The British Missionary Enterprise since 1700

Description

Missions are an important topic in the history of modern Britain and of even wider importance in the modern history of Africa and many parts of Asia. Yet, despite the perennial subject matter, and the publication of a large number of studies of particular aspects of missions, there is no recent, balanced overview of the history of the missionary moment during the last three hundred years.

The British Missionary Enterprise since 1700 moves away from the partisan approach that characterizes so many writers in field and instead views missionaries primarily as institution builders rather than imperialists or heroes of social reform. This balanced survey examines both Britain as the home base of missions and the impact of the missions themselves, while also evaluating the independent initiatives by African and Asia Christians. Also addressed are the previously ignored issues of missionary rhetoric, the predominantly female nature of missions, and comparisons between British missions and those from other predominantly Protestant countries including the United States.

Jeffrey Cox brings a fresh and much needed overview to this large, fascinating and controversial subject.

Contents

1. Introduction. Religion and Empire in the Modern World 2. Confessional Improvisation 3. Voluntarist Improvisation 4. 'Little Detachments of Maniacs": Early Failures 5. The Home Base: Networks and Societies 6. Missionary Literature: The Defamation of the "Other" 7. The Missionary Hero and Missionary Institutions 8. The Growth of Mission Institutions before the Great War 9. Conflict and Consensus in Mission Institutions 10. Ecclesiastical Sprawl. The Triumph of Bricks and Mortar 11. Evangelicals and Unreached Peoples

Related Subjects

1. British History
2. Modern History 1750-1945
3. Religious History