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 The essay reconstructs both the biography of Christianus Lazarus Lauria (circa 1821-1885) and the activities of the London Society for Propagating Christianity among the Jews in Italy. This British missionary organization, founded on interdenominational lines in 1809, became an expression of the Church of England in 1815.  Its purpose was the conversion of the Jews, emphasizing at the same time the Jewish roots of Christianity (the organization, which still exists, since 1995 took the name of Church's Ministry Among Jewish People). Approached by missionaries of this Society in Jerusalem, rabbi Eliezer Lauria converted to Christianity in 1843, changing his first name to Christianus Lazarus. He subsequently became a minister of the Church of England. A missionary in Italy, he was first in Turin (1855-1862) and then in Livorno (1862-1866). Moved by the illusory hope that the political Italian Risorgimento could trigger a religious reformation, the organization published books and pamphlets and employed several agents in Italy (the last outpost of the Society in Rome was closed in 1914).