Papers of the Christian Faith Society

IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0109 CFS
Held at: Lambeth Palace Library
Domain: archival
Title: Papers of the Christian Faith Society
Date(s) of contents: 1642-1972
Level of description: Fonds
Extent and medium: Approximately 100 items, loose papers and volumes.

CONTEXT

Name of creator(s):

Christian Faith Society
Society for Advancing the Christian Faith in the British West-India Islands, and elsewhere in the dioceses of Jamaica, and the Barbados and the Leeward Islands, and in the Mauritius
Society for the Conversion and Religious Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Christian Faith Society originated in 1691 from a bequest of Robert Boyle, a director of the East India Company, for "the advancement of the Christian religion amongst infidels". The Society was renamed in 1794 as the Society for the Conversion and Religious Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands, and again in 1836 as the Society for Advancing the Christian Faith in the British West-India Islands, and elsewhere in the dioceses of Jamaica, and the Barbados and the Leeward Islands, and in the Mauritius. Particular undertakings of the Society included the awarding of grants to the William and Mary College in Virginia, for the education of young Native Americans, and missionary work amongst slaves in the Caribbean, Mauritius and other British dependencies. Until the American War of Independence the College had received the rents of an estate at Brafferton, Yorkshire, under the will of Robert Boyle.

Custodial history: The papers were deposited on permanent loan to Lambeth Palace Library in 1973.

Immediate source of acquisition: Christian Faith Society

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Scope and content/abstract:

The collection comprises charters and related legal documents (1691-1835), minutes (1794-1956), correspondence and papers (1642-1849) and financial accounts and subscriptions (1793-1972).

System of arrangement: The main series are: A: charters etc B: proceedings in Chancery concerning the grant of the first charter, 1788-94 C: proceedings in Chancery concerning the grant of the second charter, 1834-5 D: minutes, 1794-1956 E: Treasurer's accounts and subscriptions, 1793-1972 F: correspondence and papers, 1642-1929 G: maps and miscellaneous papers, 1724-1849

ACCESS AND USE

Language: English

Conditions governing access: See http://www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/ A full reader's ticket is required.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Finding aids:

A typescript catalogue of the records of the Christian Faith Society at Lambeth Palace Library.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Related material: At Lambeth Palace Library, the Fulham and SPG papers are closely related to this fonds.

The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, University of York, holds 17 boxes of archival material relating to the Christian Faith Society. Most of the material relates to the Brafferton estate in Yorkshire, held as an endowment by the Christian Faith Society, but the collection also includes papers of more general interest concerning the work of the Society.

Copies:

Micropublication of the Christian Faith Society is available from World Microfilms Publications and is held by a number of other repositories.

Publication note:

Micropublication of the Christian Faith Society is available from World Microfilms Publications.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Compiled using:
Henry Otis Dwight, H. Allen Tupper, Edwin Munsell Bliss, The encyclopedia of missions (New York and London: Funk & Wagnall Company, 1904).

Date(s) of descriptions: 12th March 2002

INDEX ENTRIES

Subjects

Educational missionary work

Missionary societies

Missionary work

Religious activities

Religious organizations

Personal names

Boyle | Robert (d.1691) | of Stalbridge, Dorset | benefactor

Corporate names

Christian Faith Society

Harvard College, Massachusetts

Society for Advancing the Christian Faith in the British West-India Islands, and elsewhere in the dioceses of Jamaica, and the Barbados and the Leeward Islands, and in the Mauritius

Society for the Conversion and Religious Education of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands

William and Mary College, Virginia

Places

Barbados

Jamaica

Leeward Islands

Maryland, North America

Mauritius

Virginia, North America