Sources Guides list

Sources Guide: Religion (A&M)

Further information about the materials mentioned below can be found on the Archives and Manuscripts Online Catalogue

In some cases the full detailed catalogues of archive collections are not yet in this online database: hard copy versions are available in the Rare Materials Room of the Library and on request to archs+mss@wellcome.ac.uk 
 
ARTICELLA [& other tracts]: includes miscellaneous extracts and notes, many incomplete, on theological subjects, sermons, etc, C12th-C14th MS.801A

MISCELLANEA XI: includes saints’ lives, c. 1375 MS.507

MISCELLANEA VII: collection of short theological tracts, sermons, lives of Saints, Exampla and copies of legal ecclesiastical documents and letters, etc, late C14th MS.504

MEDICAL RECIPE COLLECTION, England: includes prayer to St Kenelm, material relating to other saints, C15th MS.5262

Raymundus LULLIUS (1235?-1315): Ars generalis, Nova logica Practica brevis tabulae generalis, and other short works on philosophy and religion, 1454 MS.441

Petrus DE ABANO (1250-1316) (& others): Praelaturae Provinciarum, c. 1470 MS.616

MISCELLANEA IV: Volume of tracts from a Carthusian Library, containing theological works, sermons, etc, c. 1430 MS.501

MARBOD, Liber lapidum: includes formula for the blessing of stones, mid-C15th MS.531/7

Saint MARGARET: 2 copies of her life in Latin verse, in scroll form so as to be used as a 'Birthgirdle', c. 1465 MS.804, MS.804A

MISCELLANEA VI: Collection of short tracts, mainly on theology, Canon Law, etc, c. 1475 MS.503

PSEUDO-JESUS CHRIST. Epistola ad Abgarum: plus prayers and invocations in Latin and Catalan, late C15th MS.562/1

RECEIPT BOOK, Latin: exhortation to the plague-afflicted person to go to Confession and receive the Last Sacraments, etc, in the form of a medical receipt, late C15th MS.668

HERBAL: c. 1490, includes Office of the Virgin and Book of Hours, and prayers, in French and Latin MS.335

Saints QUIRICUS & JULITTA: Scroll containing prayers and invocations to, in English and Latin, c. 1500 MS.632

GERMAN MEDICAL RECIPE AND COMMONPLACE BOOK: C16th-17th, includes religious material MS.7946

RECEIPT-BOOK, German: contains plague tract in the form of a prayer in German, c. 1525 MS.643

RECEIPT-BOOK, Italian: includes some short sermons on Biblical texts, ceremonies for Blessing of Water and special prayers against snake-bite, poison and the plague, 1545 MS.654

Jean BODIN (1530-1596): 1730 transcript of De abditis rerum sublimium arcanis libri sex, conversation between seven learned men: a Jew, a Mohammedan, a Lutheran, a Zwinglian, a Roman Catholic, an Epicurean and a Theist; also 1733 copy of Colloquium heptaplomeres de abditis rerum sublimium arcanis libri VI MS.1276, MS.1277

Frater Joannes BAPTISTA: volume of alchemical works, c. 1565, contains prayers in Latin MS.384

Johann GERLACH: Occulta scripta chymica, c. 1572–6, contains psalms and prayers in German and Latin MS.309

P.O.: Collection of medical, chemical, and alchemical extracts, receipts, etc: includes sermons, c. 1580–95 MS.589

RECEIPT BOOK: C17th, includes scriptural material MS.7577

Lady Frances CATCHMAY ( -1629): A book of medicens c. 1625, contains ‘A prayer to be sayd at all tymes to defend thee from thy enemyes’ MS.184A

Maximilian ab EYNATTEN (d. 1631): Manuale exorcismorum, c. 1665 MS.2322

HOUSEHOLD AND MEDICAL RECIPES: c.1650-c.1750, extract from a sermon by the Archbishop of York MS.MSL.2

Bridget PARKER: collection of medical and cookery receipts includes several prayers, 1663 MS.3768

Nathaniel DALTON (1641-1708): volume of ‘Excellent receipts’ includes his Notes for sermons, etc., and a theological common-place book, 1668 MS.2031

MISCELLANEA XVI: includes some short tracts in Portuguese and Latin, of ecclesiastical interest, c.1670 MS.3555

VENICE: CONFRATERNITY FOR THE REDEMPTION OF CAPTIVE JEWS: Letter book, 1671-1711 MS.5266

Martha HODGES & others: collection of cookery receipts also used as a commonplace book for religious extracts, poems, etc, c. 1675–1725 MS.2844

FBMD-: medical notebook includes theological matter, c. 1676 MS.MSL.19

Baltasar or Isaac OROBIO DE CASTRO (1620?-1687): Parte 2a. Prevenciones divinas a Isrrael en los escritos profeticos, late C17th MS.3722

Mary CHANTRELL (& others): receipt book includes ‘A Short method of reciting the rosary of the Glorius Gloriouse Virgin Mary’, 1690 MS.1548

COMMONPLACE BOOK: Arguments against the Doctrine of the Trinity, from a Brief history of the Unitarians called also Socinians, 1815 MS.MSL.41

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH: formulae for blessings and exorcisms, prayers and religious exercises for the visitation of the sick and dying, prayers and religious exercises for the visitation of the sick and dying, 1694-1799 MSS.4248–53

Thomas POUNTNEY: Certificate, 1694, stating him to be of good character and to conform to the established church MS.7671/2

James TYRRELL (1642-1718): Collection of holograph medical receipts, with extracts, on Divinity, late C17th MS.4887

Laurent François BOURSIER (1679-1749): two works, including one on marriage, by this Jansenist theologian, late C17th-early C18th MS.6069

ENGLISH RECIPE BOOK: late C17th to C19th, includes note on scriptures MS.7851

PHYSICA: incorporates unfinished tract headed 'De Jubilaeo concesso a Ciemente undecimo anno 1701' MS.3892

Oliverius CIAPETTI: ‘Enchiridium spiritualis exercitii’, 1701 MS.1637

NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS: including on theology, early C18th MS.MSL.31

John STERNE (or Stearne) (1660-1745): Tractatus de visitatione infirmorum seu de iis parochorum officiis quae infirmos et moribundos respiciunt (in English), early C18th MS.4705

Dr Thomas LEWIS: Commonplace Book, early C18th MS.MSL.36

Cardinal Louis Antoine DE NOAILLES (1651-1729): transcript of letter of 1728 MS.7648/1

CONVULSIONNAIRES: Collection of invocations, prayers, etc., accounts of visions, prophecies, miracles and cures, connected mostly with members of Jansenist convents, and the followers of François de Paris, nicknamed 'Convulsionnaires'; and letters and reports on them, 1733–60 MSS.1786-7

MISCELLANEA X: includes copies of records of the Inquisition at Lisbon, with accounts of Autos da fé, satirical poems, etc, c. 1735 MS.3554

L' INQUISITEUR DES ESPRITS: ou traité des diférens esprits, bons et mauvais.... Contenant les exorcismes contre les opérations des démons et de leurs ministres, 1735 MS.2995

Pierre PINAULT: Extraits des discours du Frère Pierre [Pinault] en convulsions, c.1735 MS.3908

GEMMA SAPIENTIAE ET PRUDENTIAE: Cabbalistic speculations, religious controversies, chapter on Biblical prophecies and the Apocalypse, c. 1735 MS.2492

William STUKELEY (1687-1765): Discourses on monuments of Antiquity that relate to sacred history, 1735–44 MSS.4722-5

HODGKIN FAMILY: extensive collection of papers of members of this Quaker dynasty and associated families, especially the Rickmans, Howards and Lloyds, 1737–C20th PP/HO

Robert BRISTOW: Collection of medical, veterinary, domestic, cookery, and other receipts, 1741–75, includes material on religion and spiritualism MS.1357

RECENSUS SCRIPTORUM CELEBRIORUM: 2 volumes, 1745 MSS.4130–1

Johann Georg WOYDE: Allerheyligsten Dreyfaltigheit gewiedmeten Beth-Altars IVter. Theil., illustrated with 54 engravings of religious subjects, 1750 MS.5095

Henri HAGUENOT (1687-1775): Journal des observations faites à l'Hôtel-Dieu de Paris sur la maladie d'une Convulsionnaire, la Mère Sainte Cécile, appelleé aussi Soeur de la Croix, réligieuse de l'Hôtel-Dieu, 1753 MS.2662

George MARSH: scrapbook, c.1769–98, includes some prayers, and some material on the Gordon Riots MS.7628

PARIS: HÔTEL-DIEU: Suplément aux Instructions sur les dimanches et les fêtes, 1767–70 MS.3764

John WESLEY (1703-1791): letters to various correspondents, with one letter to Wesley, generally on religious and personal topics, 1771–91 MS.6810

John HENDERSON: Memorandum and Common-place Book, c. 1774 MS.MSL.23

Antoine Étienne de BARDONNÈCHE: lecture notes including on theology, 1781 MS.1062

Abbé ACCARD (1734-1797): volume including Calendrier ou Vie des Saints de tous les jours, 1789 MS.831

RECIPE BOOK: late C18th-C19th, includes extracts from an unidentified book or treatise, a discussion of faith and justification in the context of the Jews and the Gentiles and notably Abraham MS.7978

Johann Kaspar (Jean Gaspard) SPURZHEIM (1776-1832): autograph letter on his religious beliefs, early C19th MS.7636/4

John GIBSON (of Scarborough): anti-vaccination poem and letter arguing on religious grounds, 1803 MS.8032

Robert PERCEVAL (1756-1839): autograph letter, 1816, to the author of a discourse on Salvation by Faith, discussing religious matters and the author's recovery from a serious illness by the aid of faith MS.7400/76

Dr JD PERKINS: autograph letter of chaplain to George IV, 1817 MS.7400/89

Dr PARKINS: autograph letter, 1826, to a Mrs. Sidens, informing her that her disease is caused by evil spirits MS.7400/17

William OLDHAM: Manuscript commonplace book, containing moral and mystical speculations and reportage, c. 1828–39 MS.7299

Jonathan MARTIN (1782-1838): Drawing, pencil and ink, of a vision seen by this fanatical Wesleyan and incendiary, and obituary, 1829–38 MS.7312/17

John SKINNER (1772-1839): Analysis of language, and the symbols of the worship of the Sun, c. 1830 MSS.4622–3

WARNER COLLECTION (material relating to the physiologist William Prout): The Bridgewater treatises on the power, wisdom, and goodness, of God, as manifested in the creation: set of various editions, 1833–6 MSS.8197-8201

ENGLISH RECIPE BOOK: includes memorandum, ‘Books belonging to S G under my care this date 1838', listing mainly religious works MS.7729

Vital CHAUSSEGROS: Transcript of 'La Moÿsade', 1836 MS.1577

Powell Charles BLACKETT: 'A medical guide and pharmacopoeia written expressly for the use of Saint Mary's Princethorpe' (Benedictine convent), 1836 MS.7028

Charles Emmanuel SÉDILLOT (1804-1883): Part of a manuscript by Sédillot, headed "Religions et Science" and comprising notes on various publications, n.d. c. mid-C19th MS.7619

QUEEN’S NURSING INSTITUTE (f. 1889): Established to provide home nursing. Rolls of Queen’s Nurses from 1891 include details of religious denomination. Correspondence on problems of providing a non–sectarian service in Ireland. Also relations with Ranyard Bible Nurses. Collection includes archives of the Protestant Sisters of Charity/Institution of Nursing Sisters f. 1841 by Elizabeth Fry. SA/QNI

ALPHABETA LITTERAE, CARACTERES ET HABITUS VARIORUM POPULORUM: 'Salutatio angelica. Symbolum Apostolorum Nicenum S. Athanasii. Decalogus. Praecepta Ecclesiae. Te Deum laudamus. Signum S. Crucis. Orationis Dominicae. Fragmenta polyglotta', c. 1845 MS.932

COLLECTANEA: SCIENCE II Translation into English of the Mosaic code of Jewish laws, with notes. (Introduction only), c. 1850 MS.1727

Brice DE BEAUREGARD: ‘Historique de la Prière sans nom promise et donnée au Globe en écrit à Mm. Vve. Thenault, voyante, par l'Ange Anaël’ at séances during 1851–2 MS.1356

Sir Albert Ruskin (1870–1951) and Lady (d.1938) COOK: Medical missionaries in Uganda. Papers, 1880s–1940s, include, apart from material relating to their work in Uganda, A Cook’s diaries (from an early age) with accounts of his spiritual life; most of these; and the diaries of his mother and aunt, 1850s–80s, also in the collection, were kept in Christian Rembrancer diaries; also annotated Bible, prayer books, and devotional works PP/COO

Humphrey SANDWITH [I], FRCP (1792-1874): autograph letter, discussing the setting up of a Methodist periodical, 1853; incomplete printed biographical sketch, from a series of profiles of "The Less Known Methodist Writers", n.d. (c. 1874) MS.7578/14-15

Mary Anne CLOVER: correspondence, largely on religious and literary topics, 1857–83 MS.6943

Arthur Wellington CLAH (1831-1916): Journals, account-books and note-books by a Tsimshian Native American Christian convert, c. 1859–c. 1920

WMS/Amer.140

SIR HENRY WELLCOME: personal papers include 2 religious poems by his father, ?1870s; and material relating to his involvement with various missionary endeavours WA/HSW

Sir Hermann GOLLANCZ (1852-1930): notes on the history of the Jews in Sicily and on aspects of Jewish religion and theology, 1874–5 MSS.5730–1

MENTAL AFTERCARE ASSOCIATION: Founded in 1879 by Rev Henry Hawkins, chaplain of Colney Hatch Asylum; miscellaneous papers by and about him relating to its foundation SA/MAC

Mary Baker EDDY (1821-1910): letters from Mary Baker Eddy to her student Prof Elizabeth French, 1886 MS.8538

Sir Henry HEAD (1861–1940): reports of medical examination of pilgrims to Lourdes, 1895 PP/HEA

WELLCOME HISTORICAL MEDICAL MUSEUM: archives, 1898–1985, include much material relating to religion, mainly in the context of healing WA/HMM

Gustave Jules Alphonse WITKOWSKI (1844-1923): materials relating to his study of the history of ecclesiastical art, c. 1910 MSS.5041–7

Frederick PARKES WEBER (1863–1962): a couple of ‘bundles’ relating to faith–healing, 1910s–50s PP/FPW

‘GEOFFREY YORK’: ‘The Enigma of Sex’: Autobiographical memoir includes account of his spiritual life leading to membership of the Society of Friends  GC/211

Charles (1876–1960) and Dorothea (1882–1964) SINGER: Correspondence and related papers in connection with CJS’s pamphlet Christians and Jews (1937); material on Jewish refugees (1930s), anti-semitism, Judaica, etc 1920s–50s PP/CJS

Marie STOPES (1880–1958): A few files ‘ML–Clergy’ consisting mainly of her replies to clergymen writing about her books and work, 1918–58 (some letters from clergymen also in the ‘ML–GEN’ Sequence), and a few responses to her 1923 questionnaire to the clergy on birth control. [The bulk of MCS’s correspondence with the clergy, and most questionnaire returns, are held in the British Library Dept of MSS] PP/MCS

EUGENICS SOCIETY: Includes correspondence with clergy, e.g. Dean Inge, Rev EW Barnes, Maud Royden, and with religious organisations, e.g. COPEC, 1920s–50s; file re approaches to religious bodies, 1930–1. Access only with permission of the Galton Institute SA/EUG
PLEASE NOTE: this collection is being digitised and parts of it will be unavailable during the process. Check the schedule for further information

Dr Letitia FAIRFIELD (1885–1978): Material relating to her activities as a Roman Catholic laywoman, including her attacks on anti-semitism and misogyny within the church and its attitude to fascism; involvement in combatting anti-semitism and support for Jewish–Catholic converts; opposition to canonisation of Teresa Higginson and accounts of case of Therese Neumann (apparent stigmatic); writings on social and welfare responsibilities of the church, 1920s–50s GC/193

Professor Hans GRÜNEBERG FRS (1907–1982): correspondence, 1922-82, includes a significant amount with Jewish organisations, and on related topics PP/GRU

Stanley George BROWNE (1907–1986): Large amount of material relating to role and impact of Christianity in Browne’s work as a medical missionary and leprologist, 1930s–80s, including involvement with Drummond Road Baptist Church, south east London, and evangelistic activities as a medical student at King’s College London and King’s College Hospital, 1920s–30s, relationship with the Baptist Missionary Society, spiritual reasons for becoming a missionary, involvement with numerous Christian organisations including the Baptist Union, Christian Medical Fellowship and Medical Missionary Association, writings on religious topics including sermons and addresses, 1925–86 WTI/SGB

TW RATANA (healer, New Zealand): letter to Major-General H.G. Robley, 1924, urging him to pray and to repent MS.7712

Henry Havelock ELLIS (1859-1939): letter to Ogden W. Heath on religious experience and mysticism, 27 Jan 1929 MS.7837/6

Christopher MARTIN (1866-1933): Paper on the Medical Science of the Bible, Dec. 1930 MS.3466

Theodor Herzel Clarence GASTER: Notes on Jewish charms, remedies and other issues including herbs, mother-in-law complex etc.; some material in Hebrew; Researches in Semitic Medicine and Magic (incomplete) plus short articles, 1930 MS.8180, MS.8535

Elsie WIDDOWSON (1908–2000): A little material relating to her background and upbringing in an Exclusive Brethren family GC/97

Lilian Gertrude PING: research materials on healing saints, c. 1930s MSS.8271–5

ABORTION LAW REFORM ASSOCIATION: Some material relating to religious views on abortion, especially but not exclusively Roman Catholic opposition, 1930s–70s SA/ALR

VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA SOCIETY: Miscellaneous items re religious attitudes towards euthanasia, 1930s onward; also one file of papers of Rev AB Downing of the Society, 1950s–70s SA/VES

FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION: Section on relations with religious bodies, 1930s–60s; correspondence re Bishop of Southwark’s 1959 BBC Appeal, 1955–60; courses for clergy and their requests for advice in counselling engaged couples, 1955–64; files of individual correspondence 1930s–70s include sympathisers and supporters among clergy SA/FPA

Peter Johnston JOHNSTON-SAINT: A brief account of some of the Healing Saints to be found in Brittany, c. 1935 MS.8260

Dr John Dalziel Wyndham PEARCE (1905-1994): paper on Satanism, 1935, and account of case of religious fervour in an ambulance unit, 1941 GC/192

Alec William James HAGGIS (1889-1946): material relating to his work on episcopal medical licensing, c. 1937–46 MSS.5328–52

Sir Ernest Boris CHAIN (1906–1979): A whole section of his papers deals with his involvement with Israel and Jewish organisations; also lectures and drafts, and material relating to conferences, on Jewish topics, 1940s–70s PP/EBC

Carlos Paton BLACKER (1895–1975): Some correspondence and writings about religious and spiritual matters, 1940s–70s PP/CPB

William SARGANT (1907–1988): Material on religion and conversion, including African, Caribbean, and Latin American rituals, ‘snake-handling’, revivals, and exorcism 1940s–70s PP/WWS

Grantly DICK-READ (1890–1959): Dick-Read’s work in promoting natural childbirth was recognised by the grant of an audience by the Pope and the award of the Silver Papal Medal in 1956. Scrapbooks, presscuttings, etc in collection deal with this; also files relating to Dick-Read’s objections to phraseology of service for the churching of women, and questioning translation of Bible passages relating to ‘pains of childbirth’, 1950s PP/GDR

Rev Dr H C TROWELL (1904–1989): Following a career in the Colonial Medical Service, Trowell was ordained into the Anglican Church; papers include files on faith–healing, ministry to the sick, sanctity of life, theology of health and sickness, cooperation between doctors and clergy, relationship between Christianity and medicine, 1950s–80s PP/HCT

Ronald Arthur SANDISON (1916-2010): Psychiatrist: file on his work with clergy: religious and monasteries, including work with the Pastoral Development Group Scheme, 1954-1995 PP/SAN/B.9

Sir Richard CAVE (1912–1988): Small group of files of Roman Catholic philanthropist relating to charities with which he was involved, including Disabled Christians’ Fellowship, 1959, Catholic Enquiry Centre, 1967 GC/220

Noel Gordon HARRIS (1897–1963): Small amount of correspondence with Churches Council of Healing, 1960, and Guild of Pastoral Psychotherapy PP/NGH

Sir Peter MEDAWAR (1915–1987): 1 file of correspondence with Dr Hugh Montefiore, Bishop of Birmingham, 1980s; material relating to Teilhard de Chardin SJ and his views on evolution, 1960s PP/PBM

Tina KELLER (1887-1986): autobiographical materials relating to her religious development in the context of Jungian analysis, c. 1960s–80s PP/TKR

Albert SCHWEITZER (1875-1975): autograph letter, 1961, to Dr. Clement C Chesterman MS.7580/83

Michael FORDHAM (1905-1995): file on correspondence on religious topics, 1964–77, and some papers on religion and psychoanalysis PP/FOR

Maurice Henry PAPPWORTH (1910–1994): Letters and papers on Jewish medical ethics, 1966–77 PP/MHP

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY: Founded by Sir Richard Cave, a distinguished Catholic layman; files include material on Lourdes pilgrimage, 1968–9 and on Order of Malta, 1975–6 SA/MSS

Peter Karl LEWIN (b.1935): autobiography, 2004, 'A Chameleon of Sorts: Autobiographical Vignettes', mentions upbringing in Jerusalem and other matters relating to Judaism MS.8369

See also sources guide Medical Missionaries for additional relevant material in Archives and Manuscripts.

The Asian Collections contain a substantial amount of material relating to Armenian and Coptic Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

The Iconographic Collection includes many images relating to saints or other religious interventions in healing