History Church's Ministry Among Jewish People

hospital founded london jews society, jerusalem

the society began in 19th century, when leading evangelical anglicans, including members of influential clapham sect such william wilberforce, , charles simeon, decided there unmet need promote christianity among jews. in 1809 formed london society promoting christianity amongst jews. missionary joseph frey credited instigation of break london missionary society. later missionary c. w. h. pauli.

abbreviated forms such london jews society or jews society adopted general use. original agenda of society was:

declaring messiahship of jesus jew first , non-jew
endeavouring teach church jewish roots
encouraging physical restoration of jewish people eretz israel - land of israel
encouraging hebrew christian/messianic jewish movement

the society s work began among poor jewish immigrants in east end of london , spread europe, south america, africa , palestine. in 1811, five-acre field on cambridge road in bethnal green, east london, leased centre missionary operations. school, training college , church called episcopal jews chapel built here. complex named palestine place. in 1813, hebrew-christian congregation called benei abraham (children of abraham) started meeting @ chapel in palestine place. first recorded assembly of jewish believers in jesus , forerunner of today s messianic jewish congregations.

the london jews society first such society work on global basis. in 1836, 2 missionaries sent jerusalem: dr. albert gerstmann, physician, , melville bergheim, pharmacist, opened clinic provided free medical services. 1844, had become 24-bed hospital.

in heyday, society had on 250 missionaries. supported creation of post of anglican bishop in jerusalem in 1841, , first incumbent 1 of workers, michael solomon alexander. society active in establishment of christ church, jerusalem, oldest protestant church in middle east, completed in 1849.

in 1863, society purchased property outside walls of old city of jerusalem. in 1897, opened hospital on site, designed architect arthur beresford pite. today, building houses anglican international school jerusalem, operated society.

beit bussel. safed. built london society in 1904 mission hospital, later purchased jnf , used yiftach brigade headquarters during 1948 war.

in 1914, society described as

...the oldest, largest, richest, enterprising, , best organized of type, , has auxiliary societies throughout british isles , canada. society, income in 1900-01 £46,338, expenditure of £36,910, employed @ 52 missionary stations 199 workers, among them 25 clergymen, 19 physicians, 34 female missionaries, 20 lay missionaries, 35 colporteurs, 58 teachers, , 8 apothecaries. of these, 82 converts judaism. of 52 stations 18 in england, 3 in austria, 1 in france, 4 in germany, 2 in netherlands, 1 in italy, 4 in rumania, 1 in russia, 1 in constantinople; in asia there 10 stations, among them jerusalem 27 workers; in africa there 7 stations. 5,000 jews have been baptized society since foundation. principal organs jewish missionary intelligence , jewish missionary advocate.

in response changing attitudes towards outreach , jewish people, society has changed name several times on years, first church missions jews, church s mission jews, followed church s ministry among jews, , current name of church s ministry among jewish people, adopted in 1995.

the society s historic archives stored bodleian library in oxford. history of society published in 1991.