Henry Venn, secretary of the London-based Church Missionary Society from 1840 to 1872, coined the term euthanasia of a mission to describe the vital process whereby a foreign mission becomes progressively indigenous and independent. His vision of church autonomy was first implemented in Sierra Leone, and the author examines this experiment in detail to uncover the nature of early efforts at constructing an African Christian identity separate from foreign influence and control. Through a detailed analysis of the crises and controversies evoked by African interpretation and appropriation of Venn's vision, the author illustrates the complex interaction of foreign missionary action, indigenous Christian response, and socioeconomic factors in the problematic transition from mission to national church.Venn's ideas had far-reaching influence on the growth of African nationalism, political consciousness, and nation-building. His experiment led to local efforts to merge with the foreign missionary efforts and to an eventual takeover of leadership and mission responsibilities by native Africans. Hanciles chronicles the initial missionary efforts in Sierra Leone, the growth of the mission, the problems that arose, and the emergence of Ethiopianism, a movement which promoted the idea of African nationalism. The book argues that in the West African region, at least, Venn's experiment precipitated some of the most profound ecclesiastical crises of the 19th century and unleashed powerful forces of change that continue to this day. By focusing on the African factor in the intensely problematic transition from mission to national church, this work contributes to the ongoing reappraisal of the significance of African Christianity as a major stream of Christian history.

In 1800 most Christians lived in Europe or North America, but by 2000 they came from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. ISG 47: Christianity Worldwide 1800-2000 brings together voices from around the world to explore how Christianity grew and developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Writers and theologians from each region of the globe lay out the history of Christianity between 1800 and 2000 in their part of the world, showing how repeatedly it was local believers who drove the changes in those centuries, both in sharing faith and adapting it to their particular culture – a Chinese Bible translator, Liberian prophet or Korean Bible woman is as significant as a British missionary or Italian pope.These histories include not only the wide range of European-founded denominations, but also regional innovations across the globe and particularly Pentecostalism, to give a comprehensive overview of Christianity’s development worldwide from the 1800s through to the end of the twentieth century. Tracing connections and themes across continents, ISG 47: Christianity Worldwide 1800-2000 is ideal for students of theology and history learning about the development of Christianity around the globe, especially in the global south. Part of the SPCK International Study Guide series, it will leave you with a thorough understanding of how Christianity has changed and grown across the world over the last two centuries.

Henry Venn, secretary of the London-based Church Missionary Society from 1840 to 1872, coined the term euthanasia of a mission to describe the vital process whereby a foreign mission becomes progressively indigenous and independent. His vision of church autonomy was first implemented in Sierra Leone, and the author examines this experiment in detail to uncover the nature of early efforts at constructing an African Christian identity separate from foreign influence and control. Through a detailed analysis of the crises and controversies evoked by African interpretation and appropriation of Venn's vision, the author illustrates the complex interaction of foreign missionary action, indigenous Christian response, and socioeconomic factors in the problematic transition from mission to national church.Venn's ideas had far-reaching influence on the growth of African nationalism, political consciousness, and nation-building. His experiment led to local efforts to merge with the foreign missionary efforts and to an eventual takeover of leadership and mission responsibilities by native Africans. Hanciles chronicles the initial missionary efforts in Sierra Leone, the growth of the mission, the problems that arose, and the emergence of Ethiopianism, a movement which promoted the idea of African nationalism. The book argues that in the West African region, at least, Venn's experiment precipitated some of the most profound ecclesiastical crises of the 19th century and unleashed powerful forces of change that continue to this day. By focusing on the African factor in the intensely problematic transition from mission to national church, this work contributes to the ongoing reappraisal of the significance of African Christianity as a major stream of Christian history.

In 1800 most Christians lived in Europe or North America, but by 2000 they came from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania. ISG 47: Christianity Worldwide 1800-2000 brings together voices from around the world to explore how Christianity grew and developed in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Writers and theologians from each region of the globe lay out the history of Christianity between 1800 and 2000 in their part of the world, showing how repeatedly it was local believers who drove the changes in those centuries, both in sharing faith and adapting it to their particular culture – a Chinese Bible translator, Liberian prophet or Korean Bible woman is as significant as a British missionary or Italian pope.These histories include not only the wide range of European-founded denominations, but also regional innovations across the globe and particularly Pentecostalism, to give a comprehensive overview of Christianity’s development worldwide from the 1800s through to the end of the twentieth century. Tracing connections and themes across continents, ISG 47: Christianity Worldwide 1800-2000 is ideal for students of theology and history learning about the development of Christianity around the globe, especially in the global south. Part of the SPCK International Study Guide series, it will leave you with a thorough understanding of how Christianity has changed and grown across the world over the last two centuries.