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University of Birmingham

Publish and be blessed : a case study in early Pentecostal publishing history

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This dissertation argues that a major factor in Pentecostalism's rapid world-wide growth was the emergence of a strong literary, as distinct from oral, tradition. From its earliest days the movement gave birth to a plethora of publications and publishing houses, mostly operating by faith, that proved highly successful in disseminating the distinctive tenets of the movement across the globe. The first part of this work outlines the social, historical and religious background to the movement in the USA and Britain, and highlights the distinctive doctrines and practices of Pentecostalism. The second section examines the emergence of Pentecostal publishing movements and their products in the USA, especially the role played by the prototypical magazine of W. J. Seymour, The Apostolic Faith. The third and major part of this dissertation is a detailed case study of the earliest, and most influential, Pentecostal magazine published in Britain, Confidence. The crucial role that this journal and its editor, A. A. Boddy, played in formulating and propagating the beliefs and practices of the nascent movement is critically examined, together with an assessment of its contribution to wider issues of religious life and thought in Britain. Areas of subsequent influence in the development of historic Pentecostalism and its contemporary offshoots are also discussed

Degree

thesis:*
Name dc:type.qualificationname
d_ph
Level dc:type.qualificationlevel
d_ph
Grantor dc:publisher.institution
University of Birmingham
Year dc:date.issued
1994

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Taylor, Malcolm John

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:etheses.bham.ac.uk:888

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Birmingham
Base URL
etheses.bham.ac.uk/cgi/oai2
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Taylor, Malcolm John. Publish and be blessed : a case study in early Pentecostal publishing history. d_ph thesis, University of Birmingham, 1994. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/888/2/Decl_IS_Taylor94PhD.gif