Elizabeth Hewat: Historian, missionary, mould-breaker - Book Launch with Ian Randall

Elizabeth Glendinning Kirkwood (1895-1968), a significant writer, especially of Christian history, a missionary, and a mould-breaker, was born in the west of Scotland and her secondary school education was at Wellington School, Ayr. When Elizabeth was a pupil there, the school was owned and led by two women who were committed to encouraging young women to fulfil their full potential. Their influence was important in Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth Hewat was later named as one of two 'notable pupils' of her era.

Elizabeth had outstanding intellectual gifts, and graduated with a first-class honours MA in history, with philosophy, at the University of Edinburgh. At University she was the Secretary of the University Debating Society was also an office-bearer in the Women's Christian Union, which aimed to 'to unite women students in Christian fellowship', and which was linked to the ecumenical Student Christian Movement (SCM). Meetings were held 'for Bible, Social, and Missionary study, and assistance given in Social Service Work'. Elizabeth's later involvements in teaching, missionary service and ecumenical work were foreshadowed here. Her personality was marked by humour, a sense of fun, friendliness, and an outgoing delight in living.

From Edinburgh she took up a post as assistant lecturer in history at the University of St Andrews. She was the second woman to teach history there, and female students she taught went on to be well known in academia. After St Andrews she became an editor and a writer for the International Review of Missions (IRM). This kind of work would stand her in good stead in her later life, when her writing came to the fore.

From 1922 to 1926, she taught at the Women's Missionary College (WMC), Edinburgh - an institution with a progressive tradition in education and inclusive community. She also returned to academic study, enrolling for a Bachelor of Divinity degree through New College, Edinburgh. For many of her male fellow-students this constituted their training for ordained ministry. She was passing on at WMC, through her teaching, the theological knowledge she was gaining. In the year 1922-23, for example, she delivered lectures on Church History, on St Mark's Gospel, on Psychology and on Economics.

In 1926 Elizabeth was the first women to graduate BD at New College. She also explored whether she could be ordained as a minister. Her case led to a major debate. One of those supporting her argued that she had come top of her class, making it difficult to suggest that she could not be put on the same level as the men. Although the motion failed, Elizabeth went to China, where she had freedom in ministry, and combined teaching with scholarly research comparing Hebrew and Confucian Wisdom literature. She returned to Scotland in 1933 to complete her PhD, and also did varied work, including preaching in a local parish setting. She was a founding member and speaker on behalf of the ecumenical Fellowship of Equal Service in the Church.

Moving to Bombay (Mumbai), she became Professor of History at Wilson College, 1935-55. She was an elder in the United Church of North India, and she frequently conducted worship in the College Chapel, the Scots Kirk, and elsewhere. Her vision was ecumenical and in retreats that she gave, which also resulted in a book on prayer, Thine own Secret Stair, she drew from a wide range of Christian spiritual traditions.

After returning to Scotland, she undertook extensive speaking and writing commitments. In 1966, she received an honorary DD from the University of Edinburgh, the first women to do so. She was a supporter of CND, deeply involved in the international ecumenical movement in Britain, and a continued advocate of equality in church and society. In the 1960s Elisabeth mentored and supported younger women in the ongoing and ultimately successful campaign for the ordination of women in the Church of Scotland. She once wrote that 'women in the church hold a subordinate position; and women of today ask why . . . Of one thing they are certain, and it is this, that it is not Christ who is barring the way'.

The launch of Elizabeth Hewat: Historian, Missionary, Mould-Breaker with Ian Randall takes place on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 from 11.30 - 12.30 BST. at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0UB. Join us to learn more about this unique woman, Book your place HERE