A group of academics in Oxford has set up the first British centre for the study of Christianity in China, with the aim of disseminating knowledge in the West of the theology of this enormous continent and contributing to the training of priests for the continuously expanding Chinese churches. “At the present time there are between 60 and 80 million practising Christians in China, as many as there are in Western Europe. According to some estimates, that number could be quadrupled by 2020”, declared Chloe Starr, associate director of the centre, “Yet we in the West know very little about Chinese Christianity”. The Anglican bishop of Oxford Richard Harries and some Chinese theologians visiting the country were present at the ceremony of inauguration of the new centre. Chloe Starr explained that it would cooperate with Chinese universities and with the “China Church Council”, an organization that coordinates the Christian churches in China, but would at the same time maintain contacts with non-registered religious communities. “Apart from fostering a deeper awareness in the West of the history and contemporary contributions of Chinese Christianity, we will help to ensure proper theological training for the priests who work in China”, explained Chloe Starr to the Catholic weekly “The Tablet”. The centre can rely on an international committee of distinguished experts in the field of relations between China and Christianity. It is being financially supported among others by an annual grant of 85,000 pounds ( c.126,130 euros) from an American Christian foundation. Chloe Starr also explained that the centre has received messages of support from the Anglican primate Rowan Williams and the Catholic bishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols.
