Welsh Religious History Society Records

The archive includes papers relating to the administration of the Welsh Religious History Society; papers of the Society's publication, the Journal of Welsh Religious History, and papers of its forerunner, the Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History; papers relating to the merger of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales with the Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History to form the Welsh Religious History Society, and papers relating to volumes, apart from the Journal of Welsh Religious History, published by the Welsh Religious History Society.

The Welsh Religious History Society was formed from the merger of two bodies, the Historical Society of the Church in Wales and the Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History. The Historical Society of the Church in Wales was established in 1946, soon after the disestablishment of the Welsh Church. Its aim was the promotion of the study of the church. It published the Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales, along with occasional transcripts of church archival material, and other volumes relating to church history.

The Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History appeared during the 1970s. It took an ecumenical stance, and as a result, largely took over from the Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales. By the 1990s, both publications were suffering from funding difficulties, and a merger was suggested in a 1991 issue of The Welsh Churchman. A meeting had already been held earlier that year to discuss the issue, with representatives of the six Welsh dioceses present, along with officers of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales. They decided to approach the group publishing the Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History, seeking a merger. A working party was formed as a result, which included the editors of both journals. But problems appeared as the Church had to consent to any change in the status of the Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales, and the publishers of the Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History wished to retain its ecumenical outlook. The ecumenical spirit finally prevailed. The Historical Society of the Church in Wales was dissolved, and the Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales and the Journal of Welsh Ecclesiastical History ceased publication.

In 1993, the Welsh Religious History Society was established. It publishes the Journal of Welsh Religious History, along with other volumes on the religious history of Wales, and regularly organises day schools and conferences across Wales.

The papers may be consulted through application to Peter Hopkins, Curator, Roderic Bowen Library and Archives, Trinity Saint David, Ceredigion, SA48 7ED. Tel 01570 424716, email: rodericbowenlibrary@tsd.ac.uk

The papers were donated to the University of Wales, Lampeter by Dr John Morgan-Guy, Honorary University Archivist and former co-editor of the Journal of Welsh Religious History, the publication of the Welsh Religious History Society.

Description compiled by Rhian Phillips, Archives Hub project archivist, with reference to the Welsh Religious History Society Records.

Basic finding aid available at the University of Wales, Lampeter.