Elizabeth Hewat: Historian, Missionary, Mould-Breaker, by Ian Randall

Book Launch – Ian Randall

Jointly organised by Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology & CCCW (Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide)

Elizabeth Glendinning Kirkwood (1895-1968), who was a significant writer, especially of Christian history, a missionary, and a mould-breaker, was born in the west of Scotland.

Elizabeth had outstanding intellectual gifts, and graduated with a first-class honours MA in history, with philosophy, at the University of Edinburgh.

From Edinburgh she took up a post as assistant lecturer in history at the University of St Andrews. From St Andrews she became an editor and a writer for the International Review of Missions (IRM).

From 1922 to 1926, she taught at the Women’s Missionary College (WMC), Edinburgh – an institution with a progressive tradition in education and inclusive community. She also returned to academic study, enrolling for a Bachelor of Divinity degree through New College, Edinburgh.

In 1926 Elizabeth was the first women to graduate BD at New College. She also explored whether she could be ordained as a minister. Her case led to a debate on women’s ordination, but that did not happen in the Church of Scotland until 1968. Although the motion failed, Elizabeth Hewat went to China, where she had freedom in ministry and combined work as a teaching mission . She returned to Scotland in 1933 to complete her PhD.

Moving to Bombay (Mumbai), she became Professor of History at Wilson College.

After returning to Scotland, she was invited to write the official history of Church of Scotland Missions, her magnum opus, She once wrote that ‘women in the church hold a subordinate position; and women of today ask why . . . Of one thing they are certain, and it is this, that it is not Christ who is barring the way’.

Biography

Ian was born in Scotland on 9 January 1948. He studied history and economics at the University of Aberdeen and undertook theological studies at Regent’s Park College at the University of Oxford in preparation for Baptist ministry. His subsequent masters work at London School of Theology followed by his doctoral studies at the University of Wales focused on the history of evangelical thought and spirituality. Ian’s research on religion in Victorian England and interwar Britain challenged popular assumptions that portrayed evangelical Christianity as parochial and puritanical. He argued that evangelicals were broadminded advocates of denominational cooperation who were deeply concerned about issues of poverty, spirituality and social reform.

In 1992 Ian was appointed lecturer in Church history and spirituality at Spurgeon’s College in London and became deputy principal of the school in 2003. During his tenure at Spurgeon’s he also served as the director of Baptist and Anabaptist studies at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in the Czech Republic and divided his scholarly activities between London and Prague. He is recognized for his many contributions to Baptist studies in Britain and his varied works on evangelical history.

Copies of this book can be purchased on the day for £5.00

This event is in person and online.

If you would like to join us online, the zoom link will be sent to you by email.

Parking

If you are coming in person, please note there is no parking at this location.

The nearest on-street parking is at Pound Hill, a minutes walk from us. There is a 2 hour limit on parking here. For a longer period, parking is available all day on Mount Pleasant and St Peter’s Street which are both less than 5 minutes’ walk. These locations are pay-and-display or paid via RingGo and cost 80p for 30 minutes, Monday-Saturday 9.00-17.00.

There is a larger car park on Castle Street called Castle Hill Car Park, an 8-minute walk from us.

Cambridge often becomes very congested during peak times, so we recommend using the Madingley Road Park and Ride.

If you have any questions please email Adele: aa2451@mbit.cam.ac.uk