Welcome to the Methodist Missionary Society History Project

The Methodist Missionary Society Project was established at the initiative of the Archives and History Committee of the Methodist Church. Its aim is to promote the study of the history of the missionary activity of people of all branches of British and Irish Methodism, and to increase understanding of the history of related churches in other continents.

Activities in association with the Project include conferences, seminars and lectures; the location and preservation of documentary and other sources for missionary history; and the development of instruments for its study. The Project encourages, and on occasion sponsors, the publication of scholarly publications within its field of interest, as well as providing facilities for internet communication between those working in the field. A major history of the Methodist Missionary Society and its antecedents is planned.

Book now for a place at our 2009 conference Methodist Missions and Indigenous Religious Movements 25-26th November 2009. Keynote speakers will be Professor Sebastian Kim and Professor David Maxwell.

The inaugural conference of the Project was held at the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, University of Edinburgh, in July 2002. Six annual conferences have been held:

• "From World Parish to World Church " Sarum College, Salisbury, 2003.

• "Great was the Company of the Preachers" the United College of the Ascension, Birmingham, 2004.

• "Methodist Missions and the Organisation of Society" the United College of the Ascension, Birmingham, 2005.

• Methodist Missions and the Printed Word Sarum College, Salisbury, 2006.

• "All Our Pomp of Yesterday" Methodist Missions and the Rising and Setting of Empire, Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, Birmingham, 2007.

• "Did they believe and preah our doctrines?" Theological Thought and Conviction in Methodist Missions, Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, Birmingham, 2008.

More than 91 papers have already been delivered at MMS History Project seminars and conferences and many can be ordered in pdf format. Papers from the most recent events, Methodist Missions and the Printed Word and the Methodist Missions and Development day conference, are now available on this website.


Convener: Rev. John R Pritchard

General Editor: Prof. Andrew Walls

Project Officer: Dr Kirsteen Murray, Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, University of Edinburgh, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh EH1 2LX.

Steering Group: Ms Alison Lewis; Mr Lance Martin (MMS Archives); Rev Dr Albert W Mosley; Professor Edward Royle; Ms Rosemary Seton; Dr John A Vickers; Dr Suzanne Schwarz and Dr Deborah Gaitskell.

The Project works in association with the Scottish Institute for Missionary Studies, and acknowledges the Institute's financial assistance.