A New History Project for the British Isles
“When the Lord said, ‘There shall be a record kept among you’ (D&C 21:1), he was referring not only to the minutes, attendance records, and historical notes of activities, but also the histories of Church organizations, local units, and even individuals and families.” Leonard J. Arrington (Church Historian January 1972 – February 1982)
In August 2021, a new project was announced by the UK and Ireland Church history committee. The two-year project, The Unit History Project, is an ambitious attempt to provide a brief history of all congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints currently operating in Great Britain, the Island of Ireland, and each of the three crown dependencies: The Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Isle of Man. (Some of the congregations in existence today were formed in the 1830s while others are much more recent.)
Over the next two years, volunteers, missionaries, and historians will work together to gather the information needed to write the brief histories. Once completed, these will be made available to members, missionaries, and interested persons as an initial way of getting to know the history of the Church in different parts of the British Isles.
The summaries will not be exhaustive, but they should have enough information to be of use to others and will serve as a useful starting point for any ward or branch that wants to write its own history. If you would be interested in getting involved, please email jperry89@gmail.com.