Oldham, Joseph Houldsworld

(1874–1969)

   Ecumenist and Missionary.

   Oldham was born in India of an army family and was educated at the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh, and Halle, Germany. He was appointed organising secretary of the World Missionary Conference which met in 1910. Subsequently he edited The International Review of Missions and was joint secretary of the International Missionary Conference from 1921 until 1938, during which time he worked closely with John mott. He organised the 1938 Life and Work Conference in Oxford and it was at this conference that the first provisional committee for the World Council of Churches was convened. He is also remembered for his work in Africa. A natural leader, he acted as unofficial missionary representative to the colonial government for many years.

   K. Bliss, ‘Joseph Oldham’, in Dictionary of National Biography 1961–1971 (1995).