Overseas Department. China Mission Records

MP-02-R0136

The Archives of the Episcopal Church

Fonds

Overseas Department. China Mission Records

2 cu.ft. (4 boxes)

In 1834, the Board of Directors of the DFMS passed a resolution to establish a mission in China, with its first missionary, Rev. Henry Lockwood, being appointed the following year. It wasn’t until 1844, however, that Rev. William J. Boone was appointed the first Bishop of China. He quickly established several schools, with evangelical work and plans for medical institutions being the secondary focus. The next several decades would see great expansion for the mission in both territory and effort, but also serious challenges in the form of national political upheaval and damage to the mission's properties. Soon after the end of the Boxer Rebellion in 1901, the General Convention restructured the Mission by defining the coastal Province of Kiangsu as the Missionary District of Shanghai, while the rest of the original missionary territory became the Missionary District of Hankow. Growth dictated yet another division in 1910, and the Missionary District of Wuhu (later renamed Anking) was created, comprising the Province of Anwhei and the northern portion of Kiangsi. In 1949, after the People’s Republic of China gained control, atheist policies and anti-American sentiment prompted the foreign Episcopal missionaries to gradually vacate their stations. The National Council formally recalled all its workers in China in December 1950 at the same time that the United States made it illegal to send money to China, rendering it impossible for the General Convention to fund the China missions.

These records include photographs, minutes, letter press books, and diaries that were produced by or are about the China Mission.

Arranged chronologically

Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.

The Archives is able to respond to limited requests for reproductions subject to copyright restrictions, internal policy, and the condition of the source documents.

• English

China Oral Histories

• Overseas Department. China Mission Records

• China Mission
• Department of Missions
• Diocese of Kiangsu
• Hua Chang College
• Missionary District of Shanghai
• St. John’s University
• St. Mary’s Hall
• Woman's Auxiliary
• World mission

• Shanghai, China
• Wuchang, China

• Boone, William J. (Subject)
• Graves, Frederick R. (Subject)

• Photographs