| Description | Official correspondence and copy correspondence of Lesslie Newbigin, telegrams and printed material relating to proposals by Rev Michael Hollis, Bishop of Madras, and Lesslie Newbigin for discussions concerning plans for the establishment of the Church of South India. The discussions were to be held at the Cowley Father's Mission House in Oxford, in Nov 1946 and Jan 1947, and the individuals invited include Cyril Firth, London Missionary Society (LMS), Henry Lefever, LMS, Marcus Ward, Gregory Dix (from Nashdom), Fr O'Brien and Fr Fitch of the Cowley Fathers, Fr Bruce, Fr Bently, and Fr Blood of the Council for the Defence of Christian Principles, and Lesslie Newbigin.
The correspondence relates to discussions regarding arrangements for itineraries, the choice of a Chair, and general matters concerning credentials of delegates and the question of church unity in South India. In addition there is correspondence relating to resolutions passed by an SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts) standing committee outlining its plans to establish separate operations in South India from those of the proposed Church of South India, and correspondence relating to an invitiation issued to Lesslie Newbigin to attend an SPG standing committee to discuss the above in Jun/Jul 1947.
Correspondents include Fr Fitch, Bishop Stephen Nevill, Cannon Campbell, Council Assembly (Missionary Council), Michael Bruce, Rev Michael Hollis, Rev J. S. M. Hooper, Cyril Firth, Henry Lefever, Fr W. B. O'Brien, Michael Ward, Gregory Dix, and Bishop Basil C. Roberts, Sec, SPG |