Church of the Empire
The Church of England and Race in Global Perspective
Format:Paperback
Publisher:SCM Press
Published:23rd Sep '26
Should be back in stock very soon
To seek to overcome racism in the Church of England, it is important to have an accurate understanding of how the Church has been entangled with empire and how this continues to affect it. Church of the Empire gathers a diverse and distinguished range of contributors from within and beyond the Church of England who offer a kaleidoscope of perspectives on its multifaceted inheritance from the intersections of empire, race and ethnicity. Chapters focus on Jamaica, Hong Kong, the so-called ‘scramble for Africa’, the USA and South East Asia as well as England. Addressing worship, mission, civic engagement and theological education, they consider both the Church’s own life and how it shaped and was shaped by wider society and culture. Together they offer rich theological and historical analysis as well as a focus on the contemporary Church of England and how it might be able to change. Contributors include Anthony Reddie, Mike Higton, Evie Vernon, Carla Guzman-Rolands and Stephen Cottrell.
As a fellow pilgrim rooted in the rich, complex soil of Sri Lankan Anglicanism, I find Dr Perera’s Church of the Empire to be an invaluable gift to the global communion. From our shared heritage in the Church of Ceylon, we know deeply what it means to navigate the intersections of identity, faith and colonial legacy. Dr Perera and her collaborators dissect these multi-layered realities with masterful precision, theological depth and profound psychological insight. This book does not merely look backward at historical structures; it bravely challenges us to dismantle systemic inequality and build a more just, inclusive future for the Church. A vital, transformative read for everyone committed to true reconciliation and gospel justice.
-- Bishop Keerthisiri FernandoAs a fellow pilgrim rooted in the rich, complex soil of Sri Lankan Anglicanism, I find this book to be an invaluable gift to the global communion. From our shared heritage in the Church of Ceylon, we know deeply what it means to navigate the intersections of identity, faith and colonial legacy. Dr Perera and her collaborators dissect these multi-layered realities with masterful precision, theological depth and profound psychological insight.
-- Bishop Keerthisiri FernandoChurch of the Empire is a timely and topical must read for anyone interested in the Church of England and Race. A series of thoughtful and thought-provoking essays by leading scholars and leaders from around the world offer new perspectives on racial justice, contested historical narratives, and evolving strategies within the Anglican Church. The authors offer not just a call to new ways of looking at the church but also provide a bold call towards global justice.
-- Professor Jolyon MitchellProfound and prophetic, Sanjee Perera's Church of the Empire is moral cartography at its best. Attentive to the complexities and complicities around colonialism, a stellar group of contributors reiterate that the path for the Church of England towards a healed and hopeful future rests in an honest and humble engagement with a problematic past and its persistent legacies. The leaves of this book are for the healing of the nations!
-- Rev'd Dr Peniel RajkISBN: 9780334063452
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
240 pages