Diaries of Dr Max Warren

This collection comprises the personal diaries of Max Warren relating to tours connected with his speaking engagements around the world: in Canada, 1965; South Africa, 1965; Holland, 1969; Uganda, 1970; Israel, 1970. The diaries include background information about the tours, comments on political and local church situation and visits he undertook.

Max Alexander Cunningham Warren (1904-1977), clergyman, writer, and missionary statesman. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (B.A. 1926, M.A., 1931) and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, 1926-1927. In 1927, he went to Nigeria as a member of the Hausa Band (formed in March 1924, following an appeal in Cambridge by G. T. Manley, Church Missionary Society (CMS) Africa Secretary. The Band consisted of four members - Guy Bullen, W. H. Oswald, Norman Cook and Max Warren - who offered to CMS as a team to further missionary work among Moslems in Northern Nigeria). Warren reached Zaria in December 1927, but in 1929 was invalided home with tuberculosis. He was ordained deacon in 1932 and priest in 1933 and became curate of St John the Evangelist, Boscombe and Joint Secretary for Youth Work in Diocese of Winchester from 1932 until 1936. In 1936 he became vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge and Secretary of the Cambridge Pastorate, 1936-1942. He then served as General Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, 1942-1963. He became Canon and Sub-Dean of Westminster in 1963.

Warren travelled widely, particularly to Africa and Asia. He was frequently invited to give lectures and to speak at conferences. He also wrote extensively including regularly contributions to the monthly CMS News-Letter and numerous books and articles. His books included: included: Loyalty (1935); Loyalty (1935); Interpreters (1936); Interpreters (1936); Master of Time (1943); Master of Time (1943); The Calling of God (1944); The Calling of God (1944); Strange Victory (1946); Strange Victory (1946); The Truth of Vision (1948); The Truth of Vision (1948); The Christian Mission (1951); (Ed.) The Christian Mission (1951); (Ed.) The Triumph of God (1948); The Triumph of God (1948); Revival (1954); Revival (1954); The Christian Imperative1 (1955); The Christian Imperative1 (1955); Caesar the Beloved Enemy (1955); Caesar the Beloved Enemy (1955); The Gospel of Victory (1955); The Gospel of Victory (1955); Partnership (1956); Partnership (1956); Challenge and Response (1959); Challenge and Response (1959); Letters on Purpose (1963); Letters on Purpose (1963); Perspective in Mission (1964); Perspective in Mission (1964); The Missionary Movement from Britain in Modern History (1965); (1965); Social History and Christian Mission (1967); Social History and Christian Mission (1967); To Apply the Gospel (1971); To Apply the Gospel (1971); A Theology of Attention (1971); A Theology of Attention (1971); Crowded Canvas (1974); Crowded Canvas (1974); I Believe in the Great Commission (1976).

References: Crockford's Clerical Directory ; Crockford's Clerical Directory ; Who was Who, 1971-1980 ; Who was Who, 1971-1980 ; Concise Dictionary of National Biography

This collection forms part of the Church Missionary Society Unofficial Papers. It is arranged into one series: Family Papers.

Open. Access to all registered researchers.

Presented to the CMS, October 1973; transferred on permanent loan to the Special Collections Department by the CMS in the 1980s.

Please see full catalogue for further details.

Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the University Archivist, Special Collections. Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Special Collections will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

The Church Missionary Society Unofficial Papers include collections of papers relating to the Hausa Band with which Warren was involved, 1924-1930 (CMS/ACC293 and CMS/ACC115). It also includes a further deposit of typescript copies of Warren's travel diaries, 1943-1970 (not yet catalogued). The Special Collections Department also holds the Church Missionary Society Archive, the official archive of the society (GB 150 CMS), which contains material relating to Warren's period of office as Secretary.

The University of Birmingham, Special Collections Department and the Orchard Learning Resources Centre hold a rich collection of archives relating to missions, charities and other religious and ecclesiastical organisations and individuals.