The Editors and Editorial Board of the Journal of Ecclesiastical History are delighted to announce a major new prize in the field of early Christian History.

The Journal is offering an annual prize of £500 for the best essay submitted on a subject connected with any aspect of early Christian history, broadly understood as including the first seven centuries ad/ce. Scholars in any relevant discipline (theology, classics, late antique studies, Middle Eastern Studies etc.), whether established in their field or graduate students, are encouraged to enter the competition. The essays should not exceed 8,000 words, including footnotes, and for 2011 should be submitted by 30 September. A judgement will be made at the end of November of the same year (the editors reserve the right not to award the prize if no essay of significant quality is submitted). The essay of the successful candidate will be published in the Journal, probably in the number appearing in July 2012. Other submissions entered into the competition may also be recommended for publication. All essays should be sent as two hard copies, prepared to journal style, to Mrs Anne Waites, Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Robinson College, Cambridge CB3 9AN.