The Centre for the Study of World Christianity (CSWC) was established in the University of Aberdeen in 1982 under the original title, the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World. In 1986-7 the Centre moved with its founder, Professor Andrew F. Walls, to the University of Edinburgh, where it has been ever since. The founding vision of the Centre was of a resource which could record and facilitate research into the remarkable growth of Christianity in the non-Western world over the last two centuries. In pursuit of this vision the Centre has acquired a range of archival collections, including those of the Regions Beyond Missionary Union, the Sudan United Mission, and the Evangelical Union of South America. Most of the images from the collections to be found on the IMPA website are of lantern slides used in missionary deputations, particularly by the Church of Scotland and the Regions Beyond Missionary Union. They cover a variety of locations, being particularly strong on China, India, Calabar, Jamaica, and Peru.