The Ecclesiastical History Society (EHS) is a British learned historical society founded in 1961 to foster interest in, and to advance the study of, all areas of the history of the
Christian Church
In ecclesiology, the Christian Church is what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus Christ. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a syn ...
King's College London
King's College London (informally King's or KCL) is a public university, public research university in London, England. King's was established by royal charter in 1829 under the patronage of George IV of the United Kingdom, King George IV ...
, Dom David Knowles (the first President), and W. H. C. Frend. Since then the EHS has held annual conferences based on themes suggested by successive Presidents.
There was an Ecclesiastical History Society during the 19th century. The present society's history written by Stella Fletcher is called ''A Very Agreeable Society''. Both historians of nonconformity (including Clyde Binfield,
Geoffrey Nuttall
Geoffrey Fillingham Nuttall (8 November 1911 – 24 July 2007) was a British Congregational minister and ecclesiastical historian.
Nuttall was born in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, the son of the general practitioner. He was educated at Bootham S ...
, and W. R. Ward) and Catholic historians (including
Eamon Duffy
Eamon Duffy (born 9 February 1947) is an Irish historian. He is the emeritus professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge, and a fellow and former president of Magdalene College.
Early life
Duffy was born on 9 Februa ...
and
Bill Sheils
William J. Sheils , known as Bill Sheils, is professor emeritus in history at the University of York and a fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Sheils is a specialist in the early modern religious and social history of Britain.
Education
She ...
) have been Presidents of the EHS. The society publishes ''
Studies in Church History
''Studies in Church History'' is an academic journal published annually by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Ecclesiastical History Society. It comprises papers and communications delivered at the Ecclesiastical History Society's confere ...
'' which reviews current approaches to
ecclesiastical history
Church history or ecclesiastical history as an academic discipline studies the history of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception.
Henry Melvill Gwatkin defined church history as "the spiritual side of the ...
that have been presented at the summer and winter conferences of the EHS. Membership comes in two categories: members and fellows. The Ecclesiastical History Society is a registered charity.
Fellows of the Ecclesiastical History Society include:
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth (born 14 June 1950) is a Welsh Anglican bishop, theologian and poet, who served as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012. Previously the Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of W ...
Janet Nelson
Dame Janet Laughland Nelson (; 28 March 1942 – 14 October 2024), also known as Jinty Nelson, was a British historian and professor of Medieval History at King's College London.
Early life and education
Janet Muir was born on 28 March 1942 i ...
,
Owen Chadwick
William Owen Chadwick (20 May 1916 – 17 July 2015) was a British Anglican priest, academic, rugby international,Henry Chadwick,
Diarmaid MacCulloch
Diarmaid Ninian John MacCulloch (; born 31 October 1951) is an English academic and historian, specialising in ecclesiastical history and the history of Christianity. Since 1995, he has been a fellow of St Cross College, Oxford; he was former ...
,
Geoffrey Nuttall
Geoffrey Fillingham Nuttall (8 November 1911 – 24 July 2007) was a British Congregational minister and ecclesiastical historian.
Nuttall was born in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, the son of the general practitioner. He was educated at Bootham S ...
,
Walter Ullmann
Walter Ullmann (29 November 1910 – 18 January 1983) was an Austrian-Jewish scholar who left Austria in the 1930s and settled in the United Kingdom, where he became a naturalised citizen. He was a recognised authority on medieval political tho ...
,
Alec Vidler
Alexander Roper Vidler (27 December 1899 – 25 July 1991), known as Alec Vidler, was an English Anglican priest, theologian, and ecclesiastical historian, who served as Dean of King's College, Cambridge, for ten years from 1956 and then, follo ...
,
Eamon Duffy
Eamon Duffy (born 9 February 1947) is an Irish historian. He is the emeritus professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Cambridge, and a fellow and former president of Magdalene College.
Early life
Duffy was born on 9 Februa ...
Averil Cameron
Dame Averil Millicent Cameron ( Sutton; born 8 February 1940), often cited as A. M. Cameron, is a British historian. She writes on Late Antiquity, Classics, and Byzantine Studies. She was Professor of Late Antiquity, Late Antique and Byzantine ...