Churches and missions reading list

• Hewson, Eileen

Moravian graveyards in India and Jamaica, 1755-1971. Wem: Kabristan Archives, 2007

This contains transcripts of memorials to Moravian missionaries who travelled from Herrnhut in Germany and settled in the remote Himalayan areas of Ladakh and Lahoul. The inscriptions for colleagues who went to Jamaica to establish schools and clinics for the slaves on that island are also included.

• Sykes, Marjorie

Quakers in India : a forgotten century. London: Allen & Unwin, 1980

A useful and readable introduction to the history of Friends involvement in India. The extent of their influence in so many spheres may surprise some readers. Quaker beliefs brought a different perspective to areas such as commerce (the first Friends-owned merchant ship to reach Calcutta in 1815 was 'armed' against the French with wooden, replica guns), journalism, education and politics. In covering the lives of these men and women (expatriate, Anglo-Indian and Indian), Sykes includes "missed opportunities and mis-steps", as well as the positives.

Online Books

• Hough, James

The history of Christianity in India: from the commencement of the Christian Era. [Online version] London: Seeley and Burnside, 1839-1860

The Church of England minister James Hough was at one time a HEIC chaplain at Madras. His stated intention is to provide a purely factual account of the spread of Christianity in India, but his bias against Roman Catholics (having been criticized for calling them 'papists' he refers to them as 'romanists') is intrusive. Volume 1 and Volume 2 cover the history of the Syrian (founded by Thomas) and Roman Catholic churches up to 1800 in India. Volume 4, 1845 Volume 5, 1860