The next in our biennial series of residential conferences will be held at Offa House in Warwickshire starting at 4pm on Wednesday 13 April and finishing with lunch on Friday 15 April. Speakers will include Terry Barringer, Dominic Erdozain and John Wolffe, and there will also be a panel session and extended discussion around the practical vocation and experience of Christian historians.
As in previous years, we warmly welcome and encourage offers of short papers (which may be of an informal ‘work in progress’ kind), lasting up to 20 minutes. These can be on any historical topic: we greatly value contributions that offer a Christian perspective on ‘secular’ historical themes, as well as papers on church/religious history subjects. If you would like to offer a paper please contact John Wolffe (j.r.wolffe@open.ac.uk) by 31 January 2011.
Offa House is the Coventry diocese retreat and conference centre, located in a peaceful rural/village setting, but a short taxi ride from Leamington Spa, which has good rail connections to most parts of the country. The food and hospitality are excellent. The cost of the conference will be in the region of £100, with some concessions possible for students, and those presenting papers.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Monday, 22 November 2010
'The Dark Side of Christian History' (February CHF Conference)
"The dark side of Christian history"
Saturday, 5th February, St. Ebbe's church, Roger Bacon Lane, Oxford, OX1 1QE.
Christian historians from across a wide range of fields will reflect on some of the major events in the past (and the church's role in the them) that are often cited as reasons to dismiss the Christian faith. There will also be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. Undergraduates are welcome, as are postgraduates, practicing historians and interested readers of work in the humanities. The day conference will be held at St. Ebbes Church, which has a special mission to undergraduates in Oxford, and is located in the heart of the city.
Speakers:
Dr. John Coffey, Leicester University, Reformation and Intolerance
Dr. Tim Cole, Bristol University, The Holocaust
Dr. Dominic Erdozain, King's College London, Violence and Abuse
Dr. Deborah Gaitskell, SOAS, Apartheid
Dr. Stephen Tuck, University of Oxford, American segregation and Civil Rights
The provisional timeframe is 10.45 - 3.45.
Saturday, 5th February, St. Ebbe's church, Roger Bacon Lane, Oxford, OX1 1QE.
Christian historians from across a wide range of fields will reflect on some of the major events in the past (and the church's role in the them) that are often cited as reasons to dismiss the Christian faith. There will also be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion. Undergraduates are welcome, as are postgraduates, practicing historians and interested readers of work in the humanities. The day conference will be held at St. Ebbes Church, which has a special mission to undergraduates in Oxford, and is located in the heart of the city.
Speakers:
Dr. John Coffey, Leicester University, Reformation and Intolerance
Dr. Tim Cole, Bristol University, The Holocaust
Dr. Dominic Erdozain, King's College London, Violence and Abuse
Dr. Deborah Gaitskell, SOAS, Apartheid
Dr. Stephen Tuck, University of Oxford, American segregation and Civil Rights
The provisional timeframe is 10.45 - 3.45.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
New Book: Bebbington on Baptists
CHF members will be delighted to learn that Prof David Bebbington has a new book out. Baptists through the Centuries: A History of a Global People (Baylor UP, 2010) provides a panoramic overview of Baptist history from its Reformation roots to its global spread. As one would expect, it combines the big picture with rich detail, starting with a wonderful vignette about the Castle Donington General Baptists who in 1864 bought their pastor a pair of waterproof boots to be worn during baptisms. It's a reminder, for Bebbington, that Baptists were always 'accommodating themselves to their time and circumstances', in this case by becoming more decorous to reflect their rising social status. Like Bebbington's now classic work, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain (1989), this is a study of cultural adaptation. Alongside its chronological overview, there are fascinating thematic chapters on race, women, ecclesiology, religious liberty and foreign mission.
Bebbington has been at the forefront of Baptist history for several decades, and this is the first general history of the Baptists to harvest the wealth of recent research on Baptist communities through the centuries, including those of Eastern Europe. It's a great gift to Baptist themselves, for nowhere else will they find an account of their past as rich, rounded, critical and fair-minded as this one. But it ought to be read by anyone interested in the history of Christianity since the Reformation.
John Coffey
University of Leicester
Readers can get a sneak preview here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bebbington+baptists
Bebbington has been at the forefront of Baptist history for several decades, and this is the first general history of the Baptists to harvest the wealth of recent research on Baptist communities through the centuries, including those of Eastern Europe. It's a great gift to Baptist themselves, for nowhere else will they find an account of their past as rich, rounded, critical and fair-minded as this one. But it ought to be read by anyone interested in the history of Christianity since the Reformation.
John Coffey
University of Leicester
Readers can get a sneak preview here:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=bebbington+baptists
Christian Roots of Modern Science - CiS Day Conference (30 October 2010)
The CHF Oxford day conference on 'The Dark Side of Church History' has been postponed to the new year, but Christians in Science are holding a day conference on 'Christian Roots of Modern Science - Learning from the Past'
Date: Saturday 30th October 2010, 9.30–17.00
Venue: St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam Street, London W1U 3HP
(off Baker Street between Marylebone Road and Oxford Street. Nearest tube stops – Baker Street or Bond Street)
The line-up of speakers is impressive:
Prof Peter Harrison: Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, Oxford
Prof John Hedley Brooke: President of International Society for Science and Religion
Prof David Livingstone: Professor of Geography & Intellectual History, Belfast
Dr Allan Chapman: Historian of Science, Oxford
Dr Denis Alexander: Director of The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge
Further details available on the CiS website:
http://cislondon.eventwax.com/christian-roots-of-modern-science--learning-from-the-past
Date: Saturday 30th October 2010, 9.30–17.00
Venue: St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam Street, London W1U 3HP
(off Baker Street between Marylebone Road and Oxford Street. Nearest tube stops – Baker Street or Bond Street)
The line-up of speakers is impressive:
Prof Peter Harrison: Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, Oxford
Prof John Hedley Brooke: President of International Society for Science and Religion
Prof David Livingstone: Professor of Geography & Intellectual History, Belfast
Dr Allan Chapman: Historian of Science, Oxford
Dr Denis Alexander: Director of The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge
Further details available on the CiS website:
http://cislondon.eventwax.com/christian-roots-of-modern-science--learning-from-the-past
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
CHF Bulletin, summer 2010
This year's Bulletin has now been published, containing articles on:
* 'Brethren in religion': the Huguenots and early evangelicalism (Chris Adams)
* 'The most dangerous of all allies': evangelicals and the novel, 1790-1840' (David Sandifer)
* Empire and Christian missions: opposition, opportunities, obstacles' (David Killingray)
Copies are available on request from: christianityandhistory@gmail.com
* 'Brethren in religion': the Huguenots and early evangelicalism (Chris Adams)
* 'The most dangerous of all allies': evangelicals and the novel, 1790-1840' (David Sandifer)
* Empire and Christian missions: opposition, opportunities, obstacles' (David Killingray)
Copies are available on request from: christianityandhistory@gmail.com
Monday, 14 June 2010
King James Bible Quatercentenary
2011 is the 400th anniversary of publication of the King James Bible (1611). These anniversaries always generate a spurt of publications and conferences. One thinks of the recent celebrations of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 2007, Milton in 2008 and Darwin in 2009. The KJV will not attract the same level of government funding as Abolition, and it may not equal the media exposure of Darwin, though it should eclipse Milton.
There will be one big academic history conference in the UK at the University of York entitled: 'The Bible in the Seventeenth Century: The King James Bible Quatercentenary (1611-2011)'. This boasts a strong line up of seventeenth-century literary scholars and historians:
http://www.york.ac.uk/projects/bible/
The 2011 Trust (Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales; Chairman: Frank Field) has been set up to promote the Quatercentenary Year. Their website is worth browsing. It has an interactive map giving a full listing of events. They've even managed to get the endorsement of Richard Dawkins, who graces the website with a reading of the Song of Songs!
http://www.2011trust.org/home/
Books on the KJV and its impact are forthcoming from various quarters. They include a study by the literary scholar Gordon Campbell entitled The Story of the King James Bible, 1611-2011 (OUP), and a popular history of the Bible and English political thought by Nick Spencer from the think tank Theos.
CHF is planning its own day conference at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity on Sat 12th November 2011. This will come at the end of the anniversary year, but will provide an opportunity to reflect on how the occasion has been remembered, as well as on how the King James Bible has been read since 1611. More information to follow on this blog in due course.
There will be one big academic history conference in the UK at the University of York entitled: 'The Bible in the Seventeenth Century: The King James Bible Quatercentenary (1611-2011)'. This boasts a strong line up of seventeenth-century literary scholars and historians:
http://www.york.ac.uk/projects/bible/
The 2011 Trust (Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales; Chairman: Frank Field) has been set up to promote the Quatercentenary Year. Their website is worth browsing. It has an interactive map giving a full listing of events. They've even managed to get the endorsement of Richard Dawkins, who graces the website with a reading of the Song of Songs!
http://www.2011trust.org/home/
Books on the KJV and its impact are forthcoming from various quarters. They include a study by the literary scholar Gordon Campbell entitled The Story of the King James Bible, 1611-2011 (OUP), and a popular history of the Bible and English political thought by Nick Spencer from the think tank Theos.
CHF is planning its own day conference at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity on Sat 12th November 2011. This will come at the end of the anniversary year, but will provide an opportunity to reflect on how the occasion has been remembered, as well as on how the King James Bible has been read since 1611. More information to follow on this blog in due course.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Michael Harper
I note in the most recent annual review from Lambeth Palace Library that they have received the papers of Michael Harper, which contain much on the history of the Fountain Trust and the charismatic movement more widely. They are not catalogued as yet, but promise to be a major resource once they are.
See also the Times obituary of Harper.
See also the Times obituary of Harper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)