Denominational missions at home and abroad: an historical overview 

This course is designed as an inter-denominational and cross-cultural introduction to the history and practice of Christian mission in Ireland, and to the overseas mission work of Irish organisations, late eighteenth century to late twentieth century. The concept of ‘mission’ is first examined, as articulated by different Christian groups in different historical settings. Case studies are drawn from the ‘second reformation’ period of Protestant mission activity throughout Ireland (including the Irish Church Missions), from the counter-missions and parish missions of the Catholic church and from a range of overseas ventures including the Church Missionary Society (1836) and the Maynooth Mission to China (1918).

This course has been designed in collaboration with Presbyterian colleagues at Union Theological College, Queen’s University Belfast; a study day in Belfast will be part of the programme for Maynooth participants (NUIM / SPCM). It will be assessed by major project.

Preparatory reading:
Decree Ad gentes on the mission activity of the Church (Rome, 1965)
Ecclesiastical History Society, Protestant evangelicalism: Britain, Ireland, Germany and America c1750-c1950 (Oxford, 1990)
Edmund M. Hogan, The Irish missionary movement: a historical survey, 1830-1980 (Dublin, 1994)
Norman Thomas (ed.), Readings in world mission (London, 1995)