Recent years have seen a number of publications trumpeting the success of voluntary subject associations, including our own Society of Antiquaries of course, and commenting on their contribution to civilized society in the past century and more. While this might bring tears to the eyes of the current Prime Minister, it is to be hoped that future generations of historians will be more analytical in probing exactly how such bodies have contributed to society, and at what real cost. Fellows of this society might indulge in the game of spotting our colleagues past and present among the front rank of another learned society, something that has been common in the past, but might be endangered as the recession bites. William Frend (whose medal is presented by the Society), Binfield, Bolton, Cross and Duffy and others are there, for starters. Stella Fletcher has produced a light and readable introduction to the work of the Ecclesiastical History Society, founded in 1961. She highlights the work of leading academics in its formation, such as Professor Clifford Dugmore of King's College, University of London, Dom David Knowles (the first President), Charles Duggan and William Frend. She proceeds to outline, by virtue of four chronological phases (1962–73, 1973–86, 1986–98 and 1998–2011), the key developments in the history of the society. This essentially revolves around the conduct of its annual conferences, organized on themes suggested by succeeding Presidents, and the series of publications for which the society is justly famous, Studies in Church History. These conferences and subsequent volumes have frequently trail-blazed new approaches to ecclesiastical history, making connections with historians of the arts, towns and cities, gender, warfare, the ‘British Isles’ and the continent. And the society should be celebrated for its ecumenical breadth throughout its existence. Leading historians of nonconformity, such as Geoffrey Nuttall, Reg Ward and Clyde Binfield, have served as Presidents, as also have such notable Catholics as Eamon Duffy and Bill Sheils. Medievalists appear to have dominated the early years of the society, but this has been balanced since, with ample attention to early and modern history.

Stella Fletcher has produced a ‘chronicle’ of the ‘great and the good’ of the society, providing interesting gossip about the background to its conferences and publications, and drawing attention to the continuing battle such societies have regarding membership and finance, not to mention their reliance on loyal, long-serving/suffering officers such as Rosalind Hill, Derek Baker, Brenda Bolton, Claire Cross and Diana Wood, to name but a few. The society has depended heavily on London and Oxbridge academics, but has also been notably successful in drawing upon the talents of academics and independent scholars from across the country. As Secretary to the society, Dr Fletcher has had access to its archives and made good use of oral testimony in the production of this volume. While she succeeds in supporting the claim that this is a most friendly and inclusive society, future cultural historians will regret that more has not been said about the sources behind this study, the approach adopted and problems encountered, and the lack of any real supporting apparatus, apart from three cursory appendices regarding Presidents, conference themes, officers, publications and honorary fellowships. References are made to gaps in archives, for both early and later years, something that bedevils attempts to chart the history of so many cultural bodies in the regions, but we are not told where the archives are or of what they consist.

It is indeed commendable that the society sought to be inclusive of all denominations and none – and of academics and lay folk alike – but apart from a few comments, we are given little analysis of how the society evaluates its success or how it sees the future. As a long-standing member of this society myself, and one-time member of its committee, I share Stella Fletcher's obvious enthusiasm for her subject, enjoyed the romp through its many conferences and volumes, yet feel that this has only revealed the tip of the iceberg regarding the history of this worthy society that currently stands with about 1,000 members world-wide – no mean achievement in itself.