This essay originally appeared in the Journal of the United Reformed Church Historical Society, vol. 4, no. 9, Dec 1991, pp.540-65, and is reprinted here with minor amendments. An abbreviated version appeared in Lucas: an evangelical history review, no. 10, Dec 1990, pp.7-21.
This essay explores a major colonial debate about church cooperation and church union, with Bishop Short and Thomas Binney as principal protagonists. It also suggests some interesting social coalitions especially among Anglicans.