the mission societies

different christian denominations had different missions

• often in compeition

• legacy still visible in africa

missions of:

• service n conversion

• building churches

• schools

• hospitals

• etc

fuelled by popular piety in britain n success in late 19th cent

• mutually reinforcing

EXAMPLES:

• united society for the propagation of the gospel

  • active in n. america in 18th century, africa in late 19th

• universities mission to central africa

  • founded in response to livingstone’s pleas

  • pioneered work in zanzibar (» tanzania) and nyasaland (» malawi)

  • committed to training n development of african priests

• society for the promotion of christian knowledge

  • christian publisher

  • offered bibles n other books in vernacular languages