History of Christianity in Africa
Born in Belfast in 1943, T. Jack Thompson read modern history at Queen’s University before going to Edinburgh for postgraduate studies and a Ph.D. He worked as a missionary in Malawi for 13 years, after which he went to work as a lecturer at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham. In 1993 he became a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh where he taught African Christianity and eventually became the director of the Center for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World.
An superb historian, Thompson wrote 3 books on Christianity in Malawi (Christianity in Northern Malawi: Donald Fraser’s Missionary Methods and Ngoni Culture, 1995; Touching the heart: Xhosa Missionaries to Malawi, 1876-1888, 2000; and Ngoni, Xhosa and Scot: Religious and Cultural Interactions in Malawi, 2007). His last volume was a particularly well-received volume entitled Light on Darkness: Missionary Photography in Africa in the 19th C and early 20th C (2012).
Thompson passed away in August 2017. Two years before, he contacted me to see whether he could apply for a Queen’s Higher Doctorate. This was possible and we discussed procedure. Somehow Jack did not follow it up. I presume his health got in the way. It was a great pity for this would have been a perfect closing act for a unique student from Queen’s who went on to have a distinguished academic career “across the water” in the history of Africa.
Great to come across the information about Jack Thompson and know that work has been done in this field. I was working in Christian mission in Africa for many years, particularly in the nGoni dialects but now retired in Scotland. I would like to know more about Xhosa missionaries to Malawi, which has been brought to my attention by this post and will be researching more information.
On Thompson and the history of Christianity in Malawi, check this conference: “Politics, Society & Christianity in Malawi and beyond: A Memorial Conference for Jack Thompson and John McCracken”, 26 April 2018, New College, Edinburgh – https://www.ed.ac.uk/divinity/news-events/events/politics-society-christianity-in-malawi-and-beyond
My condolences with Jack’s family and friends, You have done great work to promote Christianity in Africa. Rest in Peace Jack.