IEAB Friends
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08:26:46 pm on April 9, 2009 |
As we continue to share the history of our starting point as the Brazilian Episcopal Church, it’s very important to highlight the role of the Seminary of Virginia in this process.
Two students of the Seminary of Virginia (James Watson Morris and Lucien Lee Kinsolving) were sent to Brazil in 1889 to begin a missionary work. An important aspect to highlight in this story is the missionary zeal of Morris’ part to travel to a country like Brazil – his first intention was to go to the East – and personally ask the leadership of the Church in the U.S. for their support and permission. As the practice in those days was to send at least two people, Morris waited until his companion Kinsolving also wrote to the church saying he wished to share the mission with Morris. Ordained deacons at the chapel of the Seminary in June 1889, and priests, by special permission given in August, both of them traveled to Brazil in September that year.
After a staying in Sao Paulo for eight months learning portuguese, they traveled to Rio Grande do Sul.
On June 1st, 1890, the first celebration occurred at the Episcopal Mission of Trinity – starting point for the creation of the future Brazilian Episcopal Church. The work has expanded rapidly and three years later, during the pastoral visit of Bishop Peterkin, 128 people were confirmed and 4 were ordained deacons.
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Revd. Canon Francisco de Assis da Silva
Provincial Secretary of IEAB
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