Records of the Council for World Mission (from 1977) and its predecessor bodies, including the London Missionary Society (1795-1966) and Commonwealth (formerly Colonial) Missionary Society (1836-1966). Also includes some material for the Congregational Council for World Mission (1966-1977), which reflects the administrative changes and restructuring leading up to the creation of the Council for World Mission in 1977. Records for this period have been arranged and listed as a continuation of the London Missionary Society material as in many cases changes to administrative structures took place gradually.
Council for World Mission Archive
This material is held atSchool of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London
- Reference
- GB 102 CWM
- Dates of Creation
- 1764-2017
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English Multiple languages
- Physical Description
- 2,966 boxes/loose volumes & additional maps, blueprints & pictures
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
The Council for World Mission (CWM) is a worldwide partnership of Christian churches. The 32 members are committed to sharing their resources of money, people, skills and insights globally to carry out God's mission locally. CWM was created in 1977 and incorporates the London Missionary Society (1795), the Commonwealth Missionary Society (1836) and the (English) Presbyterian Board of Missions (1847).
During the period after 1945, the work of the London Missionary Society (LMS) evolved from traditional mission fieldwork to a more democratic and decentralised structure based on the development of local churches and local church leadership. This response was brought about not only in answer to so-called 'decolonisation' but also to social and political change and demographic shifts in the post-war years. In 1966 the LMS ceased to exist as a Society and merged with the Commonwealth Missionary Society to form the Congregational Council for World Mission (CCWM). The Presbyterian Church of England joined with the Congregational Church of England and Wales (a constituent body of CCWM) in 1972 to form the United Reformed Church. Its foreign missions work was incorporated into CCWM, leading to a name change in 1973 to the Council for World Mission (Congregational and Reformed). The CWM (Congregational and Reformed) was again restructured to create the Council for World Mission in 1977. This structure was more internationalist, reflecting greater ecumenism and church independence, and the end of Western dominance in the mission field.
In May 2003 the Council for World Mission was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, and registered as a new charity in June 2003. A new constitution came into effect, which established a tri-annual Assembly and new governance structure.
In 2012, CWM’s secretariat relocated from London to Singapore. CWM is now administered as an international charitable organisation and a company limited by guarantee, registered in Singapore as CWM Ltd. A new constitution for the UK-registered charity, now known as Council for World Mission (UK), was voted by its Trustees immediately preceding the Assembly's June 2012 meeting in Pago Pago (American Samoa).
The CWM Assembly is now held once every 4 years. The Council, which is comprised of 32 member representatives, meets once a year at the Annual General Members Meeting. The Board of Directors is currently comprised of 12 or 13 members, and manages the affairs of the entire CWM community. There are 3 regular Board of Directors meetings a year.
CWM has a presence in 6 regions: Africa, Caribbean, East Asia, Europe, Pacific and South Asia.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by the constituent parts of the organisation - papers of the Council for World Mission; papers of the London Missionary Society comprising one main accession, 1795-1940, and three accruals, 1941-1950, 1951-1960, and 1961-1970, and papers of the Commonwealth Missionary Society, 1836-1870.
Access Information
Candidates' papers and other records containing personal information such as minutes are subject to access restrictions in compliance with the Data Protection Act. Otherwise, papers are unrestricted.
Restrictions Apply
Acquisition Information
Deposited at SOAS, University of London, on permanent loan by the Council for World Mission in 1973. Further deposits made between 1988 and 2012.
Other Finding Aids
A guide to the CWM collection was prepared by the Rev C. Stuart Craig, published by SOAS in 1973, and revised in 1980.
An unpublished guide to the CWM/LMS papers, 1795-1940, was prepared by Hannah Lowery in 1994. This has been subject to a number of revisions and is available on the SOAS Archive Catalogue and in the Special Collections Reading Room, SOAS Library.
Unpublished lists for the three accruals to the collection, 1941-1950, 1951-1960 and 1961-1970 and detailed lists for certain sections of the London Missionary Society papers, including early missionary correspondence (to c.1899), journals and missionary deputations, 1795-c.1900, reports, 1866-1939, candidates papers and missionary portraits, are available in the Special Collections Reading Room. A separate handlist has been prepared for the papers of the Congregational Missionary Society (CWM/CMS).
Since 1999, records for the CWM archive have been added to the catalogue database and can be seen on the SOAS Archive Catalogue at http://archives.soas.ac.uk/CalmView/
Alternative Form Available
The main accession of London Missionary Society papers, 1795-1940, and the first accrual, 1941-1950, have been published on microfiche by IDC Publishers (now Brill). Copies are held at a number of research libraries around the world.
Archivist's Note
Catalogued
Conditions Governing Use
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance
Copyright held by Council for World Mission unless otherwise indicated.
Accruals
Further accruals to the Council for World Mission archive are expected on a 10-yearly cycle as records become open to researchers.