Baptistic Theologies, 2009

amongst mainland Europeans. Keith G. Jones, Rector, IBTS Mark Smith (ed.) British Evangelical Identities Past and Present Volume 1: Aspects of the History and Sociology of Evangelicalism in Britain and Ireland Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2008, 280 pp. This volume, to be followed by a second more theological investigation, contains sixteen very diverse contributions, plus an illuminating introduction from the editor and an afterword from the well-known Baptist theologian Derek J. Tidball. The essays cover, as the title suggests, Evangelical history in Britain and Ireland, and some current aspects of Evangelical life in Britain today. Of particular interest to Baptist readers will be Brian Talbot’s fascinating account of Jonathan Watson, Francis Johnston and James Paterson, three leading figures in the establishment of the Scottish Baptist Union, David Bebbington’s essay on Evangelicalism and Culture and Ian Randall’s essay on Evangelical spirituality in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. But this is not to suggest that the other essays in the volume will not repay careful reading. One of the great strengths of the book is that it really does cover all of Britain. Andrew Holmes’ essay on Evangelical identity in Northern Ireland is an excellent and informative study of a complex topic. David Killingray’s contribution on early Black Evangelicals in Britain is another very important piece. The essays by Rachel Jordan and Kristin Aune on, respectively, the impact of marriage on women’s ministry in the early twentieth century and on understandings of masculinity in the house church movement are illuminating. Book Reviews 127 As is the case with multi-author works, this book cannot present a unified vision. But it is perhaps precisely the point to show that there is a great diversity in British and Irish Evangelicalism - hence the word ‘Identities’ in the title - which should not be ignored, whilst at the same time there is a sort of family resemblance. Mark Smith’s introduction sets the scene very well, and Derek Tidball’s Evangelical afterword (entitled ‘What’s right with Evangelicalism?’) is a reminder of what these identities have brought to the living out of the Christian faith in the United Kingdom over the past couple of centuries. Tim Noble, IBTS, Prague John Collier (ed.) Toddling to the Kingdom: Child Theology at work in the church CTM, London, 2009, 256 pp. Contributors: Marcia Bunge, John Collier, John Gilbert, Bill Prevette, Carlos Quieroz, Ariovaldo Ramos, John Wall, Keith White, Haddon Willmer Toddling to the Kingdom engages the reader in a discussion of what does it mean to place a child in the midst of theological issues raised in the church and society in particular contexts around the globe. John Collier has collected key contributions which were offered at Child Theology Movement (CTM) consultations over the last six years and has compiled them