Andrew F. Walls Centre for The Study of African and Asian Christianity

THE CENTRE

This Centre is named after the most distinguished Professor Andrew F. Walls, Professor of History of Missions at Liverpool Hope University. His missionary experiences in Sierra Leone and Nigeria, his teaching experiences at the universities in Aberdeen and Edinburgh and in many other Euro-American, African and Asian institutions of higher learning, and his lectures in mission conferences in numerous countries shape his perception and interpretation of Christianity. He has contributed immensely to the study of World Christianity. His award-winning publications include The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith (1996) and The Cross-Cultural Process in Christian History (3rd rpt. 2005). 

This Centre seeks to

a)    Foster cross-cultural learning in mission studies through mutual encounters between Christians from the global south and north.

b)    Offer fresh readings of Euro-American mission literature and by listening to the voices from the churches of Africa and Asia

c)    Facilitate networking of scholars, students and centres in World Christianity in different parts of the world

d)    Train scholars to study various aspects of African and Asian Christianity, and

e)    Explore the place of Africa and Asia within World Christianity by organizing conferences, lectures, workshops, consultations, publications, and Study Tours.

LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

The Centre benefits in its teaching and research activity from a specialist library, forming a ground-floor wing of The Sheppard-Worlock Library at Liverpool Hope University. It is a self-contained specialist resource intended for those engaged in the study of Christian history, thought and life in Africa, Asia and the Pacific region, and in the overseas diasporas from those continents. It also serves the general field of mission studies and mission history. The collection includes not only works relating to church and mission activity in Africa and Asia Pacific but many on the historical, cultural and religious context of Christianity there, making it valuable also for a range of studies in history and religions. Religious literature published in Africa and Asia, not often collected by British institutions, forms a major feature of this collection.

Professor Andrew Walls has actively collected most of these materials over five decades. The Centre’s collection is augmented by valuable gifts notably from Dr George Hood, late of the Selly Oak Colleges, of works on China and Southeast Asia, and from Professor J W Hofmeyr of the University of Pretoria, of works on South Africa.

Pamphlets and ephemera constitute a feature of the collection. There are many thousands of these from many countries and in many languages, a large number not being known in any other collection. The periodicals, when the remainder of the material at present in Edinburgh and Aberdeen is received, will include four thousand titles, with complete sets and long runs of material not easy to find in other libraries. The Ida Grace McRuer Collection, transferred from Winnipeg Theological Seminary, is without parallel in Britain in its coverage of North American missions, and there is much rare material from Africa and Asia.

The Butler Collection of Non-Western Christian Art contains the art library of the late Dr John F Butler, one of the first serious studies of Christian art in Asia, Africa and Latin America, together with his personal papers and thousands of slides, artistic and architectural. This collection also includes works of art from Africa and Asia.

A collection of archives of mission agencies in microform is being built up. A substantial part of the library was fully catalogued in 2008/2009 through the temporary appointment of Mr David Kerry. Now plans are being established to catalogue the reminder.

The Centre is the base for several bibliographical activities. The Bibliography on Mission Studies, edited by Professor Walls since 1972 and published by the International Review of Mission (Geneva), is believed to be the largest electronic database in its field and internationally used). It is now based in the Centre. It is being currently converted into appropriated web-usable format and will be made available to the public.

POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

The Centre is located within the Deanery of Arts and Humanities and works in close association with the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Through its cooperation with other Departments and Research Centres of the University it develops an active interdisciplinary research culture. It is home to a number of postgraduate research students from different parts of the world. It plays an important role in organizing and conducting the annual Summer School for off-site (i.e., through distance learning and supervision) postgraduate research students.

Appropriately qualified students and scholars may register for the MA, MPhil or PhD degrees under the supervision of the Centre either on-site or off-site. These postgraduate research degrees do not involve either semester course work or comprehensive exams. Instead they are entirely built on student research carried out under supervision. For admission details see http://www.hope.ac.uk/postgraduate-research-degrees/prospective-students.html or contact the Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

ANNUAL CONFERENCES

The Centre organises an international annual conference during the summer months. In May 2008, the conference participants examined “Needs, Opportunities, and Cooperation in African and Asian Christian Studies.” The conference in June 2009 was devoted to the study of the “Transatlantic Dimensions of African and Asian Christianity.”

The next conference entitled “Bible Translations and Human Dignity” will take place in Room 203, EDEN Building, Hope Park Campus of the University from Friday 10th June to Sunday 12th June 2011. This conference will investigate the impacts of the Bible translations on different peoples and their cultures. Research scholars, teachers, students, and practitioners of Christian ecumenism will share their insights gained from experiences and research findings. This conference is open to all faculty members, staff, students, and other members of universities, colleges, schools, churches, and faith organizations. Members of the general public are welcome. For details of this conference see the attached conference brochure and registration form or contact the Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

 Conference Information (171.57 kB 2011-05-16 14:45:12) 

 Conference Registration Form 2011 (43.5 kB 2011-05-16 14:45:58) 

ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURES

The Centre organises an annual Andrew F Walls Lecture in March each year. This public lecture does not require registration; it is open to all faculty members, staff, students, and other members of universities, colleges, schools, churches, and faith organizations. Members of the general public are welcome.

On 18th March 2009 the Revd Dr Christopher Wright, the International Director of the Langham Partnership International and the chairperson for Lausanne Theology Working Group, spoke on the theme “Prophet to the nations: Jeremiah’s missiological reflections.”

On 17th March 2010, Professor Joel Carpenter, the Director of the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity in Calvin College explored the “New Christian Universities and the Future of Christian Scholarship.”

The third annual lecture will be held on 16th March 2011. It will be about the Bible Translation and its impact on human dignity.

SEMINARS AND COLLOQUIA

Regular seminars are held throughout the academic year. A special series in 2008-09, organized in co-operation with the Methodist Missionary Society History Project, explored aspects of Methodist mission history.

The Centre, under the leadership of Revd Jim Booth of the Liverpool District of the Methodist Church and Dr. Elizabeth J. Harris in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, organized a four-part lecture series entitled “The City in One World: Learning from the World Church about Discipleship Today.” These lectures were held at Princes Park Methodist Church, Beaconsfield St, Liverpool L8 2UU. A growing circle of interested audience participated in these lectures.

The Centre and the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool organized a three-part public lecture: On 15th October 2009 the Director of the Centre lectured on the theme “World Christianity: What is it?” His lecture theme for 19th November 2009 was “Asian Christian Challenges.” Reverend Justin Welby, the Dean of the Anglican Cathedral, lectured on 3rd December 2009 about “African Christian Challenges.”

The Centre is interested and willing to co-operate with any faith community that wishes to engage with questions pertaining to World Christianity.

Postgraduate research students at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies who are studying some aspects of World Christianity will share their findings in an afternoon colloquium on Wednesdays. Fellow research students are welcome to attend these colloquia. For details on dates and times please contact the Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

WORLD CHRISTIANITY STUDY TOURS

Each year, beginning with the Christmas vacation, the Centre organizes a study tour for a group of students, alumni, staff, members of churches and faith communities, and others interested in World Christianity. After a period of preparation, the group will travel to a country with a view to engaging in World Christianity-related cross-cultural learning. The purpose of this study tour is to enable the participants to learn World Christianity first-hand, to experience cultural immersion, to discover themselves, their cultures and their faith communities from different perspectives.

In collaboration with Andover Newton Theological School in the United States the Centre organized its first World Christianity Study Tour to South India from 2nd January to 19th January 2010. The participants studied the diverse life in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai and in rural villages around Bangalore and Trichy. Our partners in St. Xavier College in Mumbai, Christ University in Bangalore and Bishop Heber College in Trichy enabled us to explore various aspects of “Christians Service and Religious Pluralism in India.”

Our next study tour will be from 2nd January to 17th January 2011. Few students from the Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University in Texas/USA will join us. The main purpose this tour is to study how people from different religious and cultural backgrounds live and work together, how Christians as a people of a minority religion serve others and the nation of India, and how people can retain their hope in the midst of several adversities. Place for this study tour is limited. For further details regarding the preparatory sessions, time table, and cost of this study tour contact the Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

HOPE BIBLE STUDIES

In response to a need expressed by a community of local scholars the Centre conducts Hope Bible Studies and seek bring out the meaning and relevance of the biblical text from World Christianity perspectives. It combines the insights gained from textual studies of the Bible and anthropological and sociological explorations of various religious traditions in Africa and Africa. It attempts to find out similarities and differences between the socio-cultural and economic world as described in the biblical books and the Afro-Asian societies. It helps to participants – mostly from various diaspora communities – to apply the insights into their local situations in and around Liverpool. The impact of these Bible Studies is already evident.

Currently, these Bible Studies explore the Gospel of Matthew from World Christianity perspectives. They are held in a home of a friend on the first Friday of every month. It begins at 7.30 pm and ends at 9 pm. For details contact the Director.

VISITING SCHOLARS AND FELLOWS

The Centre is associated with several scholars in a number of ways. Visiting scholars and Fellows provide help and advice regarding the various activities. The Centre welcomes nominations for scholars who can be invited as Fellows.

The Centre is greatly pleased to welcome Professor Robert Eric Frykenberg (Professor Emeritus of History & South Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison) and Professor Klaus Koschorke (Department of History of Christianity, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Munich) as its first Visiting Fellows. These eminent professors belong to the group of scholars who enrich the activities of the Centre. Established scholars and research scholars can nominate competent researchers to be considered as Visiting Fellows of the Centre. For the process of accepting a Visiting Fellow of the Centre please contact the Director.

ACCEPTING COLLECTIONS

The Centre actively collects religious literature – scholarly and popular, mainstream and marginal, official and informal, periodicals and pamphlets – pertaining to African and Asian Christianity. Interested parties, including the successors of missionaries who worked in Asia or Africa and organisations that had / have active connections with African and Asian Christians, can contact the Director for further details.

CONTACT DETAILS

The Reverend Professor Daniel Jeyaraj,
BD, MA, Dr. theol., Dr. habil, Dr. phil. DD (hc)
Director and Professor of World Christianity
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: +44 (0)151 291 3761
Fax: +44 (0)151 291 3160


Professor Andrew F Walls,
MA, OBE, DLitt, DD FSAScot
Professor of the History of Mission
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Susan Murray
MA, BSc, MCILIP, ILTM
Deputy Director (Library)
The Sheppard-Worlock Library
Tel: +44 (0)151 291 2002
Fax: +44 (0)151 291 2037
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During Work Days:
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm


During term time with special arrangements:
Monday - Thursday 5pm – 7.15pm
Sunday 2pm – 4.15pm


Andrew F Walls Centre for the Study of African and Asian Christianity
Liverpool Hope University
Hope Park
Liverpool L16 9JD
United Kingdom