Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- Created 1966-1993 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
32 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Christian Concern for Southern Africa (CCSA) was founded in 1972 as an interdenominational Christian body concerned with raising awareness of the political situation in South Africa and to co-ordinate the response of British Churches. It was based initially at 41 Holland Park, London, then at the premises of the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR) near Regent's Park, then at 2 Eaton Gate, London, the headquarters of the British Council of Churches, and finally in Camberwell Road, South London.
Its policy and decision making council was the Executive Committee made up of representatives from various religious and social organisations. In 1981 the Rev. R. Elliott Kendall was appointed first as Secretary and then as Executive Secretary until his retirement, just before his death in 1992.
CCSA had links with all the main British Christian churches, relying predominantly on them for financial support although charitable organisations also gave assistance. CCSA's main work concentrated on gathering information about British companies with interests in South Africa. This information was then used both to supply to other affiliated organisations and to pressurise the companies themselves into taking a more ethical stance on their treatment of black and coloured employees in South Africa. In particular, the involvement of oil companies was targeted leading to the establishment of the Oil Working Group in 1979. CCSA's other activities included the publishing of educational literature; the collection of literature from similar groups; correspondence with political groups and a mass lobby of Parliament; organising conferences and establishing and maintaining links with South African groups.
The activities of the CCSA ceased in 1993 when the political situation in South Africa was believed to be improving significantly.
Archival history
GB 0102 CCSA Created 1966-1993 Collection (fonds) 32 boxes Christian Concern for Southern Africa
Christian Concern for Southern Africa (CCSA) was founded in 1972 as an interdenominational Christian body concerned with raising awareness of the political situation in South Africa and to co-ordinate the response of British Churches. It was based initially at 41 Holland Park, London, then at the premises of the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR) near Regent's Park, then at 2 Eaton Gate, London, the headquarters of the British Council of Churches, and finally in Camberwell Road, South London.
Its policy and decision making council was the Executive Committee made up of representatives from various religious and social organisations. In 1981 the Rev. R. Elliott Kendall was appointed first as Secretary and then as Executive Secretary until his retirement, just before his death in 1992.
CCSA had links with all the main British Christian churches, relying predominantly on them for financial support although charitable organisations also gave assistance. CCSA's main work concentrated on gathering information about British companies with interests in South Africa. This information was then used both to supply to other affiliated organisations and to pressurise the companies themselves into taking a more ethical stance on their treatment of black and coloured employees in South Africa. In particular, the involvement of oil companies was targeted leading to the establishment of the Oil Working Group in 1979. CCSA's other activities included the publishing of educational literature; the collection of literature from similar groups; correspondence with political groups and a mass lobby of Parliament; organising conferences and establishing and maintaining links with South African groups.
The activities of the CCSA ceased in 1993 when the political situation in South Africa was believed to be improving significantly.
Donated in January 1994.
Records, 1966-1993, of Christian Concern for Southern Africa (CCSA), comprising papers on the constitution of the CCSA; its Executive Committee and Annual General Meeting papers; finance papers and examples of many of CCSA's publications and reports. Also included are files of correspondence between CCSA and churches and religious organisations, affiliated support groups and British companies in South Africa. Papers also include those of the Oil Working Group, which contain material on the Royal Dutch/Shell Group; the mass lobby of Parliament (17 June 1986) for 'Sanctions against Apartheid' organised by CCSA; and the Ethical Investment Research Service, founded as an independent offshoot of CCSA.
The collection has been arranged into twenty sections: constitution and policy papers; Executive Committee papers; Annual General Meeting papers; finance papers; correspondence with churches and other religious bodies; affiliated support groups (British groups / International groups); South Africa organisations files; papers relating to government and political parties; papers relating to sanctions and investment groups; Oil Working Group papers; companies involved in South Africa; CCSA general reference files; Lobby of Parliament (17/6/86); essays, papers, seminars and conferences; published materials; office administration; Ethical Investment Research Service; press cuttings; and CCSA publications.
Unrestricted.
Copyright held by Christian Concern for Southern Africa. No publication without written permission. Apply to SOAS archivist in the first instance.
English
Unpublished handlist.
15 May 2000 Ancient religions Apartheid Christian Concern for Southern Africa Christian Concern for Southern Africa , Executive Committee Christian Concern for Southern Africa , Oil Working Group Christianity Economic sanctions Enterprises Ethical Investment Research Service Finance Financial administration Foreign relations Industry Interethnic relations International conflicts International relations Newspaper press Oppression Petroleum industry Political behaviour Political movements Political participation Political sociology Power industry Press Press cuttings Private enterprises Protest movements Racial discrimination Racial prejudice Racial segregation Religions Religious organizations Resistance to oppression Royal Dutch/Shell Group South Africa Southern Africa Religious institutions
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Donated in January 1994.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records, 1966-1993, of Christian Concern for Southern Africa (CCSA), comprising papers on the constitution of the CCSA; its Executive Committee and Annual General Meeting papers; finance papers and examples of many of CCSA's publications and reports. Also included are files of correspondence between CCSA and churches and religious organisations, affiliated support groups and British companies in South Africa. Papers also include those of the Oil Working Group, which contain material on the Royal Dutch/Shell Group; the mass lobby of Parliament (17 June 1986) for 'Sanctions against Apartheid' organised by CCSA; and the Ethical Investment Research Service, founded as an independent offshoot of CCSA.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The collection has been arranged into twenty sections: constitution and policy papers; Executive Committee papers; Annual General Meeting papers; finance papers; correspondence with churches and other religious bodies; affiliated support groups (British groups / International groups); South Africa organisations files; papers relating to government and political parties; papers relating to sanctions and investment groups; Oil Working Group papers; companies involved in South Africa; CCSA general reference files; Lobby of Parliament (17/6/86); essays, papers, seminars and conferences; published materials; office administration; Ethical Investment Research Service; press cuttings; and CCSA publications.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright held by Christian Concern for Southern Africa. No publication without written permission. Apply to SOAS archivist in the first instance.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Unpublished handlist.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Religions » Ancient religions
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial segregation » Apartheid
- Religions » Ancient religions » Christianity
- International conflicts » Economic sanctions
- Enterprises
- Finance
- Finance » Financial administration
- International relations » Foreign relations
- Industry
- Interethnic relations
- International conflicts
- International relations
- Press » Newspaper press
- Political movements » Oppression
- Industry » Power industry » Petroleum industry
- Political sociology » Political behaviour
- Political movements
- Political sociology » Political behaviour » Political participation
- Political sociology
- Industry » Power industry
- Press
- Press » Newspaper press » Press cuttings
- Enterprises » Private enterprises
- Political movements » Protest movements
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial prejudice
- Interethnic relations » Ethnic discrimination » Racial segregation
- Religions
- Political movements » Oppression » Resistance to oppression
- Religious institutions
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English