The name Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK), means Japanese Holy Catholic Church. It is the national Christian church representing the Province of Japan within the Anglican Communion. The Nippon Sei Ko Kai has approximately 60,000 members organised into eleven dioceses and found in local church congregations throughout Japan.
Permanent Christian missionary activity started in Japan in 1859. The first synod of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai met in Osaka in February 1887. At this meeting, instigated by Bishop Edward Bickersteth and presided over by Bishop Williams, it was agreed to unite the various Anglican missionary efforts in Japan into one autonomous national church; the Nippon Sei Ko Kai.
In 1888 the Anglican Church of Canada also began missionary work in Japan. In addition to the work of ordained church ministers, much of the positive public profile enjoyed by Anglican Church in Japan during this early mission period was due to the work of lay missionaries working to establish schools, universities and medical facilities. Most of the Canadian Anglicans left Japan during the second World War.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of an annual report of the Church Publishing Society in Japan (1931), historical and centenary celebration booklets about the mission and comprehensive lists of missionaries in Japan.
Related Fonds
Canadian Church Missionary Society fonds
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) fonds
Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada (MSCC) fonds
20 m of textual records ; 4000 graphic images ; 50 audio-visual materials
Administrative History
The Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada (MSCC) was formed in September 1902 by the General Synod. The Society was created for the general missionary work of the Church and aimed to bring all members of the Church into the field of action by making them members of the Society. The work of the Society was under the charge of the Board of Missions, consisting of all members of the General Synod. The executive work of the Board of Missions was done by the Board of Management composed of the Bishops, two clergy and two laymen elected by each diocese. Administratively, the MSCC was run by a General Secretary who guided the Field Secretary and various committees in their work. Its last General Secretary resigned in 1969. The MSCC Board of Management still exists under Canon VII, convenes during General Synod, and produces financial statements because of ongoing MSCC legacies and trusts.
The work of the MSCC consisted of domestic and foreign missions. In Canada the work included assisting missionary dioceses, Indian and Eskimo work, Columbia Coast Mission, Church Camp Missions, Jewish Missions, Japanese Missions, Immigration chaplaincies, white settlers missions, and Indian Residential Schools. Foreign missions included church, medical, and education work in Japan, China, India, Palestine (Jerusalem), and Egypt.
The forerunners of the MSCC were the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (1883-1902) and the Canadian Church Missionary Society (1894-1903), both of whom were already supporting domestic and foreign missionaries. By the side of the DFMS stood the Woman's Auxiliary (1885-1966), organized in 1885 for the purpose of enlisting the women in the missionary effort of the Church. When the MSCC was formed it became the Woman's Auxiliary to the MSCC.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of constitution, minutes, correspondence, reports, financial records, legal records, printed materials, photographs, and audiovisual materials.
Fonds organized into the following series:
Series 1. Board of Management and Executive Committee, 1884-1969;
Series 2. Committees, 1900-1968;
Series 2:1 Deputation Committee, 1903-1906
Series 2:2 Foreign Missions Committee, 1903-1904
Series 2:3 Sunday School Committee, 1903-1905
Series 2:4 Consultative Committee, 1912-1951
Series 2:5 Candidates Committee, 1913-1965
Series 2:6 Committee on Overseas Missions, 1942-1955
Series 2:7 Committee on Canadian Missions, 1944-1957
Series 2:8 Policy Committee, 1944-1966
Series 2:9 Committee on Missionary Strategy, 1955, 1959
Series 2:10 Missions to Seamen, 1957-1966
Series 2:11 Family Lenten Offering Committee (ACTO), 1958-1963
Series 2:12 Joint MSCC & CSS Committee on Indian and Eskimo Affairs, 1959-1962
Series 2:13 Finance Committee, 1941-1966
Series 2:14 Special Indian Committee, 1900-1910
Series 2:15 Indian and Eskimo Residential Schools Commission and Indian Schools administration, 1906-1968
Series 3. General Secretary's records, 1897-1975;
Series 4. Field Secretary's records, 1940-1959;
Series 5. Financial records, 1877-2011;
Series 6. Overseas Personnel, 1907-1941;
Series 7. Publications Department, 1943-1960;
Series 8. Publications - Official Records, 1901-1958;
Series 9. Publications, 1904-1975;
Series 10. Photograph and Audio-Visual collections.
Related Fonds
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS) fonds