Archives of the Conference of British Missionary Societies, largely dating from 1912-1970, including some material dating from 1872-1973, relating to administration, the work of other missionary bodies, and issues affecting missionary work.

Records, 1901-1970, of the Standing Committee and other committees comprise minutes, annual reports, and administrative papers and correspondence, including some relating to the CBMS constitution, finance, staffing, World War Two, and broadcasting, and papers relating to various other missionary bodies, including the Foreign Missions Conference of North America and National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA, 1893-1960 (Ref: S).

Records, 1907-1968, of the Home Council comprise minutes and administrative papers (Ref: H); records, 1926-1960, relating to audio-visual aids, including minutes, administrative papers, and reviews of films (Ref: H/AVA); records, 1920-1944, of the Far and Near Press Bureau, with detailed information on numerous individual missionaries and missionary issues, including BBC talks, publications, manuscripts and matching press cuttings, and obituaries (arranged chronologically), biographical files and photographs of people and regions (arranged alphabetically), and background information on various areas (Ref: H/PB); records, 1921-1960, relating to recruitment and training of missionaries (Ref: H/RT); records, 1946-1965, of the Schools Committee, relating to speakers, exhibitions and publicity material (Ref: H/Sc); records, 1939-1961, of the Youth Committee (Ref: H/Y); records, 1907-1968, of the United Council for Missionary Education and Edinburgh House Press, including minutes, finance papers, records of publications and papers relating to production, stock and publicity, book reviews, correspondence, and publications on missionaries and missionary subjects (Ref: H/UP).

Area files, including correspondence with national Christian councils, overseas governments and overseas churches and churchmen, comprise minutes of the Africa Committee and papers on missionary work in countries in Central, East, Southern and West Africa, 1915-1960, touching on educational work, political events and decolonization, African customs, Islam, social problems, and interethnic relations, including papers of the Advisory Committee on Education in the Colonies (including areas outside Africa), 1927-1961 (Ref: A); records of the Committee on Work among Jews and Near and Middle East Committee and papers relating to missionary work in Middle Eastern countries and Egypt, 1921-1967, touching on work among Moslems, political events and refugee issues (Ref: N); records of the West Indies Committee and papers relating to missionary work in the Caribbean, 1938-1968, touching on social and economic development (Ref: W); records of the Asia Committee and papers on missionary work, including educational and medical work, in China, India, and other parts of East, South, and South East Asia, 1872-1964, including political events, the Sino-Japanese War and World War Two, the development of Communism in China, and political events and self-government in India (Ref: E).

Records on literature and medical work comprise records of the Christian Literature Committee and Christian Literature Council, including finance and policy papers, and papers relating to literacy and literature in Central, East, Southern and West Africa, East, South, and South East Asia, the Middle East, and the Caribbean and Latin America, 1920-1968 (Ref: L); records of the Medical Advisory Board and papers on medical missionary work in Africa, India and China, 1928-1963 (Ref: M).

Records on co-operative action with other missionary bodies relate to the World Missionary Conference and its Continuation Committee, 1907-1929, the International Missionary Council, 1917-1973, World Council of Churches, 1945-1960, and British Council of Churches, 1938-1960 (Ref: C).

Records, 1880-1999, of the China Inland Mission schools originating in Chefoo, China, including school registers, 1880-1950, lists of teachers, school papers, and copies of the school magazine The Chefusian, 1928-1934. There is a run of the Chefoo Schools Association magazine Chefoo, 1916-1999, and minute books of the Association, 1908-1940, 1945-1960. Also includes notes on the history of the school and the China Inland Mission compiled by Fred H Judd in the 1950s, and a copy of the publication Chefoo School, 1881-1951, by Gordon Martin. Photographs illustrate early scenes of the school and missionaries. Material on the internment of the school during World War II includes sketches, pictures and poems.

Papers, 1776-1991 (including some copies), some undated, collected by Anthony James Broomhall for his work on the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor and China's Open Century, comprising manuscript, typescript and printed notes and sources, largely undated, on Chinese and missionary history, on James Hudson Taylor, including his letters and personal papers, the chronology of his life, and his forebears, and on Frederick Howard Taylor; photocopies of drawings and photographs, including James Hudson Taylor and also Chinese buildings, cities, boats and rivers, and other scenes, copies of documents associated with Taylor, including his Bible and marriage certificate, and a photograph of his grave; maps of China and other parts of Asia, some including China Inland Mission stations; Broomhall's correspondence relating to his research, 1939-1991.

Papers, 1914-1974, of Henrietta (Hettie) Withers, comprising correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1936-1974 (mainly 1930s-1950s), including letters to her family, 1937-1941, letters from the China Inland Mission (CIM) London Council, 1947, and two booklets on the Emmanuel Home for the Homeless, Shanghai, 1939, 1945; diaries, 1915-1945 (some gaps), including typescript circular letters, 1927-1932, describing her work, activities and experiences in China, including references to the Sino-Japanese War and World War Two; notes, on talks given [post-1930], meetings addressed in Chefoo (Yantai), 1938-1939, and on Sisiang in Shensi province, undated; photographs and some watercolours, 1914-1965 and undated, the subjects including Chefoo, Miss Withers, other teachers, and children; passport, 1932, with endorsements for escorting children; typescript list of publications about CIM missionaries and readers' comments, 1960s-1970s.

Correspondence, 1858-1899 and undated, of John Mackenzie while in southern Africa, including his work in Bechuanaland and at Hankey, comprising letters received and copies or drafts of letters sent, the subjects including travel, missionary work, other missionaries, finance and personnel, and events in South Africa, including colonial jurisdiction.

Papers, 1892-1904, of William Harwood Nutt, concerning his time with the London Missionary Society at Fwambo and Kambole in Central Africa, and comprising letters, 1892-1896, to and from his family and other correspondents; notes on supplies, 1892-1894; journals, 1892-1896, including notes on trips; meteorological registers, 1893-1895; surgical and medical records, 1894; three official papers on African affairs, 1895-1896; manuscripts, notes, and sketches, including maps, on Central Africa, its people, customs and beliefs, climate and topography; photographic negatives and prints of people and scenes; manuscript papers by Nutt on native treatment of disease in Central Africa, 1904.

Letters, 1930-1933, of Marjorie Clements from northern China, largely to Mrs J May, including observations on her missionary work and on Chinese life.

Papers, 1839-1863, of William Lockhart, comprising two volumes containing his personal expenses accounts, 1839-1857; notebook, c1845, largely containing Chinese texts, also including notes in English on subjects including Chinese measurements, trades, guilds, religion, and other customs; Chinese passport, 1863.

Papers, 1893-1933, of John Henry Holmes, comprising diaries, 1893-1900, 1906-1907, 1915, including observations on his activities and on life in Papua and notes on subjects including anthropology; correspondence with Alfred Cort Haddon, 1904-1906, 1922, comprising letters received and copy letters sent and chiefly concerning Holmes' study of Elema totemism; typescript articles on Papuan beliefs, including the totemism of the Elema tribes, 1914 and undated; printed comparative tables of languages spoken in different parts of Papua, 1915; photographs showing examples of the technology of the Orokaiva tribes of northern Papua; sketch maps of Papua; manuscript notes on anthropology, 1913; typescript children's stories about missionary work and life in Papua, set in the Moru and Urika districts, 1933 and undated.

Joint archive, largely dating from 1910-1945, of the International Missionary Council and Conference of British Missionary Societies, relating to co-operative missionary endeavours in Africa (chiefly British Africa, but also including areas under Belgian, Portuguese and French control) and India, in the form of correspondence, memoranda, pamphlets and reports, including material relating to various other missionary societies, comprising original files on Africa, and microfiche copy of files on India.

Journal, 1825-1829, of Elijah Hoole on his mission in India, describing his missionary work and life in India. The last few entries mention his illness in 1828 and return to England, and the journal ends in January 1829.

Records of the United Methodist Missionary Society, comprising Minutes of the Foreign Missions Committee, 1908-1933, and a South West China Minute Book, 1905-1932. Minutes exist for the constituent churches as follows: the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society, 1844-1908, the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society, 1861-1909, and the United Methodist Free Churches' Foreign Missions, 1869-1883, 1900-1908.

Letters, 1911-1912, from Laura Beckingsale, written in diary form to colleagues in London describing her experiences during the Chinese Revolution of 1911-1912, in Wuchang and Hankow, where she worked for the London Missionary Society.

Papers, 1865-1974, of and relating to (Ethel) Constance Cousins, including correspondence with her family, photographs, press cuttings and the unpublished typescript biography by her niece Janet E. Cousins. Also includes letters dated 1893-1900 from her father, Rev. William Edward Cousins, chiefly from Madagascar.

Letters, papers and photographs, c1899-1926, of John Baker Carpenter, relating to his service in China. They include letters written to Carpenter from Chinese students (c1899-1921).

Papers, 1924-1962, of Reginald John Beagarie Moore, comprising correspondence and papers relating to his missionary work in Africa. Includes annual reports of the United Missions in the Copperbelt (1937-1940); reports of his work at Mindolo (1934-1939, not 1936-1937); typescript copies of his publications; copies of published articles; and photographs of Copperbelt scenes. Also includes a copy of Moore's anthropological study The Witchdoctor's Prescription.

Diaries of Wilson Herbert Geller, 1901-1904, 1908, 1910-1914, 1930, and Mabel Love Geller, 1919, 1930-1934, documenting their life and work as missionaries in China.

Photocopy of a typescript transcript of the diary, 1839-1842, 1845, 1855-1859 (some gaps), of the Rev Robert Brooking, describing his missionary work, experiences, and local customs in west Africa and Canada, including transcript of a letter from T B Freeman, Cape Coast (west Africa), to Robert Brooking, 1855, describing the work of the mission there. With an article [1980s] by Helen Allen on the life of Robert Brooking.

Papers relating to missionary work in Zambia (northern Rhodesia), comprising a printed edition of Bemba hymns (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1933), including introduction by A R Godfrey, with manuscript scores added; two undated notebooks containing manuscript scores, one belonging to A R Godfrey and containing songs in African languages [1930s]; undated manuscript account of the history of the Tonga tribe, written for educational use [1930s].

Photocopy of a manuscript letterbook, 1890-1891, of Edith M Lucas, containing copies of circular letters to her friends describing missionary work, her experiences in China, her religious reflections, also including an account of Jews in China.

Papers, 1920s-1940s, of James Sibree Milledge, comprising material relating to the Sibree family in Madagascar.

Papers, 1902-1998, of the Parsons family, comprising three volumes of typescript copies of letters (1902-1926) written by the Rev and Mrs Parsons from Yunnan, China, the subjects including family matters and mission activities, descriptions of local people and culture, and references to the Miao language; unpublished Hua Miao-English dictionary and phrase book written by P Kenneth and R Keith Parsons, 1998; publications using 'Reformed' Pollard script, 1951-1994, including text books and school primer (some photocopies), collected by them.

Typescript transcript of letters and extracts of letters, and some photocopies of original letters, 1818-1821, from Thomas and Abigail Beighton to family and friends, recording problems encountered on the journey from England to Madras; local customs; and missionary work in Malacca and Penang, particularly their work in education; also including much discussion of family matters and of relationships among the missionary communities.

Records, 1842-1972, of the Presbyterian Church of England Foreign Missions Committee (or English Presbyterian Mission), comprising:
Home Office (central administration) papers, consisting of general correspondence, including minutes and office copies of material, Finance Committee papers, including minutes, 1920-1937, files of correspondence and reports with Internal and External Organisations, and annual field reports from missionaries overseas;
Overseas papers from the various mission fields, consisting of general correspondence and reports, field reports and correspondence from individuals, and reports concerning particular hospitals, schools and Institutions;
Women's Missionary Association papers;
publications, other printed materials, and some photographic material.

Records, 1858-1950, of the Christian Vernacular Education Society (CVES) for India, from 1891 the Christian Literature Society (CLS) for India (and Africa from 1923), comprising minutes, 1864-1935 (Ref: USCL 232-250); copies of outgoing letters, 1859-1931 (Ref: USCL 251-306); correspondence of the CVES, 1858-1862 (Ref: USCL Add 27-31), and CLSI, 1892-1900 (Ref: USCL Add 32-3); press cuttings on its work, 1858-1871 (Ref: USCL 308-10); annual reports, 1859-1928 (many gaps) (Ref: USCL 358-365, USCL Add 35); Baptist Missionary Society minutes, 1859, relating to a CVES letter concerning scholarships for theological students (Ref: USCL Add 8); minutes of the Society for Promoting Female Education in the East, 1859 (Ref: USCL Add 9); papers on the CVES/CLSI Madras depot, 1873-1910 (Ref: USCL Add 10); document on CLSI mergers in Madras and Calcutta, 1922-1924 (Ref: USCL Add 12-13); Calcutta Christian Tract and Book Society annual report, 1922-1923 (Ref: USCL Add 36); draft deeds and correspondence concerning CLSI premises in Madras, 1930 (Ref: USCL Add 14); miscellaneous papers of the Madras branch, c1900-1950 (Ref: USCL 307).

Records of the parish of Saint Mary, West Twyford, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, banns of marriage, confirmation and church services; correspondence and working papers of the incumbents; papers regarding parish missions; papers relating to the construction and maintenance of the church and church hall; Parochial Church Council minutes, correspondence, reports and papers; financial records; papers of the Mothers' Union and historical notes.

Records of the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi, Gladstone Park, Willesden, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage, confirmations and church services; photographs of the church, clergy and church activities; papers relating to the creation of the parish; papers relating to the construction and maintenance of the church and hall; Vestry and Parochial Church Council meeting minutes; correspondence of the Parochial Church Council Secretary; financial accounts; papers regarding church clubs and societies; parish magazines; news cuttings, pamphlets, postcards and other printed items.

Records of the parish of Saint Peter, Ealing, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials and church services; papers of the incumbent relating to the work of the clergy; papers regarding church personnel; parish boundaries; papers regarding the construction and maintenance of church buildings and the churchyard; churchwardens' papers; records relating to parish administration and finance, charities, societies and clubs; and printed material.

The collection includes four items relating to the temporary iron church: a baptism register, 1882-93 (DRO/101/1), a preacher's book, 1882-93 (DRO/101/16), vestry minutes, 1882-93 (DRO/101/134) and churchwardens' accounts, 1889-93 (DRO/101/131). The rest, and bulk of the collection, relates to the permanent church of St. Peter. Of particular note are three scrapbooks (DRO/101/249-251), compiled by the parish after 1989, of various important items relating to the history of the parish.

Records of the parish of Saint Barnabas, Temple Fortune, Hendon, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage, and church services; papers relating to the construction of the church including plans; faculties and inventories relating to church fixtures and fittings; papers relating to the maintenance of the church hall and vicarage; minutes of Vestry, Parochial Church Council and other Committee meetings; Social Society papers; parish magazines and brochures.

Records of the parish of Saint George, Southall, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage and church services; working papers of the incumbent; papers relating to parish boundaries; papers relating to the benefice; papers relating to the maintenance of church buildings and fittings, including faculties and inventories; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; financial accounts; and historical notes.

Records of the parish of Saint Mary, Willesden, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, banns of marriages, church services and preachers; Parochial Church Council minutes; financial accounts; papers relating to the maintenance of church buildings; and photographs of the church. Also registers of baptisms for Willesden General Hospital.

Records of the parish of Saint John, Northfields, Ealing, consisting of baptism registers 1876-1958, marriage registers 1876-1975, banns of marriages 1939-1987 and confirmation registers 1940-1947; and church service registers 1973-1990.

Records of the parish of Saint Mellitus, Hanwell, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage and church services; working papers of the incumbent; correspondence; Parochial Church Council minutes; financial records; papers relating to the Sunday School; parish magazines and photograph of the exterior of the church.

Records of the parish of Saint Mark, Hanwell, including baptism registers (1880-1980), marriage registers (1919-1979), banns of marriage registers (1940-1978), confirmation registers (1940-1979), and church service registers.

Records of the parish of St Andrew, Alexandra Park, Haringey, comprising registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage, and church services.

Records of the parish of Saint Saviour, Alexandra Park, Haringey, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage, confirmations and church services; diary of church events; inventories of church contents, with photographs; papers and legal documents relating to church properties; correspondence; minutes of Churchwardens' meetings; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; minutes of other Committees; parish magazines and bulletins; booklets; newspaper cuttings; and photographs of the church.

Records of the parish of Saint Peter, Acton Green, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriages, confirmations and church services; orders of service; working papers and correspondence of the incumbent; papers relating to parish boundaries; papers relating to glebe land; papers relating to the maintenance of the church, vicarage and hall; Churchwardens' accounts, reports and correspondence; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes, correspondence and reports; financial accounts; papers regarding parish charities; and printed items including parish magazines, newspaper cuttings, programmes, posters and music; and photographs.

Records of the parish of Saint Luke, Hornsey, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage and confirmations; church service registers; correspondence and papers of the incumbent; papers relating to the appointment of church personnel; papers relating to parish boundaries including plans; papers relating to the benefice and tithes; material regarding the church building including faculties, plans, drawings, contracts and specifications, reports and surveys; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; financial accounts; parish magazines and photographs.

Records of the Mission Church of Saint Giles, Enfield, including registers of church services; Parochial Church Council meeting minutes; electoral rolls; and financial accounts.

Records of Christ Church Mission Church, Harlington, comprising registers of church services; correspondence relating to the construction of the new church and administrative files.

Records of the parish of Christ Church, Roxeth, Harrow, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, banns of marriages, confirmations and church services; inventories of church fittings; Parochial Church Council minutes; electoral rolls; papers of the Churchwardens; financial accounts; papers relating to parochial charities; papers of the Roxeth Men's Service Committee.

Records of the parish of All Hallows, Greenford, including baptism registers (1932-1952); marriage registers (1942-1968); banns of marriage registers (1942-1971); service registers; correspondence and photographs relating to the vicarage; licences for music and dancing in church hall; vestry minutes; parochial church council minutes; magazine committee minutes; guild of the sanctuary minutes; finance committee minutes; photographs of church events, clergy and parishioners; parish magazines; papers, correspondence, photographs and printed material relating to church and church hall.

Records of the Westminster Synagogue, 1902-2005. The records consist of minutes of the Council, Executive Committee, Search Committee, House and Building Committee and Annual General Meetings; correspondence; publications and printed material, reports and newsletters; and papers of Rabbi Harold Reinhart, Rabbi Albert Freidlander and Rabbi Thomas Salamon.

Records of Saint James's United Reformed Church, Heather Walk, Edgware. The collection includes minutes of the court of session 1933-1972, elders meetings 1972-2000, committee of management 1933-2001, church meetings 1972-2001 and youth and teachers meetings 1933-1952; baptism register 1933-2001, marriage registers 1948 to 1975 and communicant rolls 1933-1998, appointed persons certificates 1946-1987 and records relating to appointment and ministry of Reverend Geoffrey Holland Williams MA; correspondence, plans and sound recordings relating to new church hall 1950, correspondence, plans and specifications relating to extension of vestry block 1953, correspondence and statements relating to purchase, sale and letting of manse 1986-2000; collection books 1933-1987 and account sheets 1949-1993; annual reports 1933-1949, yearbooks 1951-2001, newsletters 1935-1962, fellowship of youth newsletters 1950-1964 and church magazines 1963-2000; silver jubilee celebratory booklet 1958 and various orders of service commemorating significant milestones within the church's history.

Records of Notting Hill Synagogue including correspondence, members lists, building documentation, minute books and accounts.

Printed Order in Council from the Court at Balmoral, 5 September 1849, stating: "[it is] ordered that the Archbishop of Canterbury do prepare a Form of Prayer on account of the great mortality caused by the Cholera; and that such Form of Prayer be used in all churches and chapels in England and Wales". The sheet had been used to seal up a small package and is inscribed on the dorse: "Relics and mementos of my darlings gone, Sep. 15 1849".

Records of the parish of Saint Alban, Wood Street, City of London, including registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; register of church services; Vestry minute books; Churchwardens' records; poor rate assessment books; tithe rate assessment books; and account books listing charitable donations.

Records of the parish of Saint Antholin, Budge Row, City of London. Parish registers (baptisms, marriages, burials) survive from 1539, churchwardens' accounts and vestry minutes date from 1574 and 1648 respectively. Also overseers' accounts; register of parish apprentices; papers relating to the maintenance of the church building; church rate, tithe rate and poor rate assessments; and papers relating to the Saint Antholin lectureship charity.

The records of Saint Margaret Pattens, Rood Lane, City of London, include inventories of 1470 and 1511, but the main archive dates from the 16th century. The records include registers of baptisms, marriages, banns and burials; preachers' books; church services registers; scrapbooks; Vestry minutes; Churchwardens' accounts and other papers; administrative papers; poor rate books and leases and other documents relating to parish property.

The main archive of St Michael Cornhill dates from the 16th century, but it includes churchwardens' accounts from 1455. Records include registers of baptisms, marriages, banns and burials; preachers' books; church services registers; Vestry minute books; papers of the Churchwardens; papers relating to parish poor relief; tithe rate assessments; poor rate assessments; papers of parish charities and deed and other documents for parish properties.