interests.
Macgregor Laird formed the Central Africa Company and on the 25th April 1857 he launched the steamship 'Dayspring'. A second steamship, the 'Sunbeam', was also planned but due to delays and mishaps it did not depart until a year later. The expedition was under the command of Dr Baikie who was assisted by Captain Alexander Grant and Lieutenant John Glover (who had been seconded from the Royal Navy). When the 'Dayspring' reached Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] they were joined by the Rev Samuel Adjai Crowther and the Rev J C Taylor, both of the CMS.
The expedition reached the mouth of the Niger on 20th July 1857. The expedition visited Abo, Onitsha (where a CMS mission was founded) and Lairdstown. The Kaduna River was also explored and the party travelled to Bida. The expedition then continued up the River Niger to Rabba. Not far beyond Rabba, on the rocks near Boussa, the 'Dayspring' was wrecked and the expedition stranded. Some of the party made their own way back, others explored whilst the remainder awaited the arrival of the relief ship, the 'Sunbeam', which eventually picked them up in October 1858. As a direct result of the expedition the CMS founded the Niger mission.
The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society was offered free passage for any agents they wished to send on the Expedition. Four agents (George E Roach, superintendent of the group, Joseph Thomas Jackson, Isaac Benjamin Lefevre and W Herbert) were selected from the Sierra Leone mission. However, before arrangements could be finalised the Niger expedition began with the first ship, the 'Dayspring', departing in the summer of 1857. The WMMS decided to send their agents to meet the second ship, the 'SS Sunbeam', in November 1857. Unfortunately this ship was severely delayed in reaching Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and did not sail for the River Niger until June 1858. After the expedition the WMMS considered sending missionaries to the left bank of the River Niger but no lasting mission was ever established there.
Further reading:
Crowther, S, Niger expedition of 1857-1859;
Dike, K O, Origins of the Niger mission, 1841-1891 (1957);
Hastings, A C G, The voyage of the Dayspring: being the journal of the late Sir John Hawley Glover ...: together with some account of the expedition up the Niger River in 1857 (1926)
Hollet, D, The conquest of the Niger by land and sea: from the early explorers and pioneer steamships to Elder Dempster and Company (1995);
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Annual Report (1858).
Journals, notes, financial and general papers relating to the 1857 Niger expedition and in particular the experiences of the WMMS agents involved with it.
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Papers relating mainly to the Niger expedition of 1857, with many specifically recording the involvement of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. Comprising: 'Africa's Luminary' published by the Committee of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church [USA], which includes information on the Constitution of Liberia (15/3/1839); a copy of a letter (14/10/1842) from Captain C J Bosaquet, RN, to Rev J M Trew commenting on the recent Niger expedition, mistakes made by those involved and suggestions for future expeditions; 'Rules for the guidance of those proceeding on the Niger Expedition in connection with the Wesleyan Missionary Society' [1857]; G E Roach's account of his activities on Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] between November and December 1857; brief account of voyage from Sierra Leone to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], November [1857]; notes, thoughts and queries regarding approaches to spreading Christianity and 'civilization' to 'heathens'; expenses and receipts 1857-1858; 5 letters regarding the involvement of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in the expedition (1857-1858); G E Roach's 'Description of places, manners and customs of the people and their superstitions, physical appearance of the countries and their productions', 16th February 1859.
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Account book with two sets of accounts:
(1) Receipts and expenditure at Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] (12 November 1857-25 June 1858);
(2) 'Provisions and goods received from Mr Fairweather on the voyage from Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] to the Niger and during our stay on shore at the different places' (27 June 1858-13 November 1858).
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A copy of a document probably compiled by Isaac Lefevre, a school teacher in the WMMS York district of Sierra Leone, who travelled on the relief ship the 'SS Sunbeam' in 1858 .
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Journal of Isaac Benjamin Lefevre, WMMS agent. Covers events from departure from Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] on the 'SS Sunbeam' to when staying in the lands of King Esaquá of Ndoné.
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Continuation of the journal of Isaac Benjamin Lefevre, WMMS agent. Covers events from when living on the lands of King Esaquá of Ndoné to the expedition's return to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and his subsequent departure on the 'SS Athenian'.
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Journal of Joseph Thomas Jackson, WMMS agent. Covers events from departure from Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] on the 'SS Sunbeam' to when staying in the lands of King Esaquá of Ndoné.
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Jackson's first journal - presumably describing his journey to, and subsequent stay on, Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] - is not extant.
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Continuation of the journal of Joseph Thomas Jackson, WMMS agent. Covers events whilst staying in the lands of King Esaquá of Ndoné.
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Continuation of the journal of Joseph Thomas Jackson, WMMS agent. Covers events from when staying in the lands of King Esaquá of Ndoné to the expedition's return to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and his subsequent return to Sierra Leone.
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Journal of George E Roach, superintendent of the WMMS agents. Details voyage from Sierra Leone to Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]; his stay in Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea]; the expedition's departure and journey up the Niger until his second visit to Aboh. Includes a brief report of the activities of Jackson and Lefevre from 19th to 25th August 1858.
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Papers, mainly comprising government and parliamentary publications for Australia and New Zealand, Canada, India, South and West Africa and the West Indies [Caribbean and Americas]. Publications include acts and bills, reports and Colonial Office communications and edicts covering matters such as marriage (including of former slaves), education, the East India Company, Christian evangelism & worship, ownership of land and immigration.
The India section includes correspondence and printed material on Christianity and the East India Company in 'the East Indies' ([1804]-1838).
The West Indies section includes two files of papers (mainly correspondence), 1800-1825, regarding the difficulty of obtaining licences to preach in the West Indies, particularly in Jamaica. A significantly smaller amount of correspondence is available regarding restrictions governing access to the French Quarter of Saint Martin. There is also a file of local newspapers and cuttings (1817-1837).
Lastly, there is one miscellaneous item being a 'prize winning' essay on Christian missions by G E Shirley (1839).
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Government and Parliamentary publications on Australia and New Zealand.
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Written by G Grey of the Colonial Office. Printed by order of the House of Commons, [Parliamentary Paper] 585.
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Written by Geo[rge] Arthur, Government House. Outlines the proposed expenditure for the year 1837 [in the colony of Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania].
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Ordered 'to inquire into the State of the Colony of New Zealand and into the Proceedings of the New Zealand Company'. Printed by order of the House of Commons, [Parliamentary Paper] 556. With attached note recording errors in the earlier printed copy of the report.
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Acts of Parliament and Parliamentary publications
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Relating to the management of the construction of the Cornwall Canal near the St Lawrence River, Upper Canada. Printed by order of the House of Commons.
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Material relating to missionary work in India, the East India Company and religious practice in India. Much of this material was created by or belonged to Thomas Allan who was the connexional legal advisor to the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
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For biographical information on Thomas Allan (1774-1845) and Joseph Butterworth (1770-1826), MP, please consult the online Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland hosted by The Wesley Historical Society.
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Some (possibly all) of these documents originally belonged to Thomas Allan of Federick Place, Old Jewry, London, who was the connexional legal advisor to the Wesleyan Methodist Church.
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Printed circular announcing a public meeting at the London Tavern to form the British and Foreign Bible Society. States the reasons for the need of the said society as well as a list of its aims and objectives.
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'Extracts From The Annual Accounts Published in 1797, By The Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge.' Printed in London.
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With contents page of papers included. Printed by order of the Court of Directors.
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Written by 'A Christian', London.
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Request to attend Special Meeting of the Society re the new charter for the East India Company and the promotion of Christianity in India.
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Correspondence between the Earl of Buckingham, India Board, and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the East-India Company, 1812-1813.
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One copy is annotated on reverse 'Amended Resolution' whilst the other has had its date altered to '31 May'.
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Printed by the order of the House of Commons, [Parliamentary Paper] 300.
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The role of the East India Company in spreading Christianity with an extract from the proceeedings of the Society for Missions to Africa and the East regarding missionary work in South & South-east Asia.
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Much of the material is copy or draft correspondence written by Thomas Allen to the the Earl of Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson] regarding the prospect of missions to the East Indies (particularly India). Asks him to encourage Parliament to include this as part of the re-negotiation of the East India Company's charter. With other correspondence and papers regarding mission and the East India Company. 1813-1818, 1838.
Notes on the remit and rules of the BFB [British and Foreign Bible] Society on circulating publications in the United Kingdom and overseas. With particular reference to the Apocrypha. After 1819.
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Agreed should ask the Government to insert a clause into the act to renew the Charter of the East India Company stating the intention to promote the happiness of the inhabitants of 'the British Dominions in India' and adopt measures that 'gradually tend to their advancement in useful knowledge'. Therefore want licences to be granted for individuals to communicate 'the blessings of Religious Instruction and moral Improvement.'
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Suggest his proposition to Lord L[iverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson] shuts out 'our People [Methodists] from the E. J.' which was clearly not the intention. Unfortunate he hadn't seen it first. Has written to Mr Steven about it but had no reply. Made appointment to see Fuller & Sutcliff on the subject before they meet his lordship but difficult now as proposition already sent.
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Writing on behalf of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society who understand that alteration will be made with regard to trade 'to the East Indies'. Beg to lay claim to the opportunity to send teachers to administer to the spiritual instruction of members of their society and those resident in India. Also, particularly wish to send missionaries to provide religious instruction to the 'Natives'. States the reasons for providing their application are numerous and obvious as is the qualifications and reputations of their ministers.
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Been asked by the respective parties who have signed the petition [not extant], as enumerated in the margin, to present it to the House of Lords. Expresses opinion of petitioners and Cornish miners in general that the Gospel is 'the means of preserving the Eastern to the Western British Empire'. Adds his opinion, based on 22 years service in India, that the more the Gospel is introduced into India the more 'is in its control over the minds of the Natives'.
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Sending a petition (not extant) regarding Christianity in India and hopes his lordship can present it to the House of Lords.
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Mentions his previous letter of 6th March written on behalf of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society regarding Christianity in the East Indies. Whilst they are grateful for the 13th resolution [to the bill for the new charter for the East India Company] submitted to the House of Commons by Viscount Castlereagh [Robert Stewart] they are apprehensive for the safety of the resolution as it has been separated from the rest. Appeal to the Government to procure the measure 'which is dictated by policy as well as morality'.
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Mentions his previous letter of 6th March written on behalf of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society regarding Christianity in the East Indies. Whilst they are grateful for the 13th resolution submitted to the House of Commons by Viscount Castlereagh [Robert Stewart] they are apprehensive for the safety of the resolution as it has been separated from the rest. Appeal to the Government to procure the measure 'which is dictated by policy as well as morality'.
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Mentions the letter (6th March) he has written, on behalf of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society, to the Earl of Liverpool regarding provision being made for the introduction of Christian missionaries to India as part of the new East India Company charter. Having not heard back from his lordship the Committee had assumed that their proposals had been adopted but upon reading the bill no such provision has been made. Only provision is for the Church of England (which they do not disapprove of) with no reference to ministers or members of other churches or societies. They accept there may be differences of opinion with regard to the need to 'convert the Natives to Christianity' but there should be no restriction based on denominations preaching to their own members in India. Further explanation can be received from Mr Thompson and Mr [Joseph] Butterworth.
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Mentions the letter (6th March) he has written, on behalf of the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Society, to the Earl of Liverpool regarding provision being made for the introduction of Christian missionaries to India as part of the new East India Company charter. Having not heard back from his lordship the Committee had assumed that their proposals had been adopted but on reading the bill no such provision has been made. Only provision is for the Church of England (which they do not disapprove of) with no reference to ministers or members of other churches or societies. They accept there may be differences of opinion with regard to the need to 'convert the Natives to Christianity' but there should be no restriction based on denominations allowed to preach to their own members in India. Further explanation can be received from Mr Thompson and Mr [Joseph] Butterworth. Letter dated 26th June 1813.
Notes by Allan on his attendance at the House of Commons on 28th June. Met Thompson and Butterworth and former said he had met Lord Castlereagh [Robert Stewart] who thought they should leave it alone as the matter was in the hands of the Government. They thought he had done all he could and he agreed he had done everything within his power. However, he took view that if the Government agreed with the clause they would have accepted it and were probably concerned about what level of legal protection such a clause would afford. Given the view of some of the East India Company thinks that without a clause religious freedoms will be restricted.
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Acknowledges receipt of the letter of 26th and says his lordship will speak to Mr [Joseph] Butterworth in the House of Commons.
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Previously employed Allan on adjustment of claims of the owners of ships working for the East India Company for which they offer thanks and payment.
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Should the Committee of the B[ritish] & F[oreign] Bible Society circulate or contribute funds for circulating the Apocrypha? For UK and its languages can only circulate the authorised version of the Holy Scriptures (and then only if without notes or comments). Apocrypha forms no part of this thus cannot be involved in its circulation in UK or its languages. With regard to overseas and foreign languages the committee operates under lesser restrictions. Similar restriction on Holy Scriptures but not on other works. Apocrypha is not part of sacred canon but is an important ancillary. Greek, Roman and Reformed churches often circulate it with Holy Scriptures. Suggest that unless they provide it, or contribute to funds to its provision, where desired will lose many of those it wishes to spread the Gospel to or amongst and may even lead to criticism. Argues should circulate Apocrypha in foreign languages but only when included with the Holy Scriptures.
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As with other Christian and missionary institutions desire to preach to indigenous people of India but hampered by the Pilgrim Tax. Comment favourably on their paper of 1833 entitled 'Religious Ceremonies (Madras)' arguing for the abolition of the Pilgrim Tax. However, disappointed that none of these measures have been adopted. Therefore they implore the Court of Directors to adopt the measures suggested in the paper, and in particular, derive no further revenues from the 'idolatrous services' or by implication of the approval for indigenous practices.
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Various Christians, Europeans and others have settled in India and it is just they should be protected to worship God according to their dictates of their consciences. Therefore it should be enacted that it is lawful for all those residing in the [East India] Company's charter to assemble together for Christian worship 'without molestation or disturbance'.
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Printed by order of the House of Commons.
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Correspondence on discipline cases and cholera in Jaffna [Sri Lanka]. Manuscripts on Conference for Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Buddhism.
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Brief manuscript on Sri Lankan Buddhism by D. J. Gogery. With incomplete note.
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Rev J[ohn] Kilner's manuscript plan for a conference in Sri Lanka outlining its elements or members, place of meeting or order of Presidency and its functions.
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Discipline cases and effect of cholera in Jaffna [Sri Lanka].
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Charges against Rev J[ohn] E Kilner. Walton's work in and around Kandy and Badulla, particularly amongst 'coolies' [indentured labourers].
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His case and in particular his resignation and withdrawal from his circuit in Ceylon [Sri Lanka].
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Regarding Henry Hornby's case.
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Cholera in North Ceylon [District] and the particular effect on the mission at Jaffna (including death of Bro[ther] Mitchil). Awaiting the arrival of his intended wife.
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Death of Mr Mitchil from cholera on 7 Nov. Jaffna mission has no missionary until his return. Awaiting the arrival of his intended wife. Telegraphed Rev John Scott, chairman of South Ceylon, for advice. Rev McArthur has taken possession of Mitchil's belongings. Requests they send someone to take charge of district - Scott feels he is too young and inexperienced. Resignation of 'native minister' Rev J Vallipuram due to insufficient pay.
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Parliamentary publications (including bills) for West Africa and examination papers for the Elementary Teacher's certificate in South Africa.
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'Copy of Despatches from the Lieutenant-Governor of the Gold Coast, giving an Account of Missions to the King of Ashantee and Dohomey' by B Hawes, Colonial Office, 14 June 1849. Printed by order of the House of Commons. [Parliamentary Paper] 399.
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Consisting of information obtained from the report of the annual 'Blue Book' for the Gold Coast [Ghana] for 1851 and information supplied by T[homas] B[irch] Freeman. Annotated 'Report from the Blue Books for 1852 to be laid before Parl[iamen]t Respecting the Wesleyan Mission on the Gold Coast.'
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Printed by order of the House of Commons.
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Printed by order of the House of Commons.
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South African printed exam paper for teaching.
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South African printed exam paper for teaching.
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South African printed exam paper for teaching.
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South African printed exam paper for teaching.
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Correspondence primarily regarding the licensing of non-conformit preachers (especially Methodist) in the West Indies (notably for Jamaica and Trinidad) and access to the French quarter of Saint Martin. With parliamentary and colonial publications, mainly on education, and newspapers (with the odd cutting) on the conduct of missionaries, anti-slavery activities and colonial administration.
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For biographical information on Joseph Butterworth (1770-1826), MP, Rev Dr Thomas Coke (1747-1814), Thomas Allan (1774-1845) and William Fish (1763-1843) please consult the online Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland hosted by The Wesley Historical Society.
Biographical information on John Wray (1779-1837) can be found in James Sibree's 'London Missionary Society: a register of missionaries, deputations, etc' (1923), a copy of which is held in the SCRR.
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Parliamentary and colonial publications, a number of which are on education.
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Printed at his Majesty's Printing-Office, Jamaica.
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Printed circular on the about to be built school at St John's, Antigua, and an appeal for further funds to help resource it. Annotated with additional information on donors, etc.
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Contains an address, statistics (population, churches, clergymen and schools) and a list of donations to the association.
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Including amendment to marriage laws (particularly with regard to former slaves) in the British West Indies.
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Passed by the legislature in Jamaica on 11 April 1840.
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Training schools of Moravian Establishment and Mico Institution.
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Given to the MMS by Rev W Easton, 20 September 1956
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Printed by order of the House of Commons. [Parliamentary Paper] 144.
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Translation of official circular, dated 4 September 1867, sent by [Demesvar] Delorme throughout the Republic on the reorganization of education in Hayti [Haiti]. With brief comments before and after the circular by 'The Translator'.
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Printed by the government printer, Spanish Town, Jamaica.
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Printed by the government printer, Kingston & Spanish Town, Jamaica.
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Mainly West Indian newspapers containing articles and notices on matters such as the morality and behaviour of missionaries, anti-slavery work (including the work of Joseph Sturge), changes to the marriage laws, reports on the work of the WMMS and changes to colonial administration.
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Letter to the editor of the 'Guiana Chronicle [and Demerara] Gazette' from 'Scintillator', dated 20 July 1817, describing missionaries as 'mercernary, intermeddling, illiterate - as public spies - as private traducers - as troublesome, and ungrateful sojourners in a land where they feed on milk and honey.'
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Letter to the editor of the 'Guiana Chronicle [and Demerara] Gazette' from 'Candidus' criticising the lax morality of missionaries and their hypocritical behaviour.
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Includes information on the Anti-slavery Society, Wesleyan Methodist missionary work in the West Indies and restoration of chapels in Jamaica.
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Includes the seventeenth annual report of the 'Barbados Society for the Education of the Poor in the principles of the Established Church' and comments on a letter from the WMMS to Lord Glenelg regarding marriage in British Guiana, particularly with regard to former slaves.
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Includes a letter from the chairman of the district, J[onathan] Edmondson, to Howe Peter, Marquess of Silgo, lamenting upon the latter's resignation as Governor in Chief of Jamaica and praising his involvement in the abolition of slavery.
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Includes an article on a meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist [Missionary] Society.
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Jamaican publication which includes a letter from the chairman of the district, J[onathan] Edmondson, to Major General Sir Lionel Smith welcoming him to the island and post of Governor in Chief.
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Includes a letter from the Wesleyan Missionaries to Major General Sir Lionel Smith welcoming him to Jamaica and the post of Governor in Chief as well an account of the annual meeting of the Tobago Branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society.
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Includes articles on Joseph Sturge's mission to the West Indies and his anti-slavery activities.
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Includes notice on the right of presiding over marriages having been extended to the Wesleyan [Methodist] missionaries.
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Cutting, possibly from late June, on [Joseph] Sturge's activities in the West Indies regarding anti-slavery activities and apprenticeships.
Cutting, dated 19 July, on a recent Anti Slavery meeting at Exeter Hall attended by [Joseph] Sturge and others.
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Including a letter from the Wesleyan Methodist missionary Henry Bleby countering criticisms made of Methodists by [Joseph] Sturge.
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Including changes to the marriage laws.
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Correspondence (original, draft and copy), notes and printed matter principally relating to the problems of licensing Wesleyan Methodist preachers in the West Indies, particularly in Jamaica. As much of the correspondence was sent to Thomas Allan, the connexional legal advisor to the Wesleyan Methodist Church, or in draft or copy form in his hand, then these papers were probably once in his custody.
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Jamaican publication (for 15-22 February 1800) which includes a bill, passed in the House of Assembly but not passed in Council entitled 'An Act for the prevention and punishment of seditious practices, and attempts to incite insurrection and rebellion, in this island, and for other purposes'. With attached manuscript note (c1804) indicating the alarm said bill caused amongst the religious community.
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Act passed by the Jamaica Council and Assembly, December 1802.
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Formed society in July 1802 but had problems with authorities regarding meeting and preaching. Impact of 1803 act and interpretation of person 'qualified by Law' to preach. Hold meetings where they sing hymns but do not preach but deemed in breach of 1803 act and he is imprisoned for one month. Relates, in detail, [Daniel] Campbell's problems preaching, his trial and subsequent incarceration.
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Jamaica 'business' [problems getting ministers licensed]. Wilberforce involved.
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He and [William C] Fish applied to Quarter Sessions for license to preach in parish of St Thomas in the East but refused. Along with [John] Williams being prosecuted for allowing religious meeting in house. Colleagues advise him to quit island and reluctantly he plans to do so on 12th. Been avoiding constable as he has warrant for arrest. Asks for a preacher to be sent to replace him.
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Encloses 'some important facts' and requests a meeting.
Enclosure (same date) - Butterworth, writing as secretary to general committee 'of the People called Methodists', to Lord Castlereagh . Methodists being treated unfairly and unjustly - reminds him of their loyalty during the 'Irish Rebellion'. Unlawful imprisonment of Methodist preachers by officers of Government. Mentions how John Williams was refused a license to preach in Jamaica in breach of the Act of Toleration, and then later imprisoned for holding a religious meeting. Also in Jamaica Daniel Campbell's British license was not recognised by magistrates who imprisoned him without due process. Further licensing issues raised. Also flogging of soldiers in Gibraltar for attending a Methodist meeting. Gives examples of where other Protestant dissenters have been treated unjustly and asks for his lordship's advice and support.
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Butterworth writing on behalf of the 'Methodist Committee'. Importance of religious liberty (particularly given current situation in Europe). Importance of allowing religious freedom in the army and cites example of the flogging of two Methodist soldiers recently for practicing their Methodist beliefs undermines such freedom. Encloses copy (not extant) of Coke's 1798 account of mission to West Indies and expresses how their work continues in the islands generally well and unhindered. Recent problems in Jamaica, particularly since the passing of an act in 1803 to limit preaching. John Campbell refused a license to preach (in breach of Act of Toleration) and subsequently imprisoned. Also Dan[ie]l Campbell apprehended for preaching and his British license not recognised leading to his imprisonment. Dissenters also being refused licenses. Criticises wording of 1803 act and its interpretation and implementation. Advantages of preaching to 'Negroes'. Cites examples how Methodist elsewhere (Ireland and Guernsey) have been staunch supporters of the Crown. Asks for Crown to overrule and repeal Jamaican act of 1803.
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Reporting of a conversation on ship between a gentlemen and Mr [Daniel] Campbell misunderstood and therefore inaccurately reported. Corrected in latest edition of newspaper.
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Draft document stating facts of case and opinion that Mr [Daniel] Campbell cannot be subject to any penalties but if imprisoned should sue out a writ of Habeas Corpus before a judge of the Grand Court.
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List of names, presumably of Wesleyan Methodists, arranged by the colour of their skin ('whites', 'brown' and 'blacks').
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Dr Rees' opinion of Mr [Daniel] Campbell is not good and therefore should not be included in the account of events in Jamaica.
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Heavily annotated and corrected. Appears to be a draft petition by Daniel Campbell, W[illiam] Fish and John Williams re their treatment in Jamaica under the auspices of a new act to prevent preaching by those not 'qualified by Law'.
With four pages of notes upon which the petition is based.
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Petition (see below) lodged yesterday. Petition from the 'General Body of the Methodists' planned and others hoped for. Grateful for recommendation of Mr Stephen as advocate.
Includes copy of petition by Daniel Campbell, W[illia]m Fish and John Williams, Methodist preachers, regarding their treatment in Jamaica since the passing of an act to prevent preaching by those not 'qualified by Law'. Act is poorly worded and has been inappropriately applied leading to all of the petitioners having been imprisoned. Request that act be disallowed and no longer enforced.
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Appointment arranged to discuss his letter of 9th Nov regarding an act passed in Jamaica entitled 'An Act to prevent preaching by "Persons not duly qualified by Law"'.
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Appointment arranged to discuss the petition of Daniel Campbell, etc, and an act to prevent preaching by "Persons not duly qualified by Law" in Jamaica.
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Writing regarding the 'Jamaica Law' [persons fit to lawfully preach] and their recent meeting. Questions the evidence their lordships received from Mr Johnston, a magistrate of Morant Bay, and would like opportunity to see his evidence in detail as it may not 'be fair and candid as the real Truth demanded' and correct any inaccuracies. Requests indication of how they plan to alter the relevant law in Jamaica.
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Grateful to those who have softened address. Would have avoided a couple of phrases used - 'great' in relation to Baptists and 'chapel' as prefers 'places of worship'.
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Asks for update on the 'Jamaica business' [problems getting ministers licensed].
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Conduct with regard to Mr [Daniel] Campbell. Summarises his own recent work preaching etc.
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Dissatiisfied that Mr [Daniel] Campbell's affairs have been referred to District meeting. Suggests Campbell would prefer to settle financial matters informally and Williams suggests that this would benefit Campbell fiscally. Disagreements with Mr Lackington.
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Gives outline of address to be considered. Recently been involved in a matter of arbitration.
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Encloses copy of letter to Committee of Privy Council for Trade, etc, (see below). Thanks him for previous assistance and has confidence in his lordships disposition to favour liberty of conscience. Recalls his lordship's assistance with the Lumb case in St Vincent's (1792-3). Growth of mission. Realises 'Jamaica business' doesn't fall under his department but hope he will be able to provide assistance.
Includes a copy of letter (dated 1 June 1804) from Jos[eph] Butterworth, New Chapel, City Road [London], to the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council for Trade & Foreign Plantations. Expresses their desire to send more missionaries to Jamaica but are concerned that some local magistrates will not license them. John Williams persecuted by local authorities, forced into hiding until his recent death (which, in part, may be attributed to his treatment). Express importance of missionary work and concern that a new law will empower magistrates even more and therefore ask the Council to reconsider new law.
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District meeting concluded that Mr [Daniel] Campbell's affairs should be settled by London Committee.
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Clause to be introduced to Mr Windham's Bill which 'quiets all our fears' Wilberforce's influence in Parliament. Adam's thoughts on Methodism. Wants Allan's thoughts on Mr Clarke's letter.
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As mentioned in his letter of 14th July still need help [staff]. Visited Morant Bay recently and generally things are good but lacking leadership. Sent experiences of some of Society and send more in July. Mr [William] Fish still unwell and only able to preach on Sundays.
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Illness restricted letter writing. Glad to hear Dr Coke arrived back home. Governor's silence on disallowed law ['An Act to prevent preaching by persons not duly qualified by Law'] continues but Assembly will meet on 23rd so see what their reaction is. Recites anecdote around 1793 consolidates Slave law illustrating the difference between the intent of laws and how they are interpreted and implemented. Health improving due to better weather and more rest. Begun to preach a little again. Recounts recent events in Hayti [Haiti].
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List names of those who have provided 'experiences' and mentions having received a letter (13th July 1804) of Mr [William] Fish and Mr Fo's journal (Dec 1803 to June 1804)
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Mentions the letters he has received and written recently. Accepts kind invitation to visit him and hopes to set sail in March or April. Plans to attend [Methodist] Conference. Hopes Mr Bradnock arrives soon so he can acquaint him with Society. Mr [William] Fish is in better health. Governor not published any instructions he may have received on 'our law' ['An Act to prevent preaching by persons not duly qualified by Law'] so still holding meetings privately. Nothing from the Assembly yet but hopefully something about 'law' before Christmas. Changes in [Assembly] membership not helpful to cause, new President is 'one of our bitter enemies'. Visited Morant Bay and worshippers still holding on there despite all the disadvantages. Not enough ministers (particularly if Fish leaves). Asks cost of travelling in England.
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Printed in Jamaica. Received by Jos[eph] Butterworth of Fleet Street [London] on 11 Oct 1805.
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Letter originally dated 7 December but postponement in collection meant added postscript on 15 December.
Grateful that Butterworth continues correspondence even though he is no longer a member of the [Wesleyan Methodist] Committee. He and his colleagues grateful for Butterworth's and the Committee's assistance. Assembly have only just received instruction so how this will affect a new bill [on licensing preachers] is unclear. Disagrees with Campbell's assessment that the bill 'will not have force of a Law 'till sanction'd by the King' as, based on previous experience, the Jamaican authorities will not seek royal assent. Health improving. Improved literacy amongst congregation. In postscript asks if employment can be found in England for a 'steady pious white youth'.
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Being 'A list of things needful for Missionaries' comprising 'cloaths' [clothes] and books. Also recommends no 'Merchandise' and no owning of slaves. A good time to arrive 'in the Islands' is between November and April.
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On religious liberty, the 'Act of Toleration' and the sixth clause of the 'consolidated Slave Law'.
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Enclosure, dated 23 Apr 1803, is a true copy of an order made 'At the Court at the Queen's Palace' to disallow and make void the Jamaican act of 1802 entitled 'An Act to prevent preaching by persons not duly qualified by Law'.
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The House of Assembly is instructed by the British Government to accept a modified bill regarding the licensing of preachers but they decline as they are not obliged to submit to external interference. One copy sent by [Joseph] Butterworth to Mr [Thomas] Allan, London Street [London] and another sent to Rev John Owen, Fulham, Middsx. Both are annotated to state that social meetings in Jamaica have begun again.
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Probably intended for the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade & Foreign Plantations and written by a representative of the Wesleyan Methodist Committee. Offer thanks on behalf of their Jamaican Brethren for disallowing of a Jamaican act ['An Act to prevent preaching by persons not duly qualified by Law']. However, concerned that a replacement law will be adopted by the legislature of Jamaica. Believe such an act will be against the Law of Toleration. Offer observations with regard to their Brethren and those of the Baptists:
(1) See no grounds for complaint regarding the action of missionaries, the Act of Toleration is being underminined; (2) as first act disallowed no subsequent replacement act should be permitted; (3) Testimony shows the positive effect of missionary work on slaves; (4) any additional powers invested in Jamaican magistrates will be 'highly derogatory' to the spirit of Toleration Laws but also dangerous to 'the morals of the slaves & property of the Island'.
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Date stamped 17 April 1806. Letter not extant.
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Annotated in pencil 'Not sent'.
Thanks him for his letter re 'Sunday Drilling'. Inconsistency in exemptions from military drilling and exercising on Sundays. In some instances those who have asked to be exempted have been maltreated and punished. Impact of Sunday drilling on public morals. Entreats (on behalf of the [Wesleyan]Methodist Committee) that the Government prohibit, except by special order, all further exercises on Sundays.
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Opinions given on the jurisdiction and implementation of the 'Toleration Act' in Jamaica. 20 October 1807.
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Should obtain memorials [re licensing problems in Jamaica] from the Board of Dissenters, the Baptist Society and others. Declines to attend the Board of Trade with 'the little Doctor' as he hates his 'cant & the Cock & Bull stories' about killings by Methodists in Ireland. Suggests Wilbeforce accompanies Thompson when he visits Lord Bathurst.
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Mainly discussing a petition and how to influence the Government [on the licensing of preachers in Jamaica].
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Unable so far to meet Mr Stephen. He agrees with him that the petition [licensing of preachers in Jamaica] should be in the name of the missionaries and their congregation. Sent papers for Coke to Dr Clarke.
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Acknowledges receipt of letter to Lord Hawkesbury [Robert Banks Jenkinson]. Passed letter onto office of Lord Castlereagh [Robert Stewart].
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Letter not extant.
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Letter not extant.
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Brief note stating his desire to distance himself from the 'Jam[aic]a Case'.
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Manuscript re licensing of preachers in Jamaica.
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Reprinted copy (1811) of said act of 14 November 1810. Sent as a letter by Jos[eph] Butterworth, London, to Mr [Thomas] Allan, Hilderthorpe, Bridlington, Yorks, on 5 Sep 1811. Illness, probably a liver complaint, of 'your Bro[the]r' who is now being attended to by Dr Farr. Has been very ill but much better now. Must leave the business of the act to the preachers. Dissenters Committee recently met re poor rates. Gives examples of [religious] persecution in armed forces and thinks Mr [William] Wilberforce should speak to Mr Perceval [the Prime Minister] on the subject.
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Describes meeting with Governor on 7th March where he is told to close his chapel, stop preaching and join a militia. Later Colonel Perry visits to order him to join his militia but declines as an ordained minister. On 9th March, whilst travelling, detained by militia and placed in jail until next morning when released on Governor's orders. Eventually gains access to the Governor who states he doesn't recognise his license to preach and that he has disturbed the peace with his preaching. Argues for trial on last point but Governor will not answer so he leaves but Mr Tyler [attorney?] continues to argue Talboys' credentials and right to preach. Tyler manages to persuade Governor a trial is necessary but not happened yet. Brother [William] Dowson not permitted to land by harbour master until Tyler intervened. Tyler and Dowson meet with Governor but will not grant Dowson permission to preach. Worries they will be totally silenced. Asking for assistance to 'extricate us from this Tyrannical & offensive treatment'. Congregation's morale is poor. If charges are brought against him has many supporters (including Tho[ma]s Tyler) and asks if the Revd Dr [Thomas] Coke could write to thank them for their support.
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Letter addressed to Mr Tho[ma]s Blanshard, City Road, London. A number of 'unfounded and infamous' accounts being circulated suggesting Mr [Thomas] Talboys is a disturber of the peace, etc. When he arrived on 14th March unable to land until the intervention of Mr [Thomas] Tyler. Upon landing he found the chapel shut, Talboys on a charge, not permitted to preach, and being vilified by press and public. Has asked Governor for permission to preach but denied. On 20th March Governor and council met and placed charges before Talboys (who denied them). Talboys allowed to preach but under restrictions (including only preaching or meeting three times a week) as enclosed [see below]. Entreats Coke and committee to use influence to remove restrictions on them, particularly with regard to preaching to 'negroes'. He and Talboys are generally in good health except that his eyes weakened by the 'excessive heat'. In postscript mentions there may be an opportunity to preach in Martinique.
Enclosure is entitled 'Trinidad. Extract from the Minutes of His Majesties Council held by adjournment at the Government House the 20th April 1811' and considers a petition accusing Talboys of 'holding forth Doctrines destructive of the good order and peaceable conduct of the free coloured inhabitants & slaves of the Islands', not complying with his license to preach, extracting contributions from poor followers and promoting 'dangerous principles of equality'. Petition requests he is expelled from Colony. Talboys denies all charges and supported by Mr Camm. Until clarification is received from Crown Talboys is permitted to officiate in his chapel under the following restrictions: (1) Obeys section 5 of the Act of Toleration, (2) confines sermons to the Gospel without alluding to politics, (3) not administer the sacrament, (4) only three divine services a week and no later than 8 o'clock.
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Religious persecution in Demerary [Demerara, Guyana]. Deliberated on his proposed regulations (restricting when religious instruction and worship can take place and where). Understand that any existing restrictions will be superseded by these regulations. Grateful for assistance in resolving issue, particularly with regard to preaching to slaves. Accept this modified repeal of restrictions upon them in Demerary [Demerara, Guyana] and Trinidad and upon assurances will send back Mr [John] Wray and instruct their missionaries in Trinidad not to leave. However, state the principle that they expect the same religious freedoms to be accorded in the West Indies as in England. Oppose 'evils' of slavery and lament lack of religious instruction available. Object to hostility of colonial governments, citing Jamaica as an example. His proposed regulations, albeit reluctantly accepted, make it difficult to preach to plantation slaves (who work on the Sabbath and are confirmed during the hours of darkness). Difficult to preach at each plantation as have insufficient preachers and great distances involved, particularly in Demerary [Demerara, Guyana]. Ask that when preaching at plantations slaves from other plantations be allowed to attend.
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Briefly relates the case of the King v The Justices of Denbighshire regarding a Protestant dissenter, D Lewis, not being licensed to preach, by said Justices, as he had no separate congregation. Crown upheld as Toleration Act only extended to a person in Holy Orders or a teacher or preacher of a specific congregation of Protestant dissenters.
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Coke, writing on behalf of the [Wesleyan] Methodist Missionary Committee, expresses thanks for kind sentiments. Confident he will recommend measures to enable their missionaries to freely exercise their duties (particularly with regard to Jamaica).
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Has a letter for the [Rev] Dr [Thomas] Coke from Lord Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson] which he need to get to Coke urgently.
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Much surprised by [Rev] Dr [Thomas] Coke's concealment of Lord L[iverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson]'s letter and cannot account for it. Hopes Allan is able to complete his address on the 'Conquir'd Islands'.
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Encloses letter (see below) on subject of Methodist missions to the West Indies. Can produce evidence to support the facts stated in the enclosed letter at his Lordship's convenience.
Enclosed letter thanking him for his recent meeting with [Rev] Dr Thomas Coke. State their aims in the West Indies are to simply encourage the practice of Christianity which they have been undertaking for the last 30 years through 'the unimpeachable Conduct of their Missionaries, and of the People under their tuition'. Suggests Christianity makes people happier and more content with the 'order of things'. Lists measures the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary] Committee think necessary for existence of missions in West Indies:
(1) Free Liberty for every preacher to preach who has been certified under the Act of Toleration;
(2) Such preachers are free from military and civil office;
(3) Places of worship are open at all times;
(4) Committee will not interfere with the laws regarding 'Master and Slave' but there should be no prohibition by law stopping slaves attending places of worship;
(5) Missionaries will show integrity based on Methodist doctrine and morality. Meetings will be open to all.
Adds that evening worship and instruction to slaves is difficult, particularly on week days. Ask that the Government send instructions based on above to governors on several islands (notably Trinidad, St Eustatia and Saint Thomas).
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'Committee for managing the Methodist Missions' grateful for recent meeting [Rev] Dr [Thomas] Coke had. Ask leave to present their views to his lordship and the Government on the importance of the missions in the West Indies to those there and the British Empire.
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Writing on behalf of the 'Committee for managing the Methodist Missions' states they have not received a reply from their letter of 23 October.
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Writing on behalf of the 'Committee for managing the Methodist Missions' who are anxious to obtain a reply to their letter of 23 October to the Earl of Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson].
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This evening received enclosed letter (not extant) from the Secretary of State and intend to send enclosed letter (not extant) if you and your colleagues are in agreement.
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Recommends Allan writes to Mr [Robert] Peel acknowledging receipt of his letter and the appointment with the Earl of Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson] on Wednesday next and to ask if two colleagues could accompany Allan. Asks Allan to write to Mr [Thomas] Blanshard to arrange with the preachers at City Road whom the two other attendees should be.
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Acknowledges receipt of letter re meeting with the Earl of Liverpool next Wednesday. Asks if he may bring along two colleagues with him.
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Deputation from the [Wesleyan] Methodist Committee to meet Lord Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson] tomorrow on subject of their missions so could [Rev S W] Tracey [corresponding secretary, London Missionary Society] relate the substance of his communication with Lord Liverpool regarding their missions.
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Being copies of letters between Rev Burden and Robert Peel, written between 14 November and 10 December 1811. Correspondence relates to the allowing of 'Negro Slaves' [African slaves] to receive religious instruction in Demerara [Guyana] and other British colonies in the West Indies [Caribbean].
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(1) Ascertain the communication made to the Dissenters by his lordship's office through Mr [S W] Tracey [corresponding secretary, London Missionary Society] ;
(2) State annual expense of [Methodist] foreign missions;
(3) Mission established for thirty years [in West Indies] and no charge or instance of disloyality or sedition. Ample testimony of the good conduct of missionaries;
(4) Great opposition to missions in some islands [of the West Indies], stating St Vincent's as example;
(5) Chapel in Kingston, Jamaica, which cost between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds to build has been closed for months. Missionaries kept there at great expense but unable to do anything.
Mr [Thomas] Allan should inform his lordship that [Rev] Dr [Thomas] Coke is out of town.
Instructions signed by Tho[ma]s Blanshard on behalf of the [Wesleyan Methodist] Committee.
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Brief letter from Tracy [corresponding secretary, London Missionary Society] explaining that he saw Lord Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson] in the company of Mr Baxter and Mr [John] Wray. His lordship agreed to give up the week nights' restriction. Thinks this is 'tantamount to the Reestablishment of the former Religious Liberty & consequently to the Repeal of the Proclamation'. Some pencil annotations and notes, probably by Allan, including the fact that Wray commented 'I'd rather give up the Mission to [the] D[evil] than give up Week Nights' and that Tracy received a letter from Mr [Robert] Peel stating that Wray and 'the negroes' of Demerara [Guyana] should have the opportunity to worship on Sundays and weekday evenings.
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The Directors of the [London] Missionary Society, having conferred with their missionary, Mr [John] Wray, express their opinions on the regulations for preaching in Demerara [Guyana]. The regulations are: (1) Meetings for religious instruction on Sundays only between 5am and 9pm; (2) On weekdays meetings only during daylight hours, excepting when permission given by the slave owner and then only his slaves. Beyond these regulations there should be no interference by the Colonial Government or magistrates when missionaries are preaching to slaves.
Directors thank their lordships for assistance and for 'the sake of peace and conciliation' will ignore the 'jealousy and prejudices of the planters'. However, Wray suggests second restriction is impracticable. One day (i.e. Sunday) not sufficient 'for the instruction of untutored Negroes' as they do not have time (due to their hours of work) to make daytime meetings. Wray also points out the difficulty of preaching on the estates. Many estates are close together so collective worship would make sense. Furthermore, they also preach to slaves of merchants, etc, in the Town of Demerara and they cannot receive instruction unless they are allowed to attend chapel. His wife is also important to the mission but unable to travel to each estate to assist with the female slaves and their children. Wray's view is that the mission should be abandoned under such restrictions. Wray adds that slaves from different estates mix during their work without any problem and one gentlemen even allows slaves from different estates to 'drum and dance a great part of the night' but does not allow his slaves to receive religious instruction. Wray believes that such meetings have a greater danger of disorder then religious meetings. Directors suggest all complaints regarding Wray should be thoroughly investigated but not by those who are 'prejudiced and hostile' in Demerara.
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Discusses document to be drawn up by Dissenters suggesting they do not adopt the phraseology and that they should concentrate on Jamaica and Trinidad. Draft a letter to Lord Liverpool [Robert Banks Jenkinson] tomorrow requesting a deputation (including Mr Denson and [Rev] Dr [Thomas] Coke). Instructions of Privy Council will not alter situation in Jamaica. Indicates what elements of the instructions he thinks can be attributed to Nat[hanie]l Bonds. Asks what can be done with 'such abominable instructions' and the present act in Jamaica. Contact at London Missionary Society is the secretary, Mr [S W] Tracy, whom he has written to already insisting that weekday meetings be for 'Whites & Free People of Colour & for such Negroes as their Masters may permit.'
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Indicates expenses, number of missionaries and number of society members for the missions in the West Indies with additional information on Trinidad, St Thomas', St Eustatius and Jamaica. Also references to the 'Christian Observer'(1809) and 'persecuting law in Jamaica'.
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The letter, although probably written by Allan, appears to have been annotated by another hand [?Blanshard] and sent to Allan.
'Committee appointed to superintend the Methodist Missions' have asked him to convey their 'regret and astonishment' at accusations in his letter in the 'monthly magazine' ['Monthly, Magazine; or, British Register', Jan 1812] regarding Methodism and their missionaries in Jamaica. Robson supports bill passed by the Assembly of Jamaica and expresses the view that added to the slaves' 'misery of their present condition' by preaching of eternal damnation and 'driving many of them to despair and madness'. Committee denies this and asks what evidence he has for his accusations. Robson further claims they make slaves less industrious and the Methodists take what little money they have. Committee states his comments are libellous and unjust.
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Blanshard, secretary to the [Wesleyan Methodist] Committee, writing with regard to Robson's letter in the 'monthly magazine' ['Monthly, Magazine; or, British Register', Jan 1812] on 'Negro Slavery' in Jamaica. Gratified to hear that he will publish local information which 'will sub serve at once the interests of the planters and the slave'. However, his criticism of the Methodist missions is unfounded. Object is 'to make the Negroes happy' through religious and moral instruction. Believe their missionaries' conduct is 'most prudent and unexceptionable' but if he can provide evidence to the contrary the Committee will investigate and if a missionary is found wanting he will be removed from duty. However, all the evidence they have is that none of their missionaries have misbehaved and they have a number of testimonies from the West Indies [Caribbean] of their missionaries good conduct.
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Just visited Mr [John] Wiggins who is in jail for having opened the chapel contrary the ordinance of June 1807. Deemed by magistrates to be an unqualified preacher (gives brief account of trial). The day afterwards two threatening letters were found in the City Clerk's Office but deemed forgeries with Wiggins signing an affidavit that he did not write them nor does he know who did. Wiggins asked to pledge not to preach against the ordinance again but declines. Notes the causes against the Methodists - (1) view that the Methodist Society is active in promoting the abolition of the slave trade; (2) Methodist prohibition that preachers cannot marry slave owners; (3) view that preachers before Wiggins and [George] Johnston acted improperly. Recent newspaper articles are probably libellous. Wiggins will write as soon as he is able. Great need for the Gospel to be preached here.
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Sent papers for 'Jamaica Case'. Should write to Mr Cousin of Red Ditch [Redditch, Worcs] to see if persecution at Alcester [Worcs] is over (else should employ Mr Clarke of Evesham [Worcs]).
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Possibly written to Blanshard. Apologises that Teignmouth [John Shore] did not meet with Mr [Thomas] Allan but has been out of town. Able to meet him tomorrow morning.
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States they are kindred spirits. Hopes he will be shown his path soon. Much need to spread the Gospel and much good work being done on the island. Baptists being falsely represented as have been forced to worship in woods as not permitted to worship more formally. Preaching in Kingston is difficult. Visited Mr Cook in Kingston who is much changed and more critical of missionaries then before but says he will help the author get a licence to preach. Went with Mr Compere to visit the Methodist missionaries in Kingston: Mr [John] Wiggins and Mr & Mrs [John] Shipman. They are happy and conduct themselves in good order as well as having done much good in the country. Methodists have large chapels at Kingston, Spanish Town and Morant Bay which are all well attended but Spanish Town is not licenced. Worthy of their success, particularly given the afflicitions they have suffered in the past. Author hopes to preach from a rented room in Old Harbour Bay if he can get a license. Suggests the purchase of land between Rose Hall and the Lodge to build a mission house.
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Understands that the [Wesleyan Methodist] Committee will meet today to decide upon the measures respecting the resolutions of the missionaries in Jamaica. He understands said resolutions (although adopted on 6th September) appeared in last Monday's edition of 'John Bull'. Too important a subject to come to a hasty decision. Regrets that the Committee through the 'Meth[odis]t Magazine' has promoted the cause of the Anti-Slavery Society against the plantation owners. Reminds them he warned them at a meeting of the consequences of such action for which he was rebuked. He is having great difficulty dealing with the situation and does not see what course the Committee can take now. He feels he cannot take sides as he sees good men on both sides of the argument. Suggests they take no further action and refrain from meddling in such affairs again. Thinks nothing but mischief can come of the actions so far. Those who framed the resolutions may feel compelled to take action against the Committee and the missions. Doesn't know any of the missionaries so can't say what will happen but knows the effects that can follow 'severe measures'. Hopes the Committee will 'pause a little & coolly & quietly take a view of all the circumstances'.
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With added brief pencil notes on acts of Parliament regulating preaching.
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Copies of correspondence relating to issues regarding access for Methodist preachers entering the French Quarter of Saint Martin. Also a small number of papers on Methodist missions in the West Indies and individuals who worked there.
The documents listed here were removed from Box 661 (now obsolete) whilst most of the remainder of the contents of that box were added to, or created part of, Boxes 660a-f (WMMS/Special Series/Candidates Papers/FBN 43). A small amount of papers were also added to Various Papers, Miscellaneous papers (although filmed along with the candidate papers). The date when this rearrangement took place is not recorded but may have been around 1987.
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Mentions events between 22 February and 17 March. Along with Mr [Charles] Janion as well as the Chief Judge and others went to collect subscriptions and donations for the missionary society (formed last August). Happy that such co-operative work is now possible, particularly given previous problems. Able to preach with liberty to a receptive audience. Elderly female member of the society recalls preaching of Mr [William] Hammet and Mr Meredith leading to her conversion. Another female member recounts her abduction from Africa ('Kabby Country') at the age of about 13, her arrival in St Christopher's and her conversion (after hearing Mr [John] Brownell and Mr [Edward] Thompson).
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Possibly Horsford's final examination prior to ordination. Contains a brief overview of his upbringing in Antigua, his spiritual awakening and conversion to Methodism, and his service as a local preacher. Application supported by his superintendent, Rev James Cox, and the preachers of the quarterly meeting. Willing to serve anywhere in the world and is able to support himself and his family for four years. Agrees to the doctrine and discipline of Methodism then cites Biblical authority to support said principles. With a list of the books he possesses.
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History of Wesleyan Methodism in Antigua beginning with Nathaniel Gilbert's contact with Methodism in 1758 and his subsequent conversion, the 'piety and zeal of two old black women, Mary Alley and Sophia Campbell' in preserving the society in the 1760s and 1770s, Mr [John] Baxter's arrival in 1778, Mrs Frances Gilbert's work amongst women from 1781, [Rev] Dr [Thomas] Coke's arrival along with [William] Hammet and [John] Clarke in 1786, the building of the first chapel in 1783 and its successor in 1839 (which is described in detail), the current financial situation and the membership of the society compared to the population of St John's and the island itself.
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Replying to the address of Rev James Walton presented to him on the occasion of his retirement from government. Is grateful for the kind words expressed but in protecting religious freedom he was only fulfilling his duties. Holds the Wesleyans Methodists in high esteem and compliments them on their 'Pious and Exemplary conduct'.
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Thanks Walton for his address congratulating him on his appointment. Will continue to protect religious freedoms of Wesleyan Methodists and compliments them on their conduct and labours. Wishes Walton good wishes as he is soon to leave the island.
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Possibly Smyth's final examination prior to ordination. Contains a brief overview of his upbringing, conversion to Methodism in 1834, and his work as a Sunday school and local preacher. Application supported by his superintendent and the preachers of the quarterly meeting. Lists [Methodist] views on the scriptures and doctrines contained within them (citing references).
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Original letter was dated 11 August 1843. Not within his power to grant permission to allow Mr [William] Rogers to officiate at Sewell's daughter's funeral.
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Original letter was dated 11 August 1843. Not within his power to grant permission to allow Mr [William] Rogers to officiate at Sewell's daughter's funeral.
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Incomplete copy of letter from [G B] Dormoy, Mayor of Marigot, to Forget, Commandant of St Martin [French part], regarding Monsieur [William] Rogers, a preacher from the Methodists in the Dutch part of the island, being given permission to attend a service in Marigot. Original letter was dated 25 February 1843.
Copy of letter from Cha[rle]s A Fitz Roy, Governor in Chief, Antigua, to Cha[rle]s G Cunningham, Lieut[enant] Governor, St Christopher's, reminding Cunningham of the petition he left with him to ask the French Governor General of Saint Martin to allow a Wesleyan Minister to preach there. States although not a matter he is entitled to interfere with he sent the petition to the Governor General of Guadeloupe. Received a reply stating that as the Wesleyan minister referred to had abused a former permission granted to him 'by interfering and agitating the minds of the populace on political topics', particularly slavery, they will not grant him access. Original letter was dated 24 May 1844.
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Letter from [Dr] Benj[amin] Hodge, A M Hancock, Joseph Hodge, Abraham J Lee & Daniel Adams, being inhabitants of Marigot, to G B Dormoy, Mayor of Marigot [Saint Martin]. Under the impression that the Rev William Satchell, as long as he refrains from engaging in any of his ministerial functions, is permitted as a private individual to enter the French Quarter. However, yesterday the Commandant informed him that under no circumstances would he be permitted to visit the quarter. Ask mayor to approach the Governor of Guadeloupe to authorise Satchell to be allowed to enter the quarter as a private individual and give assurances he will not preach, etc. Original letter was dated 29 April 1846.
Letter from Hodge, etc (as above) to Mayor of Marigot [G B Dormoy] that they have not had a formal response to their letter of 29 April. Concerned they haven't had a reply from the Governor, despite his (the Mayor's) sympathetic view and confidence. Beg for a response soon. Original letter was dated 13 July 1846.
Letter from Hodge, etc (as above) to Mayor of Marigot [G B Dormoy] expressing their unhappiness over 'the dead silence' in reply to their previous letters regarding Rev Mr [William] Satchell. His Protestant faith should compel him to argue their cause, which he has had ample time to do. Fear now that he is indifferent to their cause. Remove any previous securities of conduct they offered. Original letter was dated 20 July 1846.
Letter from Joh[anne]s de Veer, Lieut[enant] Governor of St Eustatius, to Rev James Cox, Chairman of the [Methodist] District, expressing desire of inhabitants to retain the services of Rev William Satchell for another year. As he has been appointed to another district some inhabitants have written a letter to the Wesleyan [Methodist] Missionary Society requesting he is returned to this mission. Passing letter on to Cox and adds his testimony of Satchell's valuable service to the community. Original letter was dated 26 July 1842. With a testimony to Satchell's good character, 3 June 1845.
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Appointed by the British Conference of Wesleyan Ministers to the mission station in the Dutch Division of Saint Martin [Sint Maarten] on 8th February 1845. Planned to visit the French division of the island (to meet with the Methodists there) but informed by the Commandant that on the orders of the Governor General of Guadeloupe that he was not permitted to do so, regardless as to whether he was visiting in an official or private capacity. If necessary force would be used against him to stop his entry to the French division. Knows of no charge against him and his society does not permit him to interfere with the politics or secular concerns of foreign countries. States the positive effect the Methodist mission has had in the Dutch part of the island. Humbly begs his Majesty to remove this prohibition affecting him. Original petition was dated 19 May 1846 at Philipsburg, Saint Martin.
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Many of the petitioners were encouraged to settle in the colony having been assured of their civil and religious liberties as French subjects. However, after the revolution of 1793 many were displaced into exile and did not return to their homeland until the anarchy had subsided. Revolution also led to a cessation in joint Protestant religious practice in both the French and Dutch part of the island. Little opportunity for Protestant worship in French division whilst in the Dutch division they have been served well by the Wesleyan [Methodist] Missionary Society since 1819, and which since 1842 has been funded on the island by the Dutch Crown. Wesleyans have provided Christian service and teaching, including to children. In 1841 the petitioners erected a church in the French division but the civil authorities in 1843 refused to allow a Wesleyan minister to visit them in either an official or private capacity. Despite support for this from Dutch officials minister was still not allowed entry. Happened again recently with regard to the newly appointed missionary, Rev William Satchell. One hundred and twenty eight Methodist (plus other denominations) have no pastoral care. Ask the King to allow the Wesleyan missionary to visit them to offer ministry and pastoral care. Original petition was dated 5 July 184[6].
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Had his letter of 8th May forwarded to him by his friend Doctor Benjamin G Hodge. Happy to bring to his notice his grievances as a Wesleyan Methodist minister, particularly as redress to his own Government has failed. Hopes he can remove the restrictions currently placed upon him. Been a minister in the colony since February 1845. Upon arrival discovered that his colleague had been unjustly banned on false charges from the French part of the island. Includes enclosures (not extant) of correspondence between Dutch and French officials regarding permission for a Wesleyan minister to be allowed to enter the French part of island. He (Satchell) has not been able to enter the French part of island despite having no charges levelled against him and the support of the Dutch. He encloses further communications (not extant) regarding his attempts to gain entry. On return trip from Anguilla he landed at Marigot but after visiting a friend was arrested and brought before the commandant who stated he must leave the town immediately. States legacy of false charges against [William] Rogers still being used by Governor General of Guadeloupe in communications which he encloses (not extant). Includes a package (not extant) of information relating to the case of Mrs Uxbridge Becker of Marigot which shows how 'Popery' has 'lost none of its intolerant and persecuting spirit'. She died without the comfort of a Methodist minister. Encloses further examples (not extant) of the problems they have encountered. Includes testimonials to his character. Original letter was dated 24 July 1846.
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As a Municipal Magistrate not able to provide information regarding Mons[ieur] le C[omp]t[e] [Agenor] de Gasparin without authorisation from the Director of the Interior. However, expresses his private opinion of the 'unfortunate position' of the Protestants of the French part of the island. An injustice to the Protestants that they are not allowed a minister but to not allow a dying woman the ministrations of a Wesleyan Methodist minister can only be 'universally ridiculed'. Should stress to the minister of the Colonies that these actions are 'entirely exceptional' and the result of the conduct of only half-a-dozen gentlemen and not the 'expression of the public sentiment'. Original was dated 27 July 1846.
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De Gasparin's recent communication met with 'unbounded joy' by himself and fellow Protestants of the island. Gives overview of Protestantism on the island stating that Protestants make up the majority of the free population and recent problems have not significantly reduced their number. States that some Protestants observe Catholicism for a number of reasons (including as it is the national French faith). Slave population in the French quarter numbers 3,000 to 4,000 and are in a 'state of destitution as regards instruction of every kind'. Some attend Catholic churches here whilst others worship in the Protestant churches in the Dutch part of the island. His own few slaves have complained that they do not understand the Catholic services. Protestants churches in Dutch part thriving with congregations 'bound and free, white, black and coloured' with many originating from French division. States good reputation of Wesleyan [Methodist] mission in Dutch division of island over last 27 years, which is now in part supported by Dutch King. The minister, William Satchell, is not permitted to enter the French division of the island whether in a private or official capacity (not even to tend to the dying). Includes copies of letters (not extant) relating to the Becker and Sewell deaths. Protestant sacrament not allowed to be administered in French division. Restrictions on marriages (particular between slaves) as well. Difficulty in obtaining Holy Scriptures. Protestant slaves better behaved. Encloses copy of petition (not extant) of Protestant inhabitants to the French King regarding their grievances (interested if had any result). Hopes De Gasparin and the Protestant Society of Paris will be able to help. Original letter dated 28 July 1846.
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Replying to letter of 30th regarding results of Methodism in the Colony. Wesleyan Methodist missionaries have since 1819 been allowed to exercise their religious freedoms without interruption. Shown loyalty to the Dutch King, respect for his laws, 'laudable and zealous exertions' in spreading the Gospel and raised the 'minds of all classes of inhabitants, in particular the Slave population'. In consideration of such work been granted financial aid towards their evangelism and school work. Original was dated 31 July 1846.
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Recently received a letter from Count Agenor de Gasparin, secretary of the Protestant Society of Paris, stating their concern regarding the condition of the Protestants in the French part of St Martins [sic] and asking for specific information of numbers, condition, etc. Replied to the count stating no instruction provided for them (even though they are in the majority) and the only pastoral care available is the Protestant pastor in the Dutch division. However, said pastor is not allowed to enter French quarter, even in the capacity of a private individual. Says as the captain is familiar with the island and recent circumstances he has taken the liberty of referring the count to him. Grateful for help they have received but require them to continue to redress the religious intolerance they encounter. Many of the proprietors of the island have sent a petition to the Chamber of Deputies praying for the immediate abolition of slavery on the island. Original was dated 31 July 1846.
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Met with Doctor [Benjamin G] Hodge who suggested he should write a more explicit account regarding the exclusion of Rev William Richard Rogers, the former Wesleyan Methodist minister, from the French part of the island. On 19 February 1843 Rogers commented on the suffering of the inhabitants of Guadeloupe as a result of the earthquake and suggested they needed to repent their sins. Reported on the French side of the island that Rogers had suggested they were greater sinners than other men as they were Roman Catholics. As a consequence he was banned from the French quarter of St Martin (upon the recommendation of the Mayor to the Commandant). However, upon the visit of Sir Charles Fitz Roy, Commander-in-Chief of the British Leeward Islands, he was informed it was because Rogers had abused his position by interfering with local politics, particularly with regard to slavery. Includes papers [not extant] explaining the current situation and testimonials as to the good work of the mission. States further proof of their circumstances can be obtained from Captain Perrinon. Original letter was dated 1 August 1846.
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Manuscript essay entitled 'Christian Missions' by George Ebenezer Shirley. With his covering letter, 1 June 1839.
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Letter, written 1 June 1839, from George Ebenezer Shirley, Rochester, Kent, to the 'the Adjudicators of the Prize offered for an Essay on Christian Missions' bearing the motto "not unto us".
A manuscript essay in five volumes entitled 'Christian Missions' by George Ebenezer Shirley and comprising:
Book I 'Nature, Character & Object of Mission'. Also contains an overview of the contents of all five volumes (153 pages in total);
Book II 'The Duty of Christians to spread the Gospel';
Book III 'The Privilege of Christians to send the Gospel to the Heathen';
Book IV 'Encouragement to send the Gospel to the Heathen;'
Book V 'Objections to Missions considered'.
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Thomas Jackson (1783-1873) was born in Sancton, Yorkshire. In 1801 he was converted to Methodism through the ministry of Mary Barritt. He began to preach soon after and entered the itinerancy in 1804. In 1817 he succeeded Jabez Bunting as sub-secretary of the Conference and in 1824 was appointed to the important post of connexional editor, again in succession to Bunting. As connexional editor he authored a wide number of publications and established himself as one of Wesleyan Methodism's greatest apologists and historians. The pamphlets which he wrote were cornerstones in the defence of traditional Wesleyanism during this very troubled period. He also edited the journals of Charles Wesley, and the sermons and other works of John Wesley, while his two volume biography of Charles Wesley is still the most complete work about the hymn-writer and co-founder of Methodism. In 1842 he was appointed theological tutor at the Richmond Theological Institute and served there for nineteen years until poor health forced him into retirement. Jackson served as President of Conference in 1838 and 1849.
(Source: THE METHODIST ARCHIVES BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX, Methodist Archives and Resource Centre, John Rylands University Library, Manchester - http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/searchresources/guidetospecialcollections/methodist/using/biographicalindex/jacksontojulian/header-title-max-32-words-65132-en.htm).
The collection consists of letters and copy letters, circulars, pamphlets and printed material relating to Methodist history. Matters covered by these include the death of John Wesley; various disputes between ministers, chapel stewards and the Methodist Conference (especially the Portland Chapel dispute); moral and political issues (notably slavery); a few printed minutes of various British Methodist districts; and the beginnings of missionary activity overseas.
The collection is generally ordered chronologically (in seven folders) although there are some exceptions, mainly as a result of the original manuscript list.
Arrangement of Original Files (and how microfiched):
Folder One (Includes a manuscript list of the collection) 1736-1790
Folder Two 1791-1793
Folder Three 1794
Folder Four 1795-1796
Folder Five 1797-1820
Folder Six 1821-1834
Folder Seven 1835-1839
The following terms have been used when describing items within the collection. Letter refers to handwritten letters addressed to a particular receiver. The term circular letter refers to printed letters and statements addressed to no particular receiver i.e. dear brother or dear brethren. Pamphlet refers to a printed booklet usually on a particular subject.
With circulars, printed documents and pamphlets I have included the title or heading of the work between apostrophes in the description. With such printed material, when possible, I have included the date of printing in square brackets within the description and used the date column for the date of the original event, this is because the original manuscript list accompanying the collection lists the event date rather than the printing date. Where the circular or printed material contains extracts from more than one item or speech that are dated differently I have included all of the dates in the date column, this is unless the document has an overall date of its own e.g. Item Number 4. Where the item is a direct copy the date column refers to the date of the original and the copy date if known is stated in the description, this reflects the original arrangement of the collection which is arranged chronologically by original date not copy dates. Where there is more than one copy of a document I have included in the description the number of copies written in brackets.
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Confesses his sinful past and asks for prayer.
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Discusses various Methodist publications.
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A recantation of a paper he had previously signed renouncing Methodism. Printed in 1742.
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Includes copies of letters from 18 May 1742, 27 April 1742 and 21 May 1742 re new converts to Methodism in Scotland.
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Expresses his intentions to visit the North and discusses Mr Lee's new wife. [Copied after 1843].
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Copied from a version found amongst the papers of Rev Oddy. Copied for Rev Thomas Jackson by George Lett at Bradford [Yorks] on 10 August 1853
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Discusses Mr Wesley's brother's illness and possible death. [Copied after 1849].
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Appeals for help to fund the new chapel in London (2 copies).
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Requests assistance in setting up a mission in Calabar [Nigeria].
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Requests money to pay bills and discusses the acquisition and distribution of books.
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His thoughts on the benevolence of God and the righteous path to heaven.
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Both letters copied onto same sheet of paper. The first is to Mr Whitehouse re attending conference (sent from London), 15 August 1767. The second is to Mr Rodda re Mr Jacque's proposal to build a house (sent from Bristol [Somerset]), 7 September 1781. [After 1780].
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Includes the ordination of ministers, connections with the Church of England and the good character of the Bishop of Philadelphia [USA]. Printed 1 March 1785.
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Coke refutes certain accusations made about him in reference to the above sermon [item 14]. Printed 1786.
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Arguing the holy scriptures' superiority to the most celebrated writings of antiquity written by Rev David Simpson in Macclesfield [Cheshire].
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Information on the new school, its philosophy and rules. Printed 1787.
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Includes extracts from letters written by Mr Hammet at St Christopher's. One dated 5 February 1788 describing the work of the missionaries. One dated 29 February 1788 describing the need for missionaries in Jamaica. The last extract includes figures on the number of converts in the West Indies. (2 copies).
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A dispute over the ordination of ministers and who can speak in the chapel.
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With accompanying notes. 'Signed' by Wesley on 20 February 1789. (3 copies)
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Copy of the 'Riot Act'.
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From March 1790 up to the Methodist Conference in May 1790
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The death of the Rev John Wesley.
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Narrates the circumstances of Mr [John] Wesley's death.
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Continuance of magazines
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Circular letter from a committee at Halifax [Yorks] re the state of affairs consequent upon the death of Mr [John] Wesley, with several suggestions (2 copies).
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The state of affairs consequent upon the death of Mr [John] Wesley, with several suggestions.
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Expresses concerns regarding Methodist worship and its relationship to the Church of England after the death of John Wesley.
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Circular listing resolutions made at the above meeting on 14th June 1791.
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Dr Whitehead's demands for his history of the life of Wesley and the decision to have Dr Coke and Mr Moore produce an official history.
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Correspondence (September 1791 to November 1791) re the debate over the writing of the history of the life of Wesley
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Circular letter re issues with Dr Whitehead and the history of the life of Wesley.
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Introducing remarks [by Mr Rogers] on Dr Whitehead's pamphlet 'A True Narrative of the Life of Mr [John] Wesley'. Remarks were originally enclosed but are now not extant.
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Circular containing extraxts from the letters of George Cussons (13 July 1792), James Milbourne (13 July 1792), Richard Edwards (12 July), Thomas Dobson, S. Simes and Joseph Wolley (14 July 1792) attested by Charles Paramore.
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Listing the propositions they made (30th October 1792) re disputes relative to Portland Chapel, Bristol. With a handwritten letter (2nd November 1792) attached from Owen Davies to Mr Jenkins at the Methodist Chapel, Colchester [Essex] re the Portland Chapel [Bristol, Somerset] dispute.
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Circular, with handwritten postscript by Dr Coke.
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Circular containing a request to be allowed to administer communion at the chapel.
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Circular re connections with the Church of England (2 copies).
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Rejects the resolutions of the Leeds Conference and discusses the issue of performing communion. Includes a handwritten postscript by W. Heath.
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Circular re dispute with the acting Trustees of the Octagon Chapel, Chester.
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Author described as 'a member of the established church'
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The Portland Chapel dispute (Printed in Bristol, 18 August 1794). Includes an attached, handwritten postscript letter to Mr William Jenkins from H. Moore (30 August 1794).
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Circular re Mr Moore and the proposed split from the Church of England.
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The circular includes contributions from the trustees of Kingswood Chapel (5 September 1794) and an attestation of the facts of the circular by Joseph Benson, Richard Rodda and Thomas Vasey (the preachers appointed by conference to the Bristol circuit).
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The Portland Chapel [Bristol, Somerset] dispute (2 copies).
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Circular including a copy of a letter from Manchester (13 September 1794) in reply to the Minutes of the District Meeting at Portland Chapel [Bristol, Somerset]. Also includes a copy of a letter from A. Mather and John Pawson to the Chairman of the Bristol district. (2 copies).
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Includes copies of letters from Trowbridge [Wilts] (6 October 1794), Bristol (11 September 1794). Also includes a copy of a letter from John Wesley entitled 'The Case of Birstal (sic) House' re deeds for the Bristol Chapels. (2 copies).
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Circular from Samuel Bradburn, Bath [Somerset], re the Portland Chapel [Bristol, Somerset] dispute.
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Reports on agreements re the Portland Chapel [Bristol, Somerset] dispute made at a meeting of the preachers of the Redruth district.
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Comprising copy of a letter from Mr Alex Mather (Manchester [Lancs], 27 October 1794) and an approval from Mr William Thompson (London, 30 October 1794) re the Bristol dispute (2 copies). One copy includes a handwritten postscript by Thomas Vasey, (Bristol, 1 November 1794).
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Reply to Mr Samuel Bradburn's circular of 6th October 1794 re the Portland Chapel [Bristol, Somerset] dispute. (3 copies).
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The dispute at Bristol [Somerset]
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The dispute at Bristol [Somerset]
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The dispute at Bristol [Somerset]
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Circular including extracts from a letter commenting on the connections with the Church of England (Bristol, 31 December 1794). (3 copies).
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The dispute at Bristol [Somerset]
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The dispute at Bristol [Somerset]. (2 copies)
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Circular from a majority of the Trustees of the Salford Chapel [Lancs] refuting the connection of the majority of the trustees to the circular dated October 1794, re the dispute at Bristol [Somerset].
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The dispute at Bristol [Somerset].
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Reply to 'An Address to the Methodist Body at large, and the Preachers in particular' [item 62]. (3 copies).
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Description of the rules and traditions of Methodism. Includes prescriptions for 'restoring peace to the whole connection' (3 copies).
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States opinions on the ordination of ministers and the administering of sacrament in chapels. Includes an addition from Bristol [Somerset] re the Portland Chapel dispute (2 copies).
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Preaching at the Octagon Chapel during Church hours.
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Contains a Plan of Pacification for conducting the sacrament and appointing preachers. (4 copies).
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Suggestions for the future course that should be adopted by Methodism
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Reprint by J M Greery, Edinburgh in 1795 (original printed in Liverpool, 1790).
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The dispute over independence from the Church of England and the ordination of ministers. Printed in Bristol [Somerset] in 1795.
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Reprint by J M Greery, Edinburgh in 1795 (original printed in Liverpool, 1790).
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Their desire to receive the sacrament in their Chapel.
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Records the judgment of Conference on the case against Mr Kilham and his publications
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A criticism of a previous address from 'leaders, local preachers, trustees, stewards and private members' at Manchester dated 4th October in which an argument is made for a return to 'primitive Methodism'. The circular includes an addendum by Mr Alex Mather and also includes a handwritten note (dated 1 November 1796) to the addressee Mr Jenkins of Gloucester, signed by A. Mather.
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A call for preachers to reform themselves
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Meeting held on 30 November and 1 December 1796
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Disputes over the organisation and future of Methodism. Includes an extract from a circular from Salford [Lancs] dated 10 November 1796.
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Discusses the failings of his father in raising him. Annotated [probably by Charles Wesley, the recipient of the letter].
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A money problem with the Kingswood collection involving Mr Rodda.
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Two copies one of which includes a handwritten note from G Morley, 26 June 1797
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Comprises printed extracts of various letters from people in Liverpool [Lancs], dated 4th April 1797, 28th November 1796 and the 13th July 1797.
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Includes a handwritten note to Mr Bardsley at the Methodist Preaching House, Louth from Joseph Benson.
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Regarding the disputes between trustees and ministers. (2 copies).
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Regarding the financial difficulties of the Society and the Book Room
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An appeal for aid to the missions in the West Indies. Includes a handwritten note signed by T. Coke.
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The missions in the West Indies
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A reply to a pamphlet produced by Rev Hotham of Derby called 'An address to the People Called Methodists' criticising Methodism.
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Expresses concern for Mr Watson's current 'difficult' situation.
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Women's Preaching
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Includes notes on the previous acts that the new act is repealing and amending, by Adam Clark and Joseph Butterworth and a copy of the act.
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Lists resolutions passed at a missionary meeting at Leeds {Yorks] on the 6th October 1813. Also includes an extract from the Leeds Mercury giving details of the meeting where the resolutions were passed. The Leeds Mercury article was originally published 9th October 1813
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Also includes a copy of item 95 'Methodist Missions in Nova Scotia…' the list of resolutions passed at a missionary meeting at Leeds on the 6th October 1813.
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Judgement, made at Westminster Hall [London], regarding the funding and erection of a chapel at Holt, Norfolk.
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A short annual report by Jonathan Crowther and Jabez Bunting, Bristol [Somerset].
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The address to be presented to the King [George IV] on his accession to the throne.
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Praises God and sends words of encouragement to his missionary son. Also includes an account of evangelical events in his own area and reflections on the work of missionaries in general.
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Discusses the progress of the foreign missions.
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Discusses the mission in Jamaica and argues against slavery.
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Methodist ministers overseeing marriages and baptisms.
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The first is from Abraham Des Amorie Vander Hoeven, Rotterdam [Netherlands] dated 10th March 1826, re Mr Nichols translation of the Works of Arminius and other thoughts on Arminianism. The second is from Mr A. Stolker, Rotterdam [Netherlands] dated 5 April 1826, re works of the Arminianism.
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Mr Moore and the dispute over the City Road Preachers' House [London]
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Mr Moore and the City Road Circuit [London] (7 copies)
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Contains information about the family and home and reflections on his son's missionary work
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Methodism in Ireland
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Appeals to them to vote for candidates in favour of the abolition of slavery.
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Response to an accusation of interfering in an election in Leeds [Yorks]
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Publication of a 'Wesleyan Family Library' including an overview of what will appear in each volume.
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Possibly from 'The Christian Advocate'.
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(2 copies)
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Off-print from the Manchester Times of 23 February 1833.
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Increasing the sale of the Magazine. Includes a price list for copies of the works of Mr [Richard] Watson.
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Asks for congregational petitions to be sent to Members of Parliament opposing the proposed Lords Day Bill.
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Concerning a Manchester District Meeting and in defence of J.R. Stephens (12 copies).
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Both letters copied by W D Goy, 8/11/1834. First is from W. Buckley Fox, Tiverton [Devon] on cholera, dated 12th February 1832. The other from W. D. Goy on the late Rev R. Watson, dated November 1834.
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Includes a list of donations and subscribers.
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Meeting held in Pitt-street chapel on 14th November 1834. Document lists resolutions and those who agreed to them.
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Confirms their 'firm and unshaken attachment to the constitution of Methodism, as it now exists, and as it has been handed down to us by our fathers'.
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A response to a circular from the Manchester First Circuit who passed propositions 'which seriously affect some of the vital principles of our Constitution'. (4 copies).
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The current constitutional debate and the statements of the 'Grand Central Association'.
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Objections to the work of the "Grand Central Association".
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An appeal to the members of the New England [USA] and New Hampshire Conferences [USA] of the Methodist Episcopal Church re slavery. Written By Shipley W. Wilson, Abram D. Merrill, La Roy Sunderland, George Storrs and Jared Perkins from Boston [Massachusetts, USA].
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A counter appeal to the ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New England [USA] and New Hampshire [USA] Conferences in defence of slavery.
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Includes a price list of books sold (by Fletcher, Wesley, Watson, etc).
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Wish to disassociate themselves from resolutions passed at a recent quarterly meeting regarding Conference and the Church as a whole.
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Response to a previous letter to The Scotsman re the recent dispute in the Edinburgh circuit.
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Thanks Beecham for sending him information on various complaints made about him.
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Discusses the upcoming Centenary and requests to be removed from the position of Secretary to the Chapel building
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Reynolds' reminiscences of John Wesley.
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Mistakes about John Wesley and the Foundery School made in a funeral address and printed in an edition of 'The Watchman'.
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Concerning plans and drawings of the Foundery School.
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Concerning a boy whose father does not want to support him. Also includes comments on the Education Act and petitions against it.
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Thanking her for a 'presentation copy' and asking her to thank the writer when she reaches England. Includes copy of his brief account - written on 29 June 1839 - of reading Luther's preface to 'The Epistle of St Thomas'.
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Mr Appleton's debts to the captain and his avoidance of the captain. Pages numbered 85-88. Part of a larger unknown work.
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Item previously did not have reference number.
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Volume containing letters from various correspondents, mostly Methodist ministers some of whom are missionaries such as William Arthur, Samuel Broadbent, James Cox, Elijah Hoole, Richard B Lyth, John Nelson, W H Rule and John Thomas. On many occasions Steele has provided biographical or anecdotal information and occasionally this is quite substantial as with, for example, the missionaries Barnabas Shaw, John Felvus and John Mortier. There are also a few sermons by Thomas Dunn, John Murlin and Joseph Thomson. The letter for Jonathan Cadman also includes a photograph.
The volume is indexed although missing the entries for 'A'. The index has a few crossed out entries indicating where letters have been removed.
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Letters, etc, collected by Mr John Steele of Barnard Castle, County Durham, and handed down to Mr Garnett of Chester. Given to the MMS by Mrs Garnett, January 1952.
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Artificial arrangement in three sections.
The first consists of a small amount of miscellaneous documents (some incomplete) which comprise the last part of the Special Series/Various Papers sequence. Please be aware that these items may appear in a different order on the microfiche then in the order they are listed.
The second section consists of a folder of documents which appear to have been removed from the candidate papers when these were re-ordered into one sequence. The documents listed here were removed from Box 661 (now obsolete) whilst most of the remainder of the contents of that box were added to, or created part of, Boxes 660a-f (WMMS/Special Series/Candidates Papers/FBN 43). A small amount of papers were also added to the West Indies section of Government Publications and Papers (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46). The date when this rearrangement took place is not recorded but may have been around 1987. Please be aware that these items may appear in a different order on the microfiche then in the order they are listed .
The third section comprises photographs loaned by the Methodist Church to Bishop Norman Sargant and returned after his death. The original location for these images is not known.
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Please be aware that these items may appear in a different order on the microfiche then in the order they are listed.
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Requests a commission in Allan's office for a friend. Annotated with note regarding a meeting with Lt Dawson, a Roman Catholic, who has been dismissed from military service.
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States that the Deputy Lieutenants "shall not appoint Sunday as a day of exercise" unless His Majesty orders it necessary.
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Explaining that the Secretary at War is not a member of the cabinet.
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Sent from Bathurst [?Sierra Leone] - letter not extant.
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Regarding an act 'to prevent the people called Quakers from bringing Negroes to their meetings'.
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Stating that she has received no reply to her request for Miss Roberts to join her in Madras.
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13 pages.
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Claim that they have been hampered in their work in one part of the 'Colonial Dependencies' by the unjust claims of 'one of the most important Protestant Missionary Institutions of the present age'.
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Poems enitled 'Begging' and 'A reply to Hodge'.
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These documents appear to have been removed from the candidate papers when these were re-ordered into one sequence. The documents listed here were removed from Box 661 (now obsolete) whilst most of the remainder of the contents of that box were added to, or created part of, Boxes 660a-f (WMMS/Special Series/Candidates Papers/FBN 43). A small amount of papers were also added to the West Indies section of Government Publications and Papers (MMS/Special Series/Various Papers/FBN 46). The date when this rearrangement took place is not recorded but may have been around 1987. Please be aware that these items may appear in a different order on the microfiche then in the order they are listed .
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Includes: reserve list of candidates who have not received foreign appointments, 1831; extract from the General Committee meeting of 21 Sept 1831 noting and accepting Dr Townley's resignation as General Secretary and appointing Mr Watson to replace him.
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Informs them of his attempts to raise money for the visit of the Rev Fraser.
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Being Edw[ar]d Sackett, Randal Egmere, Geo[rg]e Blencow, Sam[ue]l Wilkinson and Nightingale. Also includes a list of possible missionaries.
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Contains information on Montreal, Shefford and Stanstead.
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Visit of J.P. Ingraham to England with comments on his character.
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Enquiring whether they have sufficient candidates. Letter has pencil annotation stating there are more candidates than funds.
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Seeks confirmation that Shaw will be the supply minister at Bridlington [Yorks] for [Edward] Arbraham.
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His health has improved but asks if he might retain Mr Williams as a supply minister.
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The creation of independent vernacular schools by missions; an offer of funds for such schools and scholarships for students attending them; the need for creating efficient native agencies; differences between missionaries and the Christian Vernacular Education Society for India since their last report.
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Been refused secular employment.
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Refers to an enclosure [not extant] and the suitability and placement of an unnamed minister.
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Mentions his itinerary on travelling to Richmond.
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States he is not available for overseas work but is available for home work.
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Print (from engraving) removed from publication. Names the Rev John Hobson as governor and chaplain with Thomas Sibly as headmaster.
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Print from engraving (possibly removed from publication). Printed by T M Inchbold, 161 Fleet Street, London.
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Print from engraving (possibly used as headed paper). Printed by T M Inchbold, 161 Fleet Street, London. Original engraving by John Emslie
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Print (from engraving) removed from publication. Names Miss Pocock and Miss Walker as principals.
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Print (from engraving) removed from publication.
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Print (from engraving) removed from publication.
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Photographs and postcards relating to the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society's Mysore District, India.
People include: Rev G Sawday (x2); D A Rees; Dr Anne Banks; Henry Gulliford; W H Spencer.
Groups include: Anne Banks with mothers and their children; Rev & Mrs J A Vanes; Rev & Mrs R W Boote; A R Slater, R Chaloner & G W Sawday; Sawday, Reece, Gulliford & Vanes; Kanarese Bible Revision (6 men including Reece & Thorpe); 1921 [Mysore District] Synod; 1943 [Mysore District] Synod; UKS [Union Kanarese Seminary] Council Staff & Students 1936; 1923 missionaries meeting (taken outside the Haigh Memorial Hall [Bangalore]; ?attendees at the departure of Rev G W Sawday; group outside Hudson Memorial [Bangalore] 1932; Indian family outside a large tent at Halebathi.
Places or buildings include: church and doctor's house at Hadya Hospital; hospital at Mandagadde, near Shimoga; two interior images of the Union Kanarese Seminary, Tumkur.
It has not proved possible to ascertain where these photographs were originally located. It is likely that some were previously amongst the India photographs, but portrait and group photographs may have been stored amongst the Home photographs. Therefore it was decided to place them here in the miscellaneous section rather then guess where each photograph may have originated.
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These photographs were loaned by the Methodist Church to Norman Sargant, former Bishop of Mysore, in the early 1980s for his book 'From Missions to Church in Karnataka' (1987). The photographs were returned to the Methodist Church by his widow, Mrs A Joan Sargant, in August 1994.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes; Barton Son & Co Ltd
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The Polynesian mission stations received annual visits from vessels chartered by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society for the supply of flour, groceries and other necessary articles. With the demand for additional missionaries increasing, the Annual Church Conference in August 1839 agreed to purchase a Missionary Polynesian ship. This was seen as a solution to the expense of sending more and more missionaries to the distant shores of Australia and the South Seas and maintaining adequate supplies. It was also part of the scheme that a missionary ship should be at the service of the General Superintendent to facilitate his visitations to the districts.
The 'Triton' was the first of these ships, a brigantine of 119 tons built in Bristol in 1837 and used in the sugar trade with the West Indies. The 'Triton' was purchased by the WMMS in March 1839 and required a number of alterations which included additional cabin rooms and replacement of nautical equipment. The 'Triton' sailed from Bristol on 14 September 1839, carrying eleven missionaries (and their families) and ten crew, all of whom had been chosen for their attachment to the Methodist Society and missionary interest. The 'Triton' arrived in Hokianga, New Zealand, on 7 May 1840 after brief visits to Cape Town, South Africa and Hobart, Australia. From 1840 to 1846 the 'Triton' made regular voyages around the New Zealand coast and to and from the Pacific islands, supplying the Mission Stations and allowing for the interchange of missionaries. As early as 1842 requests were made to dispose of the 'Triton' and procure a larger vessel. However, this was not considered necessary and instead alterations were made in order to obtain additional room for the stowage of goods. In 1845 the decision was taken that a new vessel was necessary, and the 'Triton' was sold by auction in April 1847 to a merchant in Auckland.
The replacement vessel was the 'John Wesley', built in 1846 to a specification approved by the WMMS and considerably larger that the 'Triton' at 236 tons. The 'John Wesley' left Southampton on her maiden voyage on 29 November 1846, arriving in Sydney on 19 March 1847. The 'John Wesley' continued in service until 18 November 1865 when she was wrecked on the Tau Reef near Tonga. Fortunately, all passengers and cargo were saved. A second 'John Wesley' was built, leaving Gravesend on 18 May 1867 and arriving in Adelaide on 5 Sep 1867. No records are available for this vessel.
A Ship Committee was appointed to oversee the purchase and outfit of the missionary ships, and to be responsible for their management; examining and approving the accounts of the vessel, and deciding on the appointment and tenure of the Master. The Ship Committee reported to the General Committee and met annually unless there was specific business to discuss. A prominent figure on the Ship Committee was John Irving, a Circuit Steward in the Bristol North Circuit in 1839. He purchased the vessels on behalf of the WMMS, and along with two or three others was registered as the ship owner. Not surprisingly, because of the distance involved, the widest and most persistent problem of the administration of the missionary ships was the distribution of control between the field and home. Power of Attorney was given to the General Superintendent, providing authority, within limits, to make local decisions on the management of the ship.
However, the missionaries in the South Seas and Australasia increasingly wanted to manage their own affairs. In 1822 an Australasian Methodist Missionary Society was formed as an auxiliary of the WMMS, which in 1855 became fully independent. In the same year the Ship Committee resolved that an arrangement should be made to transfer the missionary ship, with all its responsibilities and liabilities, to the Australian Methodist Missionary Committee.
Further Reading:
Buttle, Nora, The Voyage of the Triton (The Wesley Historical Society (New Zealand) Proceedings vol.22, 1965);
Findlay, G. G. and Holdsworth, W. W. The History of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society Vols. I & III (The Epworth Press, 1921);
Wesleyan Missionary notices, 1816-1904.
The Missionary Ships' papers comprise: administration of missionary ships (minutes and extracts from minutes), 1841-1862; the records of the 'Triton' (ship's logs and papers), 1838-1847; the records of the 'John Wesley' (ship's logs and papers), 1845-1864; and other ships' related material, 1845-1864.
The documents have been removed from the original bundles and placed in the following arrangement: administration of missionary ships; records of the 'Triton'; records of the 'John Wesley'; other ship related material. The original order has been maintained as much as possible, to reflect the order in which the documents were microfilmed, therefore documents relating to similar topics may appear in more than one folder.
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The collection of archives listed formed part of a deposit (1978-1994) by the Methodist Church Overseas Division (the successor to the Methodist Missionary Society).
The bulk of the material seems to have been the administrative papers of John Irving, which were transferred to the Methodist Missionary Society
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary Society
The General Committee minutes of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society will contain some brief information on policy decisions and financial outlay with regard to their missionary ships (MMS/Home/Minutes/General/FBN 2-3). It is also possible that some correspondence may also be extant regarding the commissioning and running of the ships (MMS/Home/Correspondence/FBN 5-15).
Wesleyan Missionary Notices ((SCRR) MMSL X15) includes accounts of the visits made by the 'Triton' and the 'John Wesley' to the mission stations in Australasia and the South Seas.
A couple of images of the ships can be found within file 2 of MMS/Australasia/Photographs/Box 1196b.
The records of the Australasian Methodist Missionary Society are held by the Mitchell Library, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. These should contain information on Methodist missionary ships used in the South Pacific from 1855.
Handlist available which includes brief biographical information on George Buck, John Irving and Walter Lawry.
Catalogued
Comprising a minute book for the Ship Committee (1842-1855) and extracts from various committees relating to the administration of the missionary ships (1841-1862).
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Minutes of the Ship Committee, July 1842-July 1855, with minutes of a meeting held on 27 July 1841 inserted in the front.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Containing extracts from: Ship Committee 1841-1848; General Committee 9 Jan 1861; Sub-Committee of Finance 26 Jul 1843; and 28 Mar 1862 General Missionary Committee, Melbourne 1 Feb 1856 and 12 Sep 1862.
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Comprising the log books of the 'Triton' (1839-1847) and further papers relating to it (1838-1847).
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
An account by Henry Turton of the 'Triton's' first voyage is available (MMS/Home/Special Series/Biographical/FBN 37).
Catalogued
Each log book records a separate voyage of the 'Triton' containing daily entries, comments on prevailing winds and a separate remarks column. In most, but not all, of the volumes there are lists giving details of crew, sundry stores received on board and expenditure, sails, cordage on board and expenditure, canvas on board and expenditure and provisions on board with expenditure.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Commanded by James Beatty and inscribed 'From Bristol to New South Wales in the South Seas, September 12th 1839'. Inside the log book is a loose paper which is an extract covering the period 18-22 October 1839 when the 'Triton' was in Madeira.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'From Hobartown [Tasmania] towards Sydney [Australia] & Polynesia'. Includes a list of places visited, noting latitude and longitude.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'From Hobart Town [Tasmania] towards Sydney [Australia] & New Zealand, Friendly [Tonga] and Figee [Fiji] Islands and Back to Hobart Town [Tasmania]'.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'From Hobart Town [Tasmania] to the Friendly [Tonga] and Figee [Fiji] Islands and Back to Sydney [Australia] and Hobart Town [Tasmania], 3rd November 1842'.
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Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'From Hobart Town [Tasmania] towards Sydney [Australia] and the Friendly [Tonga] and Figee [Fiji] Islands, November 8th 1843'.
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Commanded by John Lillewall and inscribed 'From Newzeland [New Zealand] towards the Friendly [Tonga] and Feegee [Fiji] Islands And Back to Newzeland [New Zealand], 1845'.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Commanded by John Lillewall. The log book records the voyage of the 'Triton' from Auckland [New Zealand] to the Friendly [Tonga] and Fiji islands and back to New Zealand.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Volumes, folders and loose papers relating to the purchase and outfitting of the 'Triton', together with sets of accounts, inventories, correspondence and insurance policies.
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Contents comprise: manifest, portage bill, accounts, scale of provisions, stores inventory, a copy of the instructions issued to Captain James Beatty from John Irving 13 Sep 1839, and accounts up to 1848.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
Catalogued
Contents comprise: manifest, portage bill, accounts, scale of provisions, stores inventory, 1842, and accounts up to 1848. Copy of letter sent to Rev. Walter Lawry (Superintendent of New Zealand District) from John Irving, with an Invoice and Bills of Loading of sundries shipped on board the 'Tyne' for the use of the 'Triton' 10 February 1845.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Purchase, part 1 (1838-1839): Certificate of British Registry with Henry Kempland Jones registered as owner 10 February 1838.
Mortgage Deed of the Schooner Triton for securing 691 pounds and Interest 1 August 1838:
1. Henry Kempland Johns
2. David Powell Sands
Bill of Sale for 'Triton' with inventory of stores 3 January 1839. 3 items.
Purchase, part 2 (1839):
Assignment of Schooner or Vessel 'Triton' 27 March 1839:
1. Messrs Mark Whitwell, David Powell Sands, Alfred John Acraman and William Cook
2. John Irving.
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Plans and drawings; estimates for joinery and painting; notes on refit; suggested inscription of 'Triton'; list of materials and stores ordered.
Memorandum of general average of 'Triton' at Madeira, October 1839.
Statement of the Condition of the hull, spars, sails and rigging of the Triton, November 1842. Survey of the Triton, June 1844.
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Itemised list accompanying 15 numbered sets of documents comprising accounts of stores, copies of bills, pay lists for crew, list of nails and other stores supplied, list of persons conveyed by the Triton.
Receipt of itemised papers by James Beatty and John Irving.
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Draft power of Attorney given to Rev. Walter Lawry by Thomas Farmer, Thomas Sands and John Irving. Drawn up in 1843 but not signed or dated.
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Marine insurance policies for the 'Triton'.
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Catalogued
Financial Papers, part 1 (1839-1844): accounts for the outfit of the 'Triton'. Memorandum of monthly payments to the crew. Solicitors' bills. 39 items.
Financial Papers, part 2 (1839): bundles of vouchers for the outfit of the 'Triton', numbered 1-57. 57 items.
Financial Papers, part 3 (1839): loose vouchers for the outfit of the 'Triton', mainly relating to clothing and provisions. 21 items.
Financial Papers, part 4 (1839-1847): statement of accounts. 'Triton's' expenses. Portage Bills. 47 items.
Financial Papers, part 5 (1840): vouchers and accounts for expenses incurred in Cape Town [South Africa]. 48 items.
Financial Papers, part 6 (1842-1845): vouchers and accounts for expenses incurred in Hobart Town [Tasmania] and Sydney [Australia]. Vouchers for goods shipped on board the 'Tyne' for use of the 'Triton'. 58 items.
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An agreement made between the Master of the ship and the crew. Lists name, age, birthplace, position and wages of crew.
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Letters chiefly addressed to John Irving being:
Correspondence, part 1 (1838-1839): The setting up of the 'Triton' as a missionary ship. Reports of the voyage from Bristol to Cape Town [South Africa]. 68 items.
Correspondence, part 2 (1840): Reports of the voyage from Cape Town [South Africa] to Hobart Town [Tasmania]. Dissatisfaction with James Beatty. 30 items.
Correspondence, part 3 (1841-1846): Reports on the work of the 'Triton'. Complaints concerning the 'Triton's' fitness of purpose. Letterhead showing picture of the 'Triton'. 51 items.
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Communication to the Brethren and Sisters on the 'Triton' from John Irving 9 September 1839. Instructions to James Beatty from John Irving regarding the voyage 13 September 1839. [See also two volumes in MMS/Special Series/Ships' Papers/FBN 47]. Communication to the Brethren on board the 'Triton' from J Archbell on behalf of the missionaries on the 'Triton' recording their dissatisfaction with James Beatty, 22 January 1840. List of passengers on board the 'Triton' (mainly 1842), costs of passage and details of baggage.
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Draft of advertisement for new Master of the 'Triton' to replace George Buck 31 July 1844. Details of monthly payments to wife of George Buck. Receipts for George Buck's passage home.
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Details of ship stores and articles for the use of the mission stations.
Provisions and Stores, part 1 (1839-1845).: list of articles presented for the use of missionaries and Wesleyan mission stations sent out with the 'Triton' 3 September 1839. Lists of sundry stores supplied from the 'Triton' to various mission stations. 10 items.
Provisions and Stores, part 2 (1840-1844): receipts from mission stations for stores taken off the 'Triton'. Many items not dated. 59 items.
Provisions and Stores, part 3 (1839-1846): list of stores for the 'Triton' as agreed by the Committee. Calculation of allowances and actual consumption of food and alcoholic beverages on the first voyage. Inventories of stores taken on board 'Triton' during her service. An account of cargoes taken on board at designated places during the command of George Buck. 14 items.
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Details of the work and voyage of the 'Triton' recording places visited and miles travelled.
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Comprising the log books of the 'John Wesley' (1845-1859) and further papers relating to it (1845-1864).
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Each log book records a separate voyage of the 'John Wesley' containing daily entries, commentson the prevailing winds and a separate remarks column. In most, but not all, of the volumes are lists giving details of ship's company, passengers particulars of expenditure on canvas and twine, particulars of expenditure on Cordage and particulars of expenditure on provisions for use of crew.
Log books for the period 1854-1858 are not extant.
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Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'A Log Book containing the Proceedings on board the 'John Wesley' From The Port of Southampton To Sydney [Australia], New Zealand, Friendly [Tonga] and Feejee [Fiji] Islands'. An inventory of stores put aboard the 'John Wesley' at Southampton in 1846 is included.
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Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'A Log Book containing the Proceedings on board the Missionary Ship 'John Wesley' From The Port of Auckland [New Zealand] to the Friendly [Tonga] and Feegee [Fiji] Islands'.
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Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'A Log Book containing the Proceedings on board the Missionary Brig 'John Wesley' From The Port of Auckland [New Zealand] to the Friendly [Tonga] and Feegee [Fiji] Islands'.
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Commanded by George Buck and inscribed 'A Log Book containing the Proceedings on board the 'John Wesley' From The Port of Sydney [Australia] to New Zealand, the Friendly [Tonga] and Feegee [Fiji] Islands and back to Auckland [New Zealand] and from there to London'.
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Inscribed 'True Copy of the Log of the M S 'John Wesley' for the first year of her Cruise in the South Pacific, under the Command of Captain John Ryle'. An account of receipts and expenditure of stores on board is included.
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Commanded by John Ryle. From Auckland [New Zealand] to Friendly Islands [Tonga] and return. An account of receipts and expenditure of stores on board is included.
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Commanded by Thomas Birkenshaw and inscribed 'to visit the Wesleyan's Society Mission Stations and prosecute the Mission Work in Feegee [Fiji] and Rotumah [Rotuma] Islands'. Page numbers for account of damage to ship are listed on inside of cover.
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A collection of volumes and loose papers relating to the building of the 'John Wesley', together with sets of accounts, inventories, receipts, correspondence and insurance policies.
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Folders contain receipts, disbursements, statements of account and portage bill for the dates as follows:
Financial Papers, part 1: 1846-1850. 164 items.
Financial Papers, part 2: 1851-1853. 122 items.
Financial Papers, part 3: 1855. 55 items.
Financial Papers, part 4: 1855-1861 33 items.
Financial Papers, part 5: Papers relating to repair of 'John Wesley' only. 1863. 10 items.
Financial Papers, part 6: 1840s-1860s. 2 items.
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Building and Equipment, part 1 (1845-1846) : 3 copies (2 signed) of a contract and specification for the building and equipment of a vessel for the Wesleyan Missionary Committee 19 December 1845:
1. Messrs Thomas & John White of West Cowes, Isle of Wight, Shipbuilders
2. John Irving (for and on behalf of Wesleyan Missionary Committee), Ship Owner.
Memorandum of Conversations with Messrs Irving and White and Captain Buck, at Cowes, October 2nd and 3rd (J. Beecham). Copy of Register of ship 'John Wesley' 7 November 1846. Order Book. 6 items.
Building and Equipment, part 2 (1846-1847): accounts and receipts for the outfit of the 'John Wesley'. Copy of seaman's articles of 'John Wesley'. An agreement made between Master of the Ship and the crew. Lists name, age, birthplace, position and wages of crew. Advance of wages to seamen 14 November 1846. Lloyds Register Certificate 18 November 1846. Letter from John Irving to George Buck regarding his instructions for the voyage. 124 items.
Building and Equipment, part 3 (1845-1853): volume containing a copy of the contract and specification for the building of the 'John Wesley', [see part 1 above], a list of expenses for the outfit, statement of accounts (1846-1853), and cargo for New Zealand (1851). 1 item.
Building and Equipment, part 4 (1840s-1860s): plan of 'John Wesley' hold c.1851. List of anchors and cables with the length also the size and length of the shrouds, backstays, sheets, jacks, hawsers, towlines and running rigging. List of sails. 3 items.
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Stores and Cargo, part 1 (1846-1853): inventories of stores on the 'John Wesley'. 10 items.
Stores and Cargo, part 2 (1847-1850 & 1852-1853): cargo book of the 'John Wesley'. 1 item.
Stores and Cargo, part 3 (1851-1852): cargo book of the 'John Wesley', inscribed 'The solid contents of a cargo on board of the Missionary Ship 'John Wesley'. Mark Todd. Commander. Laying in St. Katharine's Dock London 6th August 1851'. 1 item.
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Letters from Thomas White to John Irving.
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Reports on the work of the 'John Wesley'. Accident to 'John Wesley' (1859). Transfer of ownership from John Irving. Bill of Sale.
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Solicitors letters and accounts.
Bond of Indemnity 21 May 1862:
1. John Jacob Lidgett & others
2. John Irving.
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Insurance policy for cargo and passengers' baggage on maiden voyage 17 November 1846. Insurance policies for the 'John Wesley'.
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Includes a report of an accident to the 'John Wesley'.
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Damage, part 1 (1859-1864): statement of particular average on the 'John Wesley', describing damage to ship and how it occurred, 7 December 1859. Statement of damage, 25 August 1863. Statement of particular average on the 'John Wesley', describing damage to ship and how it occurred 19 February 1864. 3 items.
Damage, part 2 (1859-1864): certificate of survey and accounts 10 September 1859. Certificate of survey and accounts 16 September 1859. Protest of the missionary brig 'John Wesley' made by Captain Thomas Birkenshaw, John Reid, Second Mate, and Henry Savage, Carpenter 31 August 1859. Protest of the brig 'John Wesley' made by Commander James Welch, John Mansell, Chief Officer, and John Smith, Second Mate 18 February 1864. 4 items.
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Mainly comprising papers which apply to more than one vessel, relate to the use of ships by missionaries not owned by the WMMS or where the ship has not been identified..
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Proposed plan of the West Indian Missionary Ship. Particulars of ships used to sail to the West Indies for 1828 and 1829. Printed sale details of the ship 'Edward Colston' and a written inventory of provisions on the reverse.
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Insurance policies for various vessels travelling mainly from London to Africa or India.
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A paragraph on page 7 is outlined, entitled 'Notices to Mariners', concerning a reef between New Zealand and the Fiji Islands.
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Agreement made between 1. Messrs Hall & Co. 2. The Rev. Elijah Hoole to build a three masted schooner [possibly the 'John Wesley II'].
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Account of ship stores (1831). Inventory of the ship 'Heber' (1837). Portage bill for the 'Heber' on a voyage to New South Wales [Australia] and India (c.1837). Poster entitled 'Plan of the Leaders in the Bristol North Circuit 1 January 1839'. Memorial card for Rev Jonathan Crowther of Didsbury 21 January 1856. Loose papers of accounts (1859). Memorandum concerning management of the 'John Wesley' (1850s-1860s). Calculation of work not done on board the 'John Wesley' (1850s-1860s)
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In 1986 the Methodist Church, through the auspices of its Overseas Division, celebrated 200 years of mission under the title '1786-1986 Celebrate Together'. Whilst Methodist missionary societies themselves did not come to be formed until some 30 years later the first impetus of the Methodist Church to engage in overseas missions began with the Methodist Conference in Bristol in 1786. Here it was agreed that Thomas Coke, with three other ministers, should depart for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia [Canada] and Antigua where Methodist societies had already been established. However, poor weather conditions at sea forced their ship off course to Nova Scotia and they were compelled to make land in Antigua. Here they found that the Methodist societies both in Antigua and the surrounding islands were so flourishing that Coke decided all three ministers should remain there rather than any going to Newfoundland or Nova Scotia, and William Warrener was appointed as the first British Methodist missionary to Antigua.
Throughout 1986 the Methodist Church - and particularly the Overseas Division under the leadership of its general secretary the Rev Dr Albert W Mosley - publicised the bi-centenary commemoration with events, merchandise, publications and religious services. Of particular note was the publishing of Cyril Davey's biography of Thomas Coke (entitled 'Mad about Mission'), a specifically composed piece of music by David R Hill entitled 'Crows and Methodists', a three day 'International Celebration of Mission' over a weekend in June at Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire, and the collecting and recording of the experiences of serving and retired missionary workers. The latter forms the basis of the collection here.
Further Reading:
MCOD, Celebrate together 1786-1986 [1986];
MCOD, International Celebration of Mission, 20-22 June 1986, Trentham Gardens (1986);
MCOD, 'Now' - editions for 1986.
Principally autobiographical accounts made by missionary personnel of their experiences working overseas for the Methodist Missionary Society and the Methodist Church Overseas Division in their missions in Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. Most of the accounts were composed in 1986.
Weeded at Methodist Church House by Rev Dr Albert W Mosley and Rev John R Pritchard. With some additional biographical material from other sources added by them into the pre-existing structure which is loosley modelled on Methodist mission areas. Contemporary alphabetical indicies were created by current (2011) World Church Relationships staff for each area and these indicate entries which do not form part of the original sequence. Material repackaged into archival folders, boxes, etc, at SOAS as part of cataloguing process.
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Transferred from Methodist Church House by Mike King, Team Leader, World Church Relationships, July 2011.
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Correspondence file and file of contact details for missionaries working overseas.
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Correspondence between the Rev Dr Albert W Mosley, General Secretary [MCOD], and former missionaries, particularly Rev Kenneth J Towers. Correspondence includes some biographical information from missionaries as well as updates on the bi-centenary from the Rev Dr Mosley.
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Alphabetically arranged file listing missionaries and their addresses overseas.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by missionary personnel whose careers collectively span from 1916 to 1986. Countries and mission areas in Africa comprise:
Benin, Cameroon, Dahomey, East Africa, French West Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Gold Coast, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia & Zimbabwe.
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Index to principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Africa (including those whose accounts are filed under Asia or Americas, etc). Index records surname, forenames, country or mission field and dates of service. Broadly arranged alphabetically by country or mission field.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Cameroon:
Cooke, Deborah;
Ellingworth, Paul;
Hedley, Bob.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the French West Africa (Ivory Coast, Togo & Benin):
Balsom, E Anne;
Chapman, Philip I;
Cheffings, Ronald;
Cleaver, Pam;
Collier, Margaret;
Cook, Betty;
Fairhurst, H Austin;
Fenton, Thomas F;
du Feu, Philip L;
Francis, Max & Audrey;
Franklin, A Bernard;
Griffin, Brian & Eirene;
Hearle, Antony.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the French West Africa (Ivory Coast, Togo & Benin):
Joiner, Rowland;
Magor, Glanville Thomas;
Maw, Douglas;
Maw, Mary;
Nash, Hazel;
Parry, Dan;
Partner, Ernest;
Perkins, Eileen;
Perry, John R;
Platt, William;
Reeve, Alan & Margot;
Sarson, David;
Stennett, Muriel;
Stirzaker, Ann;
Turner, John;
Whiteside, Nesta F;
Wragg, Renee & Peter.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in The Gambia:
Baker, James;
Clark, Margaret;
Clarke, Margaret;
Jenkinson, Florence;
Parsons, Ethel M;
Hollingbery, Joan;
Senior, Mary;
Wakefield, H[arry];
Wright, Gertrude.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Ghana (or the former Gold Coast District):
Aspinall, Marion;
Beetham, Thomas A;
Browne, Conrad;
Burton, Eveline M;
Carter, Wilfred M;
Compton, Olive;
Creedy, Laurence A;
Dawes, Stephen & Margaret;
Doddrell, J. Henry;
Garnett, Clarice;
Gordon, John S;
Harvey, Louie;
Hudson, David J.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Ghana (or the former Gold Coast District):
Jones, Alec;
Jones, Ernest;
Lince, Elsie M;
Morrow, Irene;
Pearson, Sidney N & Irene;
Sawyer, Ernest;
Spears, Edith M;
Stedman, Jill & John;
Thomas, Hugh E;
Vaughan, Betty;
Whittle, William
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Kenya:
Bakker, A. H;
Barnett, Joan;
Barrett, R J;
Beetham, Margaret;
Bell, Margaret & Stanley;
Bellamy, Elixabeth J;
Bennetts, May;
De Bourcier, Peter & Judy;
Chesters, Lindsay & Jeffrey;
Cordery, Beryl;
Cornell, Geoff;
Cowling, David;
Crawford, Marian;
Cundall, David;
Dams, Ruth;
Darrington, Ruth;
Edwards, Michael S;
Ensor, P. W.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Kenya:
Farmer, Ivy;
Firth, Richard;
Finch, Margaret;
Gardiner, Beryl C;
Greeves, Roger D;
Hattersley, John & Audrey;
Hilborne, Russell & Mary;
Holding, Mary;
Hunter, Eileen;
Jones, Bertha;
Jones, Maine & Howel;
Laughton, W. H.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Kenya:
MacKenzie, Andrew G;
Mills, Harry;
Montacute, Charles & Myra;
Moore, Grace E. M;
Newton, John & Rachel;
Robinson, S. J;
Roe, W. Eric;
Rowan, C[atherine];
Sleath, Victor W;
Smith, Margaret & Peter;
Tait, Lois;
Valendar, Fred W;
Walker, June R;
Weeks, Gilliam & David;
Whitehall, David W;
Wilde, Merle.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Nigeria:
Angus, Ada;
Ashby, Howard W. F;
Ashley, Alan;
Bethel, William Stanley;
Bethel, Margaret;
Blake, Enid G;
Bolton, David;
Boshier, John & Mary;
Cannon, David S H;
Colwill, Rosalind F;
Cracknell, Kenneth & Elizabeth;
Davis, Janet W;
Fawcett; Marjorie.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Nigeria:
Gledhill, Anthony H;
Graham, Judith and Albert;
Green, Elizabeth;
Hall, Gilbert S;
Hall, Margaret & Bernard;
Hall, Stanley & Constance;
Hallam, Rex;
Hatton, Ann & John;
Hollingworth, H. C;
House, Derek R;
Humble, Monica.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Nigeria:
Hunter, Edward;
Kingston, P[aul], jnr;
Johnson, Thomas Kingsley & Enid May;
Job, John B. & Christine M;
Judkins, Robert & Iris;
Ladlay, Ralph & Edith;
Lawrence, David;
Longley, Frank H;
Longley, Jessie Nellie;
Ludlow, Elsie;
Ludlow, Joyce;
Ludlow, Nelson;
McElderry, Victor Neville.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Nigeria:
MacDonald, Freda;
Martlew, George;
Moore, Kathleen E;
Mortimer, Grace;
Omrod, Kathleen;
Owen, K[athleen];
Richards, Joan;
Ripley, A.W.S;
Ritchie, Roy & Cherie;
Roberts, E Alan;
Roberts, David & Christine;
Russell, Peter & Sheila;
Ryeland, Joan A.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Nigeria:
Sharp, Jessie;
Smith, Stanley W;
Snell, M. I;
Stott, Edna Mabel;
Taylor, Ivy M;
Thomas, Edith M;
Thomas, Muriel;
de Visme, Barbara;
de Visme, Peter;
Wainwright, Malcolm;
Warrell, Alan;
Weeks, Marjorie;
Wiles, C. E;
Wragg, Eileen M;
Young, Ernest G.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Sierra Leone:
Adams, Vera;
Bardsley, Warren R;
Barraclough, G[erald];
Benn, Lilian;
Brown, Stanley;
Burness, Elma;
Crosby, Kenneth H;
Clarke, Stuart & Janet;
Dixon, R. G;
Farnell, George H;
Gibson, Jennifer;
Goatley, John;
Groves, Sidney & Mary.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Sierra Leone:
Johnson, Elizabeth E;
Jones, A. E. Glendower:
Jowett, Raymond B;
Kennedy, Elsie;
Larkinson, Rachel & Roger;
Lewis, Brian;
Longbottom, Ernest & Evelyn;
Lomax, Sue;
McIntivey, Barbara;
Marrat, Francis;
Martin, Vi[olet];
Mawson, Mary;
Mole, Edward;
Mosedale, Stephen & Brenda;
Moss, Michael;
Nicholson, Ken;
Rhead, Monica.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Sierra Leone:
Shaw, Allan & Moira;
Shreeve, Christopher J;
Smith, Roger;
Souster, Howard;
Temple, John;
Temple, James H;
Todd, Ken & Frances;
Todd, Margaret M;
Trainer, Neil & Margaret;
Tregidgo, W. M;
Tucker, F. G;
Turner, Mary K;
Walls, Barbara;
Webster, Gilliam.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in South Africa:
Clayton, Marjorie;
Hardwick, J. W;
Thorpe, Clarence;
Wells, E. Oswald.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia):
Boyer, Horace;
Braidwood, S. J;
Coates, Bryan & Carol;
Cruise, David & Susan;
Curtis, David & Gillian;
Davies, Keith;
Dugdale, Helen;
Ellis, Harry C. L;
Fielder, Hugh & Rachel.
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Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia):
George, Margaret;
Hiscock, Peggy;
Holdsworth, Mary;
Hornsby, Nancy;
Horrix, Clare M;
Howard, Constance M;
Hughes, Wilfred;
Ingham, Margaret;
McKenzie, Jennifer;
Marston, Dennis;
Morris, Colin;
Picot, Leslie & Dorothy;
Ronaldson, Mary;
Seal, Ralph & Elsie;
Snook, Olive;
Spencer, Sheila;
Sykes, Edward.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Zambia (Northern Rhodesia):
Taberner, Derek P;
Taberner, Valerie E;
Temple, David & Judith;
Temple, Merfyn;
Trudgian, Ray & Angela;
de Visme, Dawn;
Welsh, David;
Wilks, Olive;
Young, John & Hilary;
Young, Robert.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia):
Appleyard, Michael & Margaret;
Baird, Tom & Joan;
Beckerlegge, Margaret;
Bennett, David J;
Bennett, Jane Frances;
Birtles, Eric;
Bowen, Edgar H.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia):
Brigg, Margaret;
Britton, Sheila M;
Chapman, William A;
Cowling, Geoffrey;
Day, Jean;
Elgar, [Alan] & Pat;
Forrest, Bob;
Gilson, Nigel & Mary;
Good, George E;
Graaff, Brandon & Lorna;
Greeves, Denise M;
Hebb, Audrey;
Hoskins, W. A;
Ibbotson, Horace & Lucy;
Kynaston, David & Marjorie;
Lark, John & Jean;
Marsh, Gwen;
Mayes, Joan Elizabeth;
Mellor, John & Margaret;
Mosley, Albert & Margaret;
Newell, Cecil A.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia):
Packer, Pamela W;
Phillips, Winifred;
Quantrell, Dorothy;
Rabey, Roy & Kathleen;
Richardson, Kenneth C;
Randall, Meg;
Spivey, Ronald V;
Sprakes, Winifred;
Spray, Bill & Christine;
Standhaft, Edward C. P. & Audrey L;
Stockley, Joan;
Thomlinson, Hannah;
Trawford, E[dna];
Wakenman, Gillian;
Wallace, Dorothy;
Ward, Heather;
Wass, Marjorie;
Wright, H. H. Morley & Hilda.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by missionary personnel whose careers collectively span from 1907 to 1986. Countries and mission areas in Asia comprise:
Borneo, Burma, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sarawak, S.E. Asia, Singapore & Sri Lanka.
Open
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Catalogued
Index to principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Asia (including those whose accounts are filed under Africa or Americas, etc). Index records surname, forenames, country or mission field and dates of service. Broadly arranged alphabetically by country or mission field.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Burma:
Cleaver, Florence;
Froud, J. Frank;
Holden, William A;
Homer, Ivan;
Homer, Ruth;
Morgan, Nesta;
Musgrave, Hope;
Nicholson, Edgar H;
Pepper, A. T;
Vincent, Stanley V.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Borneo & Sarawak:
Hancock, Trevor;
Johnson, Adriane & Pat;
MacDonald, David H;
Senior, Geoffrey;
Tomlinson, Chris C.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in China:
Alton, W. Herbert;
Aylott, W. Roy;
Barton, Enid T;
Bowman, Muriel;
Budd, Margaret;
Chamberlayne, John H;
Childe, Donald B;
Chou, Ivy;
Constantine, Leonard;
Cook, Clifford V & Elsie M;
Cowles, Eleanor;
Cram, Frederick & Mary;
Driver, Miriam;
Earl, N. Wesley.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in China:
Fee, John A. T;
Franklin, E. C;
Gaimster, Leslie R;
Gilliland, Desmond;
Gilliland, Kit;
Hardy, Winifred;
Hares, Betty;
Harrison, Edward;
Harrison, Robert.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in China:
Hughes, Gertrude;
Jefferies, Paul & Stella;
Jones, Margaret;
Keen, R[ichard];
Kendall, R. Elliott;
Leese, Kenneth & Joan;
Lyall, Ada;
Mayo, C. M.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in China:
Outerbridge, T. S;
Pacey, Leslie & Mildred;
Parsons, P. Kenneth;
Parsons, R. Keith;
Pearson, C. Andrew;
Pile, R. Wilfred;
Pillow, Joan;
Pratt, Alfred G;
Redhead, B. W.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in China:
Richards, Noel;
Rose, John R;
Sandbach, Ernest;
Scott, Edward T;
Smith, Christopher H;
Smith, D. Howard;
Steel, C. M;
Thexton, Leslie;
Tovey, Frank I;
Upton, Ronald & Marjorie;
Watt, Hilda;
Wayne, Irene M;
Webb, Doris H;
Webb, Muriel;
Whewell, Edna;
Willoughby, Winifred & John;
Wright, Grace & Ernest.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Hong Kong:
Franklin, Michael & Jennifer;
Jones, A. Geoffrey;
Skelding, Nick & Julie.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Addicott, Margaret;
Angove, Ruth;
Anstey, Ruth;
Auld, Marie;
Bailey, W[illiam];
Baker, Hilda;
Cochran, Peter;
[Thomas, Hugh E];
Banks, Lena;
Barker, John;
Berry, John R;
Bevan, Gladys;
Bevin; M. Mary;
Biddulph, Hilda.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Binnie, Ida;
Bishop, Peter;
Bisset, Anna B;
Blow, W. Ralph;
Booth, Anne;
Booth, Joan;
Booth, Pauline;
Bott, Arthur;
Bower, Martin;
Burns, W. H;
Burton, Wilfred & Gwen;
Butler, Helen S.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Cartlidge, Wilfred & Kathleen;
Chalkley, Audrey;
Chapman, Marjorie;
Chorley, Ken & Jean;
Clutterbuck, Basil;
Cochran, Elizabeth;
Cooling, Joan;
Cole, Mabel E;
Cope, Harold K. J;
Cranmer, Alan;
Craze, Leslie G.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Craze, Marion;
Culshaw, Joseph Clifford;
Culshaw, Kathleen H;
Cushing, Gwen;
Davey, Cyril & Gwen;
Eames, Anna;
Eastwood, C. [Cyril];
Ely, Phyllis M.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Foulger, T[homas] R;
Forbes, Alan G;
Francis, David;
Francis, David L;
Freeman, A[lan] M;
Freeman, Kathleen;
Frith, Donald & Jennifer;
Furniss, A[lfred];
Gallagher, Ernest & Muriel;
Gibson, Jennifer;
Gill, Kenneth E;
Goodridge, Joseph;
Hall, David Roland & Janet Margaret;
Harper, Frances L;
Harris, David J;
Harris, Margaret.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Harris, W[illiam] B;
Haskins, Minnie L;
Hastings, John & Joyce;
Healey, N;
Heap, Donald N;
Hennessy, Sheila;
Hill, Dorothy M;
Hollingbery, Ernest;
Holwell, David W.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India;
Hopkins, Dora;
Hunt, Phyllis B;
Ingle, H.C;
James, David;
Jones, Alison N;
Jones, A. Stanley;
James, Margaret;
Kedward, Gladys;
Kells, John & Olive;
Knowles, George W. S;
Kupfernagel, Christa.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Laity, J & Mary;
Lea, G Audrey;
Leith, Dorothy M;
Lillie, [William] & Mary W;
Lister, Shirley;
Little, Edith;
Lott, Eric J & Christine;
McMorran, Kathleen;
Mair, Eva C;
Mason, Betty;
Mason, Donald H;
Maw, Mary;
Mayall, Olive S.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Mills, Eirene;
Mitchell, Phyllis;
Molden, A. C;
Moulton, Harold K & Marjorie;
Mountford, John;
Musgrave, Alice;
Ndukwe, Okoro & Oyidiya;
Nelson, W. Eric;
Newell, R. D;
Parsons, Margaret;
Peacock, Carol A.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Pettet, Herbert E. C;
Pitts, Bertha & Hubert;
Pocklington, L. E;
Purdy, Sheila;
Purry, Kathleen;
Ranson, Charles W;
Robinson, Norman M;
Sankey, James;
Saunders, Denys J;
Sawyer, Iris;
Smith, Cynthia & Brian.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Smith, Florence;
Smith, Margaret;
Smith, Roy;
Speight, Alice;
Speight, Arthur & Mildred;
Spreadbury, Gladys;
Stafford, H. W;
Starkey, Phyllis;
Stephen, A;
Stephens, Alan;
Sutton, Frank H;
Taggart, Norman & Margaret;
Tasker, Barbara;
Taylor, Margaret J;
Taylor, S. A. W;
Taylor, Winifred;
Thompson, W. E. & Carmen;
Thorp, E. B;
Tripp, Dorothy M H.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in India:
Tucker, Dorothy;
Turner, Hilda M;
Vale, Freda A;
Weaver, Alison;
Wimble, Olive G;
Wimble, Maureen;
Wood, Lorna;
Yelland, Marian.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Indonesia:
Buxton, John D;
Howard, Anne.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Korea:
Hamilton, Ian & Pat;
Richardson, John & Kathleen.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Malaysia:
Capes, Dennis;
Kyle, Ann & James.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Nepal:
Fletcher, Richard & Vivienne;
Hodge, Rachel & Finlay;
Normanton, Stephen.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Singapore:
Foster, Joyce E;
Williams, Philip B.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Sri Lanka (Ceylon):
Barker, Mary B;
Batstone, Sam & Elspeth;
Dalby, John;
Dore, Margaret;
Foster, Robert;
Izzett, David;
Jackson, Graeme;
Jackson, Pen;
Julian, Lewis & Mary;
Lee, D. S. M;
McVeigh, R. W.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Sri Lanka:
Nicholson, Joan;
Parkin, Vincent;
Peake, E Constance;
Pearce, Doris;
Ridge, Edith.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Sri Lanka:
Robins, Grace;
Sanders, H. Guy;
Wilkes, R. J. M;
Wright, John R;
Woodward, Max W.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by missionary personnel whose careers collectively span from 1924 to 1992.
Countries and mission areas in the Americas, for the period 1924-1992, comprise:
Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Honduras, Central America, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Leeward Islands, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies;
Countries and mission areas in the Europe, for the period 1955-1963, comprise: Italy;
Countries and mission areas in the Pacific, for the period 1966-1986, comprise:
Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga & Western Samoa.
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
Index to principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Americas, Europe and the Pacific (including those whose accounts are filed under Asia or Africa). Each of these has a separate section but they all record surname, forenames, country or mission field and dates of service. Broadly arranged alphabetically by surname.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (or predecessor organisations):
Adams, Deryck U;
Armstrong, Robert H & Frances;
Atkinson, John H;
Atkinson, Margaret;
Austin, Michael & Jane;
Baker, Elizabeth;
Bellhouse, A Gordon;
Bolster, Frank;
Boyle, David;
Blackburn, Philip.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (or predecessor organisations):
Burns, Francis V;
Cook, Gladys M;
Coombs, David;
Crosby, Bernard;
Culley, E[wart];
Daniel, Richard;
Dawson, Mary;
Denny, Ellen & Norwyn;
Dixon, Dora;
Drayton, Neil;
Dykes, J S;
Fenner, John & Eileen;
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (or predecessor organisations):
Field, Douglas & Catherine;
Fowkes, Ross;
Gaunt, Eileen;
Garnett, Olive;
Griffiths, Leslie & Margaret;
Glover, Joan;
Hanson, John & Gaynor;
Hardy, Clifford & Hilda.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (or predecessor organisations):
Hawes, Sylvia;
Hicks, John C;
Hillier, E. Maurice & B. Gertrude;
Keys, Henry & Freda;
Hodson, Kingsley E;
Holmes, Gladys;
Hough, Colin;
Jenkinson, Douglas;
King, Isabel & Michael;
Jackson, Joan;
La Trobe, Kathleen;
Litherland, Geoffrey.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (or predecessor organisations):
Lomax, R[obert];
McElhinney, Ivan;
Membury, Colin;
Mitchell, Reg;
Neal, John C;
Saunders, Arthur W;
Owen, R[ex];
Payne, Kenneth;
Potter, Philip;
Poxon, John W;
Quenet, Tom & Judith;
Walker, Eric M;
Warner, Raymond.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (or predecessor organisations):
Watson, Marjorie;
Watson, V. J;
Webster, J Keith;
Webster, J. R;
Willingham, Reginald;
Wilson, David & Elizabeth;
Wilson, Joyce.
McConnell, H Ormonde.
Open
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Catalogued
Account by Reginald Kissack.
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in Papua New Guinea (as well as New Guinea and Solomon Islands):
Marriott, Paul & Mary;
Clark, Peter & Janice;
Harney, Eric & Sally:
Jefferson, Irene.
Open
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Catalogued
Principally autobiographical accounts by Methodist missionary personnel who served in the Solomon Islands:
Bridgeman, Tim & Wendy;
Lund, Dorothy M;
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See also Papua New Guinea - file 11 in Box 1205 of this collection.
Catalogued
Account by Barbara Pott.
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Catalogued
Account by Paul R. Greene.
Open
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Catalogued
The 'Sounds Interesting' project was begun by the Methodist Church Overseas Division in 1992 under the stewardship of Mrs Joy Fox and Mr David Cambridge. It seems that 145 interviews were planned in the 1990s but only 109 appear to have been completed (this is reflected in the fact there are 109 interviews in this collection but they are numbered between 001 and 145). The interviews were conducted with former (and a few then current) Methodist missionary personnel with most of the interviewers being current or former missionary personnel.
Audio cassettes containing interviews with former and some then current Methodist missionary personnel regarding their experiences working overseas for the British Methodist Church (whether through the World Church Office or its predecessors including the Methodist Church Overseas Division and the Methodist Missionary Society) as well as often mentioning their lives both before and after missionary work. Each recording also has a printed summary of its contents.
There are 109 interviews in total covering most of the C20th (although predominately 1930s-1970s) recording the experience of Methodist missionary personnel working mainly in evangelism, medicine and education. Countries and mission areas include Bangladesh, Burma, China, French West Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rhodesia District, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, West Indies Districts, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Audio cassetttes catalogued in the same order as the original interview numbering sequence. Summaries removed from binders and repackaged into archival folders in the original interview numbering sequence.
Currently it is not possible to access tape recordings. Only summaries are available.
Restrictions Apply
Transfrerred from Methodist Church House between September 2000 and June 2011. Additional copies received from British Library Sound Archive, April 2012.
The summaries are available on the on-line catalogue of the British Library Sound Archive.
Master tapes and original summaries are held by the British Library Sound Archive along with copyright forms, a small amount of administrative papers and published material.
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes.
Catalogued
Audio cassettes containing interviews with former Methodist missionary personnel regarding their experiences working overseas for the British Methodist Church (whether through the World Church Office or its predecessors including the Methodist Church Overseas Division and the Methodist Missionary Society). The length of interviews vary from one audio cassette to over half-a-dozen. Almost all of the cassettes are 60 minutes in length.
Filed in original interview number sequence. The cassette number for each interview appears in the title field for each entry.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Catalogued
Rev Underwood was interviewed by Betty Hares at Pershore [Worcs].
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Mono
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Sister Kerridge was interviewed by Marguerite Donkin at Mill Hill, London.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Rev Jinkin was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Bournemouth [Dorset].
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Mono
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Miss Starkey was interviewed by Marguerite Donkin at Rickmansworth [Herts].
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Sister Watson was interviewed by Marguerite Donkin at Bushey, Herts.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Rev Davey was interviewed by Betty Hares at Nailsea, Bristol.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Miss Cleaver was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bristol.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Mrs Ladlay was interviewed by Betty Hares at Westbury-on-Trim, Bristol.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Dr Little was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bristol on 8 & 9 April 1992.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Sister Webb was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bristol on 10 & 27 April.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Stereo
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Rev Pile was interviewed by Ron Wilson on 24 April 1992 & March 1993 at Leamington Spa [Warws].
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Closed
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Mono
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Mr Woodward was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Pinner, Middlesex.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Mono
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Mrs Jenkinson was interviewed by Albert Mosley at Nottingham.
Currently unavailable
Closed
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Mono
Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
Catalogued
Rev Phillips was interviewed by Albert Mosley at Nottingham.
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Dr Bennett was interviewed by Tom Beetham at Petersfield [Hants] on 5 & 12 February 1992.
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Rev Barnard was interviewed by Peter Fox at High Wycombe [Bucks].
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Miss Burness was interviewed by Alastair MacDonald on 24 & 28 August and also 10 October 1994 at Arbroath [Angus].
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Miss Compton was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bristol.
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Rev Dr Mosley was interviewed by Ron Wilson at Oadby, Leicestershire.
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Rev Richards was interviewed by Albert Mosley at Oadby [Leics] on 12 & 15 October 1993.
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Dr Souster was interviewed by Peter Fox at Swanwick, Derbyshire.
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Miss Ridge inteviewed by Irene Jefferson at Sheffield [Yorks] on 19, 22 & 28 October 1993.
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Mrs Spear interviewed by Alastair MacDonald at Montrose [Angus] on 11, 13, 16 & 18 January 1995.
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Rev Payne was interviewed by Irene Jefferson at Chesterfield [Derbs].
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Rev Pearson was interviewed by Alastair MacDonald at Carnoustie, Angus, on 13, 20 & 28 July 1994.
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Miss Freeman interviewed by Sheila Himsworth at Letchworth [Herts].
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Miss Booth was interviewed by Ronald Ram at Southall, Middx.
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Miss Mitchell was interviewed by Christine Pickles at Keighley [Yorks].
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Rev Blackburn was interviewed by Christine Pickles at Leeds [Yorks] on 3, 16 & 17 December 1993.
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Mrs Darrington was interviewed by Margaret Compton.
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Miss Colwill was interviewed by Peter Fox at Abeokuta, Western Nigeria.
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Miss Wass was interviewed by Ronald Ram at Islington [Middx].
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Rev Saunders was interviewed by Ron Wilson at Birmingham.
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Rev Foulger was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Bognor Regis [Sussex] on 29 September & 6 October 1993.
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Rev Pratt was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Bognor Regis [Sussex].
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Miss Lowther was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Chichester [Sussex].
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Rev Phippen was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Goring-by-Sea [Sussex].
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Sister Budd was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Pinner, Middlesex.
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Sister Cook was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bath [Somerset].
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Miss Anstey was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at West Dulwich [Surrey] on 16 March & 21 April 1994.
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Sister Chalkley was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Bournemouth [Dorset].
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Sister Chalkley was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Bournemouth [Dorset].
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Mrs Batty was interviewed by Moira Crockett at Edinburgh.
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Rev Poxon was interviewed by Heather Ward at Haywards Heath [Sussex] on 3 December 1993 & 13 January 1994.
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Rev & Mrs Lakin were interviewed by Heather Ward at Bexhill-on-sea [Sussex] on 20 October & 24 November 1993.
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Rev Cowell was interviewed by Christine Wisskirchen at [Methodist] Mission House [London].
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Dr Pearson was interviewed by Sheila Himsworth at Bury St Edmunds [Suffolk] on 2 & 31 March and 9 May 1995.
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Miss Clark was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Northallerton [Yorks].
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Miss Hall was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Stanley, Co. Durham.
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Sister Macqueen was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Pinner, Middlesex.
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Miss Chapman was interviewed by Margaret Crompton at Stockport [Cheshire].
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Mrs Sankey was interviewed by Yvonne Gosling at Stockport [Cheshire] on the 27 July and 10 August 1994.
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Miss Biddulph was interviewed by Yvonne Gosling at Didsbury, Manchester.
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Miss Clutterbuck was interviewed by Peter Fox at Amaudo Itumbuzo, Eastern Nigeria.
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Miss Barnett was interviewed by Albert Mosley at Nottingham.
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Rev & Mrs Blow were interviewed by Albert Mosley at Nottingham.
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Mrs Butler was interviewed by Albert Mosley at South Wigston [Leics].
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Mrs Temple was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Chislehurst [Kent].
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Dr Penwill was interviewed by Christine Pickles at Bradford [Yorks] on 7 & 20 January and 4 February 1994.
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Mrs Woodward was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Pinner, Middlesex.
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Mrs Cowell was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at [Methodist] Mission House, London.
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Mr Temple was interviewed by Caroline Ferris at Chislehurst [Kent].
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Miss Whewell was interviewed by Margaret Crompton at Bury [Lancs].
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Rev Eddy was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
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Rev Bowen was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
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Dr Gibson was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Freetown, Sierra Leone.
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Mrs Blackburn was interviewed with Rev Blackburn by Christine Pickles at Leeds [Yorks].
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Rev & Mrs Mitchell were interviewed by Albert Mosley at Harborne [Warws].
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Rev Craze was interviewed by Betty Hares at Wedmore, Somerset.
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Rev Clapham was interviewed by Batty Hares at Stapleton, Bristol.
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Rev Vincent was interviewed by Betty Hares at Oakhill, Bristol, on 31 March & 18 April 1995.
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Rev Hattersley was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bath [Somerset].
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Ms Pettet was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Bognor Regis [Sussex].
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Sister Hale was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Bognor Regis [Sussex].
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Rev Parsons was interviewed by Heather Ward at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight from 8th to 10th August and from 24th to 25th October 1995.
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Stereo. There should be seven cassettes but only cassettes 2 to 7 are extant.
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Rev Deeks was interviewed by Sheila Himsworth at Sudbury, Suffolk.
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Rev Jefferies was interviewed by Irene Jackson at Sheffield [Yorks].
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Mrs Roe was interviewed by Irene Jefferson at Chesterfield [Derbs].
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Ms Cushing was interviewed by Irene Jefferson at Staveley [Derbs].
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Dr Snell was interviewed by Irene Jefferson at Sheffield [Yorks].
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Rev Valender was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Darlington [Co. Durham].
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Rev & Mrs Johnson were interviewed at Stockton-on-Tees [Co. Durham] on 11 and 17 December 1995.
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Mrs Jefferies was interviewed by Irene Jefferson at Sheffield [Yorks].
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Rev & Mrs Cooper were interviewed by Albert Mosley at Bourneville [Warw].
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Rev Bethel was interviewed by Heather Ward at Eastbourne [Sussex].
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Miss Barker was interviewed by Albert Mosley at Stretton [Rutland].
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Rev Cook was interviewed by Albert Mosley at Great Barr, Birmingham.
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Miss Ash was interviewed at Grange-over-Sands [Cumbria].
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Rev Johnston was interviewed by Laurence Graham at Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin [Ireland].
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Miss Payler was interviewed by Anita Hayward at Bognor Regis [Sussex].
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Sister Marsh was interviewed by Ray Fullbrook at London.
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Mr Worger was interviewed by Peggy Hiscock at Studland [Dorset].
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Mrs Roach was interviewed, on behalf of the Rev Ian Roach, by Ronald Ram at Walthamstow [Essex].
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Mrs Parson was interviewed by Heather Ward at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, on 23 & 24 October 1995.
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Mrs Cochrane was interviewed by Sheila Himsworth at Hadstock, Essex.
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Rev Niukula was interviewed by Anne McConnell Wisskirchen at London.
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Miss Snell was interviewed by Paul Snell at Bamford, Derbys, on 8 February and 20 May 1997.
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Rev Livingstone was interviewed by Mollie Locke at Scarborough [Yorks].
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Sister Stockley was interviewed by Peggy Hiscock at Poole [Dorset].
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Miss Ward was interviewed by Ray Fullbrook at Bexhill [Sussex].
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Mrs Davey was interviewed by Geoffrey Senior.
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Miss Gardner was interviewed by Betty Hares at Bristol.
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Miss Lethbridge was interviewed by Betty Hares at Wells [Somerset].
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Rev Wallace was interviewed by Laurence Graham at Belfast.
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Dr Robb was interviewed by Laurence Graham at Belfast.
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Rev Batty was interviewed by Moria Crockett at Edinburgh.
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Rev MacKenzie was interviewed by Moria Crockett at Dumfries.
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Rev Gaimster was interviewed by Ray Fullbrook at Reigate [Surrey]
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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Summary available - MMS/Special Series/Sounds Interesting/Box 1212
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Printed summaries of the interviews contained on the audio cassettes. Each summary begins with one page of basic information on the interviewee (e.g. name and date of birth) and the recording process (e.g. name of interviewer, date, location, technical details) followed by a summation of the contents of the interview - usually up to a page for each side of an audio cassette.
Filed in original interview number sequence
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Copyright held by Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
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The Primitive Methodist Church did not formally constitute a Missionary Society, though its Missionary Reports used the term from 1843. Overseas work was directed by the General Missionary Committee of the Primitive Methodist Conference. The main Primitive Methodist fields were West Africa (Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and Nigeria) and Southern Africa (South Africa and Northern Rhodesia). These fields were transferred to the Methodist Missionary Society upon Methodist Union in 1932. Earlier work in the British colonies of North America and Australasia became autonomous by the end of the 19th century.
Primitive Methodism was the largest of the Wesleyan offshoots. Founded by Hugh Bourne (1772-1852) and William Clowes (1780-1851), both Wesleyan Local Preachers, the movement had no essential doctrinal arguments with the Wesleyan Methodism. Whereas the Wesleyans concentrated all power in the hands of the Ministers, the Primitive Methodists placed great emphasis on the role of lay people. Laymen were highly influential at connexional level and were occasionally elected President of the Conference. From 1872 the Vice-Presidency was open to ministers or laymen and after 1883 was almost always held by a layman. Women were permitted to be ministers. The Primitive Methodists represented a desire to be free to experiment in worship. They were sometimes known by the nickname 'Ranters', on account of their habit of singing in the streets.
The Primitive Methodist movement grew out of Camp Meetings, all day, open-air prayer and preaching meetings which had been introduced in to England from America. One of the first, and the most famous, of these was held on Mow Cop, on the border of Staffordshire and Cheshire in May 1807. Camp Meetings spread throughout the Midlands and the North of England. The Wesleyan Conference of 1807 considered this style of meeting to be 'improper' and 'likely to be productive of considerable mischief'. Hugh Bourne was expelled from the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1808, and William Clowes in 1810. Bourne issued a ticket of membership for the new denomination in 1811, and the following year the first preaching plan was printed. In February 1812 the movement took the name of the Society of the Primitive Methodists, which is thought to represent their desire to revive Wesley's original (primitive) doctrine and practices. The first Primitive Methodist Conference was held at Hull in 1820 and the Deed Poll giving the Connexion official status was signed at the 1829 Conference.
Initially, the Primitive Methodist Church was a Home and Colonial missionary organisation. By 1843 there were 53 Primitive Methodist stations in the British Isles. Each home circuit carried out its missionary operations separately until 1825, when the Conference appointed the General Missionary Committee to provide centralised guidance. This Committee collected and distributed funds for missions, through a Primitive Methodist Mission Fund, and it was responsible for the appointment and supervision of missionaries.
At the beginning of the 1840s the Primitive Methodist Connexion re-organised. With the retirement of Bourne and Clowes in 1843, new figures emerged, notably John Flesher and John Petty. There were changes in the administration of the Conference, and impetus for overseas missionary enterprise. In 1841 the Conference asked John Flesher to draw up a code of 'Regulations Affecting Foreign Missionaries'. These regulations were adopted by the General Missionary Committee and were printed by the Conference in 1843. From the same year Annual Missionary Reports were issued under the name of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS).
The first overseas missions were to the British Colonies. In 1829 Primitive Methodist missionaries sailed to the United States, and they entered Canada the following year. Work began in Australia and New Zealand in 1844. Missions in North America and Australia were absorbed by Methodist Churches in those countries and by 1900, the overseas missionary work was focused on Africa. In January 1870 the first missionaries sailed for Africa and settled on the Island of Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea], off the coast of West Africa. Nine months later a mission began in South Africa. From these 2 pioneer missions sprang two larger ones: Northern Rhodesia (mostly now the Zambia) in 1893 and Nigeria, by far the largest mission, in 1894. PMMS Reports referred to the African work as 'Foreign Missions' (as opposed to the 'Colonial Missions' in British North America and Australasia).
As overseas missionary work developed, a number of missionary departments arose within the Primitive Methodist Church. In 1897, a Women's committee was formed with the further development of the foundation of the Primitive Methodist Women's Missionary Federation in 1909. Within their first year of the federation 56 auxilaries were enrolled in the UK with a membership of c2,200 who raised £800 for missionary work. In 1919 the Federation's first two missionaries, Mrs Langley and Miss Richardson, were dispatched to the newly established Girls' Institute in Jamestown, Nigeria. By 1932 membership of the Women's Missionary Federation stood at 33,733 with 24 missionaries in Southern and West Afrca.
A Laymen's Missionary League was established in 1910, for the 'education of the Primitive Methodist laity to an adequate sense of the great missionary opportunities at home and abroad'. The League was modelled on existing lay organisations in the United States and Canada. Around this time, the Young People's Missionary Department was also founded. This aimed at bringing awareness of missions to thousands of young scholars.
The General Missionary Committee continued until 1932. When the Methodist Union took place, the overseas missionary work of the Primitive Methodists merged with that of the Wesleyan and United Methodists under the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS). Nigeria was the most significant ex-Primitive Methodist field to be added to the MMS.
Further reading:
Methodist Missionary Society, 'Our Missions Overseas - Past and Present. The First Annual Report of the Methodist Missionary Society, 1932' (MMS, 1932).
N Allen Birtwhistle, 'Methodist Missions' in volume 3 of 'A History of the Methodist Church in Great Britain' (Epworth Press, 1983).
Urennah Christie Olehi, 'The History and Development of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society, 1893-1932' (University of London MA Thesis, 1984).
Joseph Ritson, 'The Romance of Primitive Methodism' (MPH, 1910).
'Atlas of Primitive Methodist missions in Africa' (PMMS, 1920).
John W. Young, 'The Quiet Wise Spirit: Edwin W.Smith (1876-1957) and Africa' (Epworth Press, 2002).
The papers of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society include: an incomplete set of Minutes of the General Missionary Committee (1863-1933); home correspondence (1894-1933); correspondence from the Home Committee (1903-1908); foreign reports (1914-1933); quarterly reports from South and Central Africa (1894-1916); and correspondence from the overseas missionary areas of Australia and New Zealand (1895-1913), Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] (1894-1933), Nigeria (1897-1933) and South and Central Africa (1892-1934).
Only a small amount of records survive for the Women's Missionary Federation comprising the Minutes of Executive Meetings, Minutes of Annual Council Meetings, Secretary's Reports, lists of secretary's engagements and correspondence concerning Methodist Union in 1932 (1926-1933).
The material has been arranged by type of record and by region. Within this structure, correspondence files has been arranged alphabetically by correspondent or subject.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
Deposited on permanent loan by the Methodist Church of Great Britain from 1978 onwards.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
SOAS holds the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society which include the personal papers of Primitive Methodist missionaries. These are located in the biographical series of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society. These include Rev. Edwin Smith, the noted Anthropologist. Surviving photographs of PMMS missions are kept with - and not necessarily distinguished from - the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society photographs. However, there is one small file of photographs, dating from 1870 to 1939, for Fernando Po [Bioko, Equatorial Guinea] and some extant photographs for Northern Rhodesia [Zambia] and Eastern Nigeria. Microfiche copies of the minutes of the Primitive Methodist Church (1819-1932) are also available.
SOAS also holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,500 books and pamphlets. The Library includes Primitive Methodist Annual Missionary Reports (1843-1932), Primitive Methodist Missionary Records (1870-1904), Primitive Methodist Women's Missionary Federation Yearbooks (1919-1932) and periodicals including Primitive Methodist Missionary Notices (1851-1869), Herald of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (1905-1922) and Advance (1923-1936). The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
A guide, based in part on Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society', is available in the SCRR (see also 'Document' field above for just PMMS section).
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In 1907 the Methodist New Connexion (formed in 1797), the Bible Christians Methodists (formed in 1815) and the United Methodist Free Churches (formed in 1857 by the union of the Wesleyan Association and the Wesleyan Reformers) united to form the United Methodist Church. The foreign mission activities of all three - the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society, the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society and the United Methodist Free Churches' Foreign Missions - were combined to form the United Methodist Missionary Society (UMMS), under the control of one committee. The UMMS membership upon inception stood at 30,076 with 523 preaching places in China, East and West Africa, and Jamaica.
China was by far the largest UMMS mission field comprising the mission districts of Ningpo, North China, Wenchow and Yunnan. The ex-MNC mission of North China contained 215 mission stations between the Great Wall and the Yellow River in 1907. The district already had a Boys' School at Wuting and a Girls' School at Chu Chia (built in 1889) yet added to this with a middle school at Tangshan in 1924. Furthermore, the hospitals at Laoling (built in 1878) and Yung Ping (built in 1905) were added to by the building of a hospital at Wuting in 1931. In 1912 an institute for training preachers was built in Tientsin [Tianjin].
The ex-UMFC mission districts of Ningpo and Wenchow both continued to flourish. In 1907 the Ningpo district had 47 mission stations whilst the Wenchow district had 162 mission stations; by 1932 this had increased to 51 and 231 mission stations respectively. The Ningpo district added to the college at Ningpo [Ningbo] with a Girls' School in about 1924. In Wenchow [Wenzhou] itself the existing college (built in 1903), the Girls' School and the hospital (built in 1897) were added to by the founding in 1928 of a school for training Chinese nurses and a Preachers' Training School.
The former Bible Christian mission in Yunnan had 7 mission stations in 1907. In 1908 mission work was expanded to include the Nosu tribe. Work was initially started by Rev Samuel Pollard but rapidly became the responsibility of the Rev C. N. Mylne. He continued to work amongst the Nosu until 1916 by which time 22 mission stations had been opened. Attempts were also made to evangelise to the Kop'u (or Go-p'u) tribe but this proved less successful. The adult membership of the Bible Christians amongst Aboriginal tribes in the Yunnan district in 1932 numbered 143 Kop'u, 532 Nosu and 4,468 Miao.
Growth in the two ex-UMFC mission fields in Africa was slower. In 1907 the mission to East Africa was still struggling. A station was opened in Meru [Kenya] in 1912 and, after initial problems caused by the First World War, began to attract worshippers. By 1931 the UMMS had managed to open the 'Berresford Memorial Hospital', Central School and a workshop for industrial training with 36 apprentices. The mission in West Africa continued to struggle until the mid 1920s. Although a Collegiate School, opened in 1916 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, initially flourished it had to close after a decade due to mismanagement. A re-organisation of the Mission in Mendiland in the late 1920s lead to a renewed sense of purpose with the mission at Tikonko reopening in 1927 after having been in abeyance since 1898.
Work continued in the ex-UMFC district of Jamaica (including Bocas del Toro, on the Isthmus of Panama,) for 4 years until the Jamaican Churches, in 1912, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church (USA).
The first Council of the United Methodist Women's Missionary Auxiliary was held in 1909 and it continued the work of each of the former women's departments of the MNC, UMFC and Bible Christians. At the time of union membership stood at about 9,200 with 8 missionaries overseas. The Women's Missionary Auxiliary continued to send missionaries to China but in 1920 they expanded into East Africa with two missionaries - Miss Ivy Jennings and Miss Violet Taylor - being sent to Meru in Kenya. By 1932 the Women's Missionary Auxiliary had 50 branches in the UK (with a membership of about 1,000) and 14 missionaries overseas.
In 1932 the United Methodist Church joined the Wesleyan Methodists and the Primitive Methodist Church to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The Uniting Conference was held on 20 September 1932. The work of the UMMS merged with that of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists to form the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS).
Further reading:
Methodist Missionary Society, 'Our Missions Overseas - Past and Present. The First Annual Report of the Methodist Missionary Society, 1932' (MMS, 1932).
N Allen Birtwhistle, 'Methodist Missions' in volume 3 of 'A History of the Methodist Church in Great Britain' (Epworth Press, 1983).
'The Story of the United Methodist Church', edited by Henry Smith, John E. Swallow and William Treffry (Henry Hooks, 1932).
Rev. Oliver A. Beckerlegge, 'A Bibliography of the United Methodist Church' (Gage Postal Books, 1988).
United Methodist Church, 'Glad Hands: the Story of the Women's Missionary Auxiliary before the Union of 1907 and after' (Magnet Press, c.1927).
A. J. Hopkins, 'Trail blazers and Road Makers : a Brief History of the East Africa Mission of the United Methodist Church' (Henry Hooks, United Methodist Publishing House, [1928]).
Samuel Pollard, 'The Story of the Miao' (Henry Hooks, 1919).
The records of the United Methodist Missionary Society, comprise only the Minutes of the Foreign Missions Committee, 1908-1933, and a South West China Minute Book, 1905-1932. Minutes also exist for its preceeding missionary organisations - please see each sub-sub-coll description for details.
The records of the United Methodist Missionary Society are divided into 'Home' and 'China' sections. There are separate sub-sub-collections for the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society, the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society, and the United Methodist Free Church Foreign Missions. Within each section, minutes are arranged in chronological order.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
Deposited on permanent loan by the Methodist Church of Great Britain from 1978 onwards.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society, including papers of missionaries of UMMS and its constituent denominations - among them Samuel Pollard, C.N. Mylne and William Soothill - in the biographical series. The few photographs of UMMS (and its predecessors) missions that are extant seem to have been kept with - and not necessarily distinguished from - the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society photographs. For example, some UMMS photographs are clearly extant for Kenya and missions in China based on who took the photographs and their date filed within the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society photographs.
The United Methodist Missionary Society was the only Methodist society to have mission stations in Kenya at the time of Methodist Union of 1932, when its work was incorporated into the Methodist Missionary Society. Although the Synod minutes and correspondence from Kenya dates from after 1932, the work of the UMMS will be reflected in these records.
SOAS holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,500 books and pamphlets. The Library includes The Missionary Echo (1908-1932) and Reports of the Home and Foreign Missions of the United Methodist Church (1908-1932). The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
An overview of our Methodist missionary holdings, 'Guide to the Methodist Missionary Collections', is freely available upon request. The most authoritative catalogue to the archive remains Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society' (1979).
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Comprises the minutes of the United Methodist Foreign Missions Committee. Unfortunately no 'Home' correspondence is extant.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Minutes of the Foreign Missions Committee, also referred to as the Sectional Foreign Missions Sub-Committee.
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Includes minutes of the first meeting of the Committee, held on 20th/21st October 1908. With alphabetical index.
20th/21st October 1908-23rd/24th October 1923
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Includes report and recommendations of the secretary after his visit to the West Africa District (6 April 1925).
4th/5th June 1925-26th/27th April 1927
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20th May 1927-4th/5th June 1929
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Some pages loose
Includes the minutes of the United Methodist Continuation sub-committee of the Methodist Missionary Society. With alphabetical index.
23rd/24th October 1923-27th April 1933
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Duplicate, unsigned set of minutes (1929-1933). With alphabetical index for minutes from 1923-1933.
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Work began in China in 1885. In the summer of 1884, James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM), addressed the Conference of the Bible Christians in London. The following year the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society appointed the Revs S T Thorne and T G Vanstone to go to Yunnan, where the CIM had opened its first station in 1881. Thorne and Vanstone reached Yunnan in 1886 and founded a Bible Christian Mission at Tungchwan [Tongchuan], in close co-operation with the CIM. In 1887 the Revs Francis J Dymond and Samuel Pollard were dispatched with further missionaries following in subsequent years (including the first medical worker in 1895). In 1891 a new station opened at Chaotung [Zhaotong] with a hospital following in 1906.
In 1907 the Bible Christians amalgamated with the United Methodist Free Church and the Methodist New Connexion to from the United Methodist Church. The former Bible Christian mission to South-west China had 7 mission stations. However, in 1909 several churches were destroyed in a rebellion in the Yunnan Province.
In 1908 mission work was expanded to include the Nosu tribe. Work was initially started by Rev Samuel Pollard but rapidly became the responsibility of the Rev C. N. Mylne. He continued to work amongst the Nosu until 1916 by which time 22 mission stations had been opened. Attempts were also made to evangelise to the Kop'u (or Go-p'u) tribe but this proved less successful. The adult membership of the mission amongst aboriginal tribes in the Yunnan district in 1932 numbered 143 Kop'u, 532 Nosu and 4,468 Miao.
This section comprises a single Minute Book of the United Methodists South West China District (originally the China Stations of the Bible Christian Foreign Missions).
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Initially the minute book of the Bible Christian China District but later (after 1907) becomes the Minute Book of the United Methodist Church South-west China District.
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Founded by William O'Bryan, the Bible Christian movement arose in 1815. Having twice been an unsuccessful candidate for the Methodist ministry, O'Bryan developed an independent preaching ministry which led to the founding of small groups in Cornwall and Devon. The name derived from their belief that all problems should be solved by recourse to the Bible.
The Bible Christians were notable for the prominent part that lay people took in administering their organisation, and for being the first Methodist organisation to admit women itinerant preachers, in 1819. They also played a leading role in the rise of the Temperance Movement.
The Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society was organised in 1821, for the purpose of sending missionaries into unchristianised portions of the UK and into 'heathen lands'. In 1831 it sent two missionaries to North America: the Rev. John Glass occupied a station in Western Canada and Rev. Francis Metherall began a mission in Prince Edward Island. The work was successful, and at the time of the union of Methodist churches in Canada, membership of the mission stood at 7,000. The work of the Society was affected by the creation of an independent Canadian Conference in 1854. In 1884, the Bible Christians united with the other Methodist churches in Canada.
In 1850, Rev James Way and James Rowe were sent to work in Adelaide, South Australia. Rowe opened a mission in Victoria in 1855. Later other missionaries settled in Queensland, and a New Zealand mission commenced in 1877. The work soon became self-supporting. Independent Conferences were established in South Australia in 1876 and Victoria in 1886. The Bible Christians united with the Wesleyans in Queensland in 1895 and in the following year the same thing happened in New Zealand. In 1900 the Bible Christians were involved in another Methodist Union in the South Australian Mission, and in 1902 this was repeated in Victoria.
Work began in China in 1885. In the summer of 1884, James Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM), addressed the Conference of the Bible Christians in London. The following year the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society appointed the Revs S T Thorne and T G Vanstone to go to Yunnan, where the CIM had opened its first station in 1881. Thorne and Vanstone reached Yunnan in 1886 and founded a Bible Christian Mission at Tungchwan, in close co-operation with the CIM. In 1887 the Revs Francis J Dymond and Samuel Pollard were dispatched with further missionaries following in subsequent years (including the first medical worker in 1895). In 1891 a new station opened at Chaotung [Zhaotong] with a hospital following in 1906. At the turn of the century the Bible Christians had 3 stations in China, with 12 missionaries, 6 Indigenous evangelists, and 41 church members. However, in 1909 several churches were destroyed in a rebellion in the Yunnan Province.
A feature of the China mission was the work among Aboriginal tribes - the earliest work being amongst the Miao tribes in 1904. Samuel Pollard became renowned for his work amongst the Big Flowery Miao or A-Hmao people. Together with Dymond he converted them to Christianity (baptising 10,000 individuals), invented an alphabet for their language and taught them to read and write.
The Women's Missionary League of the Bible Christian Missionary Society was organised as an auxiliary to the Society in 1892, with special reference to the work in China. Within two years 28 branches had been formed in the UK raising £244. (In the last year of the Women's Missionary League, 1907, there were over 40 branches who raised £812). The Women's Missionary League had the advantage that its first two female missionaries, Mrs Thorne and Miss Hainge, were already resident in China as they had been working for the China Inland Mission. The first directly appointed female missionary from the UK was Miss Bailey in 1893 followed by further missionaries every few years, including Dr Lilian Grandin (later Dingle) in 1905 to Chaotung [Zhaotong] Hospital.
In 1907 the Bible Christians merged with the Methodist New Connexion and the United Methodist Free Churches to form the United Methodist Church, and the overseas missionary activity of all three was combined under the United Methodist Missionary Society (UMMS). In the year preceeding this union the Bible Christians had nine missionaries and 5,419 overseas members.
With the union of the United Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and the Primitive Methodist Church, in 1932, the work of the UMMS merged with that of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) and the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS), to form the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS).
Further reading:
F.W.Bourne, 'The Bible Christians: their Origin and History' (Bible Christian Book Room, 1905).
Richard Pyke, 'The Golden Chain. The Story of the Bible Christian Methodists....' (Henry Hooks, c1915).
Rev. Oliver A. Beckerlegge, 'A Bibliography of the Bible Christians' (Gage Postal Books, 1988).
Rev Sam Pollard, 'The Story of the Miao' (Henry Hooks, 1919).
Unfortunately, the only extant records are the Minutes of the Bible Christian Missionary Society (1861-1873, 1882-1891 and 1903-1909).
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Deposited on permanent loan in 1978.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
SOAS holds the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society which include the personal papers of Bible Christian missionaries. These are located in the biographical series of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society and include the papers of Samuel Pollard (MMS/Special Series/Biographical/China/FBN 29-30). Further Pollard papers (MS 380690) are also available as well as the papers of the Parsons family, missionaries who worked among the Miao tribe using the script devised by Pollard (MS 380686).
SOAS also holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,000 books and pamphlets. The Library includes the Extracts from the Minutes of the Annual Conference of the Ministers and Representatives of the People Denominated Bible Christians (1845-1907), The Bible Christian Magazine (1846-1907) and a few copies - dating between 1860 and 1907 - of the Annual Report of the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society. The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
An overview of our Methodist missionary holdings, 'Guide to the Methodist Missionary Collections', is freely available upon request. The most authoritative catalogue to the archive remains Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society' (1979), although the papers of Bible Christian missionaries can be found within the list of Methodist biographical papers in the SCRR.
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Comprises Minute Books of the Bible Christian Missionary Society. Unfortunately no 'Home' correspondence is extant.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Incomplete series. Minute Books for 1861-1873, 1882-1891 and 1903-1909.
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Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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(The Foreign Secretary was James Woolcock, elected by the Conference held at Newport, 1903).
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The Methodist New Connexion (MNC) was formed in 1797. Its founder was Alexander Kilham. Kilham became a preacher for Wesley and was ordained in 1792. In 1795 Kilham's wrote a booklet entitled "The Progress of Liberty Among People Called Methodists", in which he made a number of proposals, including: that the consent of members be obtained before individuals were admitted or expelled and class leaders' appointed; that lay preachers should be examined and approved by leaders' and circuit meetings; that any proposed itinerant minister should be approved by the circuit meeting; and that lay delegates should be appointed by circuits to district meetings and by district meetings to Conference. (All of these demands, though opposed by Conference at the time, were eventually adopted.) Kilham was expelled by the Wesleyan Conference in July 1796 and soon a group of like-minded preachers gathered to form 'The New Itinerancy' as the MNC was first known. The MNC was never very large. In 1822 it had 10,856 members in 26 circuits.
The MNC began its missionary endeavours in 1824, and established a mission in Belfast, Ireland, in 1826. In 1905 the MNC churches in Ireland united with the Wesleyan churches to form the Methodist Church in Ireland. The conference of 1836 resolved upon a mission to Canada, and in 1837 Rev. John Addyman became the first MNC minister to be sent out on colonial work. Work in the colonies was affected by a series of Methodist unions. In 1874 the Canadian Mission united with the Wesleyan churches.
The Conference of 1859 appointed the Revs. John Innocent and William Nelthorpe Hall to be the first missionaries to go to China. They arrived in 1860, worked at Shanghai and eventually settled at Tientsin [Tianjin]. In 1866 an outpost was established at Laoling. In 1870 a massacre occurred in Tientsin [Tianjin], and the MNC churches were destroyed. By 1876 another station had been opened at Wutingfu, in Shantung Province. Then a move was made towards the north-east, and in 1884 a station was opened at Tangshan in the neighbourhood of Kaiping, 90 miles from Tientsin [Tianjin]. By 1900 the Chinese stations had a membership of nearly 4000. MNC Stations escaped the Boxer Rising of 1900. After the Rising, there was a new period of progress, and in 1902 a new Station was opened at Yungping, near the Great Wall of China in the north-east.
Missionary work to Australia began in 1862 with the Rev. James Maughan being stationed in Adelaide. A mission was also started in Melbourne. Three years later the Rev. Clement Linley began work in New Zealand. In 1887 the Australian Mission united with the Wesleyan churches.
The Women's Missionary Auxiliary was founded in 1899 and by 1901 eight branches had been formed in the UK with a membership of 403. By 1905 there were 27 branches with a membership of c1,200 and sufficient funds to send a female missionary, Miss Mary L. Moreton, to the Girls' School at Chu Chia, Shantung District, China. In 1907 there were two female missionaries working in the Lao Ling circuit of Shaotung: Miss Kate Cook working in Chu Chia and Miss Annie J Turner, Principal of the Girls' School.
The MNC Missionary Society was managed by a Committee, which consisted of a President, Treasurer and Secretary, with 16 ministers and 16 laymen appointed annually by the Conference. However, in 1907 the MNC merged with the Bible Christians and the United Methodist Free Churches (UMFC) to form the United Methodist Church (UMMS). Just prior to this union the MNC had 4,466 members in China and 11 missionaries serving them.
In 1932 the United Methodist Church joined the Wesleyan Methodists and the Primitive Methodists Church to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The Uniting Conference was held on 20 September 1932. The work of the UMMS merged with that of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists to form the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS).
Further reading:
Rev. Oliver A. Beckerlegge, 'A Bibliography of the Methodist New Connexion' (Gage Postal Books, 1988).
Rev John Hedley, 'Our Mission in North China: Being a Short Record of Methodist New Connexion Missionary Work' (Geo. Burroughs, 1907).
G. T. Candlin, 'John Innocent: a Story of Mission Work in North China' (United Methodist Publishing House, 1909).
Unfortunately, the only extant records are the Minutes of the MNC Mission Committee (1844-1908).
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Deposited on permanent loan by the Methodist Missionary Society in 1978.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
SOAS also holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,000 books and pamphlets. The Library includes the Reports of the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society (1902-1907) and Gleanings in Harvest Fields (1890-1907). The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
An overview of our Methodist missionary holdings, 'Guide to the Methodist Missionary Collections', is freely available upon request. The most authoritative catalogue to the archive remains Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society' (1979).
Catalogued
Comprises the Minutes of the Methodist New Connexion Mission Committee. Unfortunately no 'Home' correspondence is extant.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Comprises a set of Minute Books dated 1844-1864, 1864-1883, 1883-1895, 1896-1905 and 1905-1908.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Has some printed extracts from Conference minutes attached.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Has some printed extracts from Conference minutes attached.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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The Missionary Society of the United Methodist Free Churches (UMFC) was formed in 1857, by the union of the Wesleyan Methodist Association (formed in 1835) and the Wesleyan Reform Society (formed 1849). The Protestant Methodists (formed 1827) and the Armenian Methodists (formed 1831) had previously joined the Wesleyan Methodist Association in 1837.
At the time of the union, the Wesleyan Methodist Association had several missions in Jamaica and the Australian colonies. The UMFC developed these, and opened entirely new missions in West Africa, East Africa, China, Tasmania and New Zealand. The overseas missionary work of the UMFC was directed by a Foreign Missionary Committee, formed in 1860. A special Foreign Mission Fund was started soon after.
In 1859, the UMFC admitted a body of native Christians of Sierra Leone to the missionary Connexion. This turned attention to West Africa and Rev. Joseph New, and soon after Rev. Charles Warboys, were sent to Sierra Leone. Conditions in the area were unfavourable and many missionaries suffered illness, but by 1902 there were 8 stations and 5 outstations in West Africa.
In 1861, Rev. Thomas Wakefield landed in East Africa. He was joined by Rev. Charles New in the latter part of 1862. New died in 1874, whilst trying to establish a mission on the Tana River [Kenya]. There was also a failed attempt to open work among the Wa Nyika race, near the Ribé [Kenya] and along the coast of the Indian Ocean. However, continued perseverance eventually lead to progress in the districts of Ribé and Tana.
Work in China began in 1864, when Rev. Willam R. Fuller opened the mission in Ningpo [Ningbo]. The following year Fuller was joined by Rev. John Mara and Rev. Frederick Galpin. From time to time further missionaries were sent out. A hospital was opened in Ningpo [Ningbo] in 1899, and a college in 1906. In 1878 the work in China was extended to Wenchow [Wenzhou], some 200 miles north of Ningpo [Ningbo]. The first UMFC missionary to arrive in Wenchow [Wenzhou] was Robert Inkerman Exley. Exley died in 1881 and in 1882 he was succeeded by W. E. Soothill, who was the real builder of the Wenchow [Wenzhou] mission. In 1898 Dr. Alfred Hogg went out to Wenchow [Wenzhou] as the first medical missionary of the UMFC. The mission in Wenchow [Wenzhou] opened a college in 1903, and a hospital in 1906. By 1902 there were over 5000 church members in the Ningpo and Wenchow Districts combined.
The mission to Jamaica began through local Methodists in 1838 with the first missionary from the UK, the Rev M Baxter, dispatched in 1842. By 1866 the Jamaica Mission had expanded to undertake work at Bocas del Toro, on the Isthmus of Panama, in order to minister to the Jamaicans who has settled there in search of employment.
Missionary work in Australasia continued but moved towards autonomy at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1892, the UMFC Missions in Australia and Tasmania formed two independent 'Assemblies'. In 1896 the UMFC joined with the Bible Christians and Wesleyans in New Zealand to form the Methodist Church of New Zealand and, in 1902, the same partners entered upon a similar union in Australia.
The Ladies' Missionary Auxiliaries of the UMFC was founded in 1897 through the influence and perusaion of Mrs Vivian of the Leeds and Bradford District. The UMFC Home and Foreign Missions Annual Report of 1900 records the aims and objectives of the Ladies' Missionary Auxiliary. Personnel and funds were supplied to assist with the work of the UMFC missions in all its areas of evangelism.
In 1907 the United Methodist Free Churches merged with the Methodist New Connexion and the Bible Christians to form the United Methodist Church, and the overseas missionary activity of all three was combined under the United Methodist Missionary Society. At the point of union the UMFC had 20,191 overseas members served by 30 missionaries.
With the union of the United Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and the Primitive Methodist Church, in 1932, the work of the UMMS merged with that of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) and the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society (PMMS), to form the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS).
Further reading:
Rev. Oliver A. Beckerlegge, 'A Bibliography of the United Methodist Free Churches' (Gage Postal Books, 1988).
Thomas Wakefield, 'Our Missionary Enterprise in East Africa. A Brief Sketch'.
R. Elliott Kendall, 'Charles New and the East Africa Mission' ( Kenya Literature Bureau, 1978).
W.E. Soothill, 'A Mission in China' (Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, 1907).
Unfortunately, the only extant records are the Minutes of the UMFC Mission Committee for 1869 to 1883 and 1900 to 1908.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Deposited on permanent loan by the Methodist Missionary Society in 1978.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
SOAS holds the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society which include the personal papers of United Methodist Free Church missionaries. These are located in the biographical series of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society and include the papers of William Edward Soothill.
SOAS also holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,000 books and pamphlets. The Library includes The Missionary Echo (1894-1907) and Reports of the Home and Foreign Missions of the United Methodist Free Churches (1868-1907). The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
An overview of our Methodist missionary holdings, 'Guide to the Methodist Missionary Collections', is freely available upon request. The most authoritative catalogue to the archive remains Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society' (1979).
Catalogued
Comprises the minutes of the Unted Methodist Free Churches Missionary Committee. Unfortunately no 'Home' correspondence is extant.
Only available for consultation on microfiche.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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Incomplete series. Comprises the minute books of the Unted Methodist Free Churches Missionary Committee. Minute Book No. 2 (1883-1900) is not extant.
1869-1883, 1900-1908
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United Methodist Free Churches Foreign Missionary Committee Minute Book No. 1. With alpabetical index.
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Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
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United Methodist Free Churches Foreign Missionary Committee Minute Book No.3. With alphabetical index.
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The union in 1932 of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Primitive Methodist Church and United Methodist Church to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain, brought together the women's work of all three former missionary societies. These comprised the Women's Department of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, the Women's Missionary Federation of the Primitive Methodist Missionary Society and the United Methodist Women's Missionary Auxiliary, which were amalgamated to form a department of the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS) known as 'Women's Work of the MMS' (WW). The department acted under the direction of the General Committee of the MMS. A Women's Work Sectional Committee was also appointed, including nominated representatives from the District Women's Councils. This Committee was responsible for the selection and training of women missionaries, consideration and direction of policy, raising and administration of funds, and all correspondence with missionaries. The General Secretaries undertook supervision of work in the field and at home. The Women's Work Committee met monthly and made recommendations to the General Committee of the MMS. On a District level, there was a Women's Missionary Council for each District, which included members of the Circuit Women's Work Committee. Each District Council had an executive committee, and each nominated a representative to the Women's Work Committee at the London Headquarters. There were also committees associated with each local church.
The influence of women in the MMS was gradually extended to bring their role more closely into line with male counterparts. By 1970, officers of the Women's Work Department had joined the main committee of the MMS, and their work was amalgamated into the General Fund. Women's Work as a separate entity had ceased to exist, although the home support groups continued to provide backing for women missionaries.
The organised work of women in the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) began with the formation of the Ladies' Committee for the Amelioration of the Condition of Women in Heathen Countries, Female Education, & c. in December 1858, as an auxiliary to the main Society. The Ladies' Committee aimed at the systematic promotion of women's work on the mission field by securing the efficiency of Girls' Schools already established and increasing their number. Arrangements were made for the selection and preparation of women suitable for employment overseas, including teacher training at institutions such as the Normal College at Westminster. These women were to be assisted with funds raised through the Committee.
The Ladies' Committee was managed independently of the WMMS. It selected its own agents, raised and administered its own funds, and had full responsibility for its organisation. The Committee worked alongside the WMMS, reporting resolutions of its meetings to the WMMS Executive Committee. In the field, ladies were placed under the direction of the District Synod and District and Circuit Chairman. The Foreign Secretary of the Ladies' Committee corresponded through these authorities, paid salaries and received reports.
In the early decades of its work, the Ladies' Committee focused on education. It provided grants and trained workers for Girls' Boarding Schools, Day Schools and industrial training institutions, and supported local Bible Women and Zenana workers. Orphanages were also established, largely in Southern India. The first missionary to be sent abroad by the Ladies' Committee was Susannah Gooding Beal, who was appointed as Headmistress of a Girls' School in Belize, British Honduras, in 1859. By 1868, there were ten agents in the field, in Bangalore in India, Honduras [Belize], South Africa, Canton in China and Italy. In 1874, the name was altered to the Ladies' Auxiliary for Female Education. From 1876-1912, Mrs Wiseman became Foreign Secretary, and under her guidance the Auxiliary developed and grew. In 1882, Local District Auxiliaries were formed in Bolton, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester, and the provinces took on increased responsibility for the collection of funds.
In the 1880s, the name was changed to the 'Ladies' Auxiliary of the WMMS', to reflect the expansion into medical work. The first medical agent of the Auxiliary was Agnes Palmer, who was posted to Madras [Chennai] in 1884. The first fully qualified medical practitioner sent out by the Auxiliary was Dr. Ethel Rowley, who was sent to Hankow [Wuhan], China, in 1895 (following her marriage, she was obliged to become an honorary worker). Work was undertaken in leper asylums, rescue-homes, and refuges for widows. In 1893 the name was again changed - to the 'Women's Auxiliary of the WMMS'.
Some of the female workers were drawn from the Wesley Deaconesses Order. The first of these ladies was sent out in 1904. By 1912 there were 94 English workers in the field, 12 others enlisted locally and 303 native Bible Women and Zenana workers in their employ. The Auxiliary supported a large number of schools and institutions, and their income had increased from less than £500 to more than £2,000 annually. In 1926 the Women's Auxiliary became a department of the WMMS. By 1932 there were 215 missionaries working in Italy, Spain, Ceylon [Sri Lanka], Burma [Myanmar], India, China, Africa and Jamaica. At the formation of the Department of Women's Work of the MMS there were 240 female missionaries (who had formerly belonged to the women's departments of the PMMS, UMMS and WMMS). The vast majority of the missions (and missionaries) were Wesleyan but as a result of the union there were now more missions in China, Nigeria and Rhodesia as well as the addition of the 'new' (ex-UMMS) mission in Kenya.
The Girl's League was founded in 1908, under the umbrella of the Women's Work Department of the MMS. By 1928 the League had a membership of 8,700, with 450 branches in the British Isles.
Further reading:
'Handbook for Women's Work: Founded in 1858 Containing a Brief History of the Service Methodist Women have Offered to God in the Missionary Work of the Church' (MMS, c1958).
'The Story of the Women's Auxiliary 1858-1922' (Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, 1923).
Lena Tyack, 'Hands Across the Sea. The Work of the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Missionary Society from 1858 to 1908' (Wesleyan Mission House, 1908).
'From These Roots. A Brief Survey of the Origins of Women's Work of the Methodist Missionary Society'.
Anna M. Hellier, 'Workers Together. The Story of the Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society' (The Cargate Press, 1931).
Anna M. Hellier, 'Just Nothing. Memories of Caroline M. Wiseman and her Work' (Women's Auxiliary of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, 1925).
The collection comprises the papers of the Women's Work of the Methodist Missionary Society from 1932, but also the papers of Women's Work of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society prior to 1932. It includes minutes (1858-1939); reports (1923-1948) and correspondence (1906-1953) from the overseas missionary districts; and financial records (1898-1946) including minutes, ledgers, cash books and overseas schedules. There are also minutes for the Central Committee of the Girls' League from 1924 to 1948.
The papers of Women's Work under the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, and the Methodist Missionary Society have been arranged as one continuous series. They have been arranged by type of record and by region. Within this structure correspondence has been arranged by district and also divided between correspondence from missionaries and correspondence from the Chairman of the district.
The majority of the collection is only available for consultation on microfiche.
Restrictions Apply
Deposited on permanent loan by the Methodist Church of Great Britain from 1978 onwards.
Copyright held by Methodist Missionary SocietyApply to SOAS Archives & Special Collections in the first instance.
The School of Oriental and African Studies holds the records of the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society, including papers of missionaries of the Women's Work Department - among them Catherine Jane Radcliffe, Gladys Stephenson and Alice Hawkins - in the biographical series. Surviving photographs of Women's Work missions are kept with - and not necessarily distinguished from - the (Wesleyan) Methodist Missionary Society photographs.
SOAS also holds the Methodist Missionary Society Library, consisting of approximately 7,500 books and pamphlets. The Library includes Ladies' Committee for Ameliorating the Condition of Women in Heathen Countries, Female Education, &c. occasional papers (1859-1899), Annual Reports (1881-1970), Woman's Work on the Mission Field (1899-1969), the Quarterly Letter (1922-1933) and the Monthly Letter (1933-1969). The Methodist Missionary Society Library is included in the on-line catalogue of SOAS Library (
A guide, based in part on Elizabeth Bennett's 'Guide to the Archives of the Methodist Missionary Society', is available in the SCRR (see also 'Document' field above for just WW section).