GB 0102 CCSA - Christian Concern for Southern Africa

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0102 CCSA

Title

Christian Concern for Southern Africa

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

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

School of Oriental and African Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area