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The Shaping of Irish Presbyterian Attitudes to Mission, 1790–1840

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 August 2006

ANDREW HOLMES
ANDREW HOLMES
Affiliation:
Institute of Irish Studies, Queen's University, Belfast BT7 1NN; e-mail: a.holmes@qub.ac.uk
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Abstract

This article explores the various factors that both encouraged Irish Presbyterian involvement in mission and shaped how they understood their missionary calling. It contributes to the recent growth of interest in the Protestant missionary movement and takes issue with the predominant interpretation of Irish Presbyterianism offered by David Miller who misunderstands the complex relationship between traditional Presbyterianism, evangelicalism and modernity. After an overview of the main developments between 1790 and 1840, a consideration of the influence of the Reformed theological tradition, eschatology and the growth of evangelicalism is followed by an examination of the Enlightenment, the expansion of the British empire and the Presbyterian sense of patriotic duty. Though various non-religious factors shaped Presbyterian attitudes to mission, it will be argued that their active involvement was a product of sincere religious conviction and an eschatological reading of the signs of the times.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History , Volume 57 , Issue 4 , October 2006 , pp. 711 - 737
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

An earlier version of this paper was delivered at the inaugural ‘Mission history and Ireland’ conference at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, in November 2003. My thanks go to Dr Jacinta Prunty for inviting me to take part and for organising a successful and stimulating conference. I am also very grateful to Dr Brian Stanley for reading an earlier draft of this paper and to Professor Bill Addley for providing me with information and materials. Their suggestions and encouragement are most appreciated. Needless to say, the author alone is responsible for any errors of fact or interpretation.