Papers of Revd William Wynn Simpson

Notebooks, 1927-46; papers from studies as a probationer, 1931-3; Swanick youth group, papers and correspondence, 1931-6; plans for Amhurst Park Methodist Church, 1935-8; Hackney Free Church Council, commission to enquire into the problems of Jewish-Christian relations in the East End, particularly in Hackney, 1937. Correspondence, in subject and personal files, 1953-87, including papers for tours of Israel, Canada, the United States of America and Moscow; and Council of Christians and Jews papers, 1955-70. Diaries (22 volumes), 1963-84; address books, personal service books, travel journals and slides, c.1946-80; notes (61 volumes), 1957-75, with notes for a history of the Council of Christians and Jews (3 boxes). Papers concerning the International Council for Christians and Jews, 1947-85, including correspondence with the Vatican, statements about the position of the Church of Rome and the Jewish people, papers relating to Christian peace conferences in Prague, 1959-68, correspondence with Cardinals Heenan and Hume, 1966-70, 1975-85, and papers about the ten points of Seelisberg, 1947-68.

William Wynn Simpson (1907-87) was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Birmingham, the University of Birmingham, Wesley House and Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge. He was assistant minister at the Lysian Mission, London, 1929-32, and on the Oxford Methodist Circuit, 1932-3. Between 1933 and 1935 Simpson was an external student at Jews' College, London, researching into contemporary Jewish problems. He was minister of Amhurst Park Methodist Church, North London, 1935-8, General Secretary of the Christian Council of Refugees, 1938-42, and General Secretary of the Council of Christians and Jews, 1942-74. Simpson was made Honorary Chairman of the International Council of Christians and Jews in 1978, and Honorary Life President in 1981. He published a number of works on Jewish-Christian relations including The Christian and the Jewish problem (London, 1939); Light and rejoicing ; Youth and a.... , and was awarded the OBE in 1967.

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