Parish of the Falkland Islands
Encyclopedia
The Parish of the Falkland Islands - formerly a diocese
of the Church of England
Diocese of the Falkland Islands - is an extra-provincial church
in the Anglican Communion
headed by the Bishop of the Falkland Islands
. Until well into the 20th century the Bishop of the Falkland Islands
had episcopal authority over the whole of South America
, until power shifted to the Bishop of Buenos Aires
. In 1982, Argentinian episcopal authority over the Falkland Islands was abolished and the rector of the cathedral now reports directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury while receiving pastoral guidance from the Bishop of Chile in Santiago
.
was ordained the first bishop of the diocese in 1869. After his tenure, the history of the Falkland Islands diocese largely followed the waxing and waning fortunes of the South American Missionary Society
(SAMS). In 1910 the diocese was divided for the first time into "East Coast" and "West Coast". Bishop Every became Bishop of Argentina
and Eastern South America, and Bishop Lawrence Blair became Bishop of the Falkland Islands
, which included oversight of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. He resigned in 1914 and Bishop Every took the post. 1910 was also the year of the World Missionary Conference at Edinburgh.
Norman de Jersey was bishop for 15 years. In 1934 he was succeeded by John Weller. Financial constraints caused him to consolidate, becoming Bishop of Argentina and Eastern South America while retaining oversight of the Falkland Islands, which technically was a vacant see until 1946. Daniel Evans, formerly of Rio de Janeiro
, took over in 1946 when the diocese was once more united as the Diocese of the Falkland Islands, covering nearly all of South America. He died of a heart attack in Southern Chile in 1962.
After a convention in Cuernavaca
, Mexico, in 1963, the Anglican Church underwent dramatic changes and the vast diocese was divided into three parts. The West Coast Diocese of Chile, Bolivia and Peru came under Bishop Kenneth Howell, a former South American Missionary Society (SAMS) missionary, and Cyril Tucker was consecrated under two separate mandates, one as Bishop of Argentina and Eastern South America, and the other as Bishop of the Falkland Islands. The SAMS played an important part in financing and establishing the two bishoprics.
As a result of increased SAMS activity, more dioceses were created: in 1973 Northern Argentina and Paraguay; the Diocese of Peru in 1977; Uruguay in 1988 and Bolivia in 1996 (now all part of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of South America). The South America Dioceses joined to form the Anglican Council of South America, which included the Falkland Islands. This proved unsuitable for the congregations of the Falklands, as proceedings were conducted in Spanish, and most of the residents were English speaking.
, Donald Coggan
, assumed personal responsibility for the Falkland Islands, with episcopal oversight exercised by his commissary. The first Episcopal Commissary for the Falkland Islands was Bishop Richard Cutts
in Buenos Aires
, an Anglo-Argentine and former missionary in Africa, who had succeeded Bishop Tucker in 1975. In 1982, during the Falklands War
many British troops came under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop to the Forces. The Archbishop of Canterbury decided to exercise his responsibility by giving his commission to any bishop visiting the Islands. In January 2007 Stephen Venner
was appointed Episcopal Commissary. The Episcopal Commissary is also known as Bishop for the Falkland Islands.
Since 1978, the clergy of the cathedral have adopted the office of rector. The post was held successively by Harry Bagnall (1979–1986), John Murphy, Stephen Palmer (1991–1996), Alistair McHaffie (1998–2003), Paul Sweeting (2003–2007), and Richard Hines (from 2007).
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Diocese of the Falkland Islands - is an extra-provincial church
Extra-provincial Anglican churches
The extra-provincial Anglican churches are a group of small, semi-independent church entities within the Anglican Communion. Unlike the larger member churches of the Communion, extra-provincial churches are not part of an ecclesiastical province and are, in most cases, subject to the metropolitical...
in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
headed by the Bishop of the Falkland Islands
Bishop of the Falkland Islands
The Bishop of the Falkland Islands is a bishopric in the Church of England; it was originally the ordinary of the Diocese of the Falkland Islands.-History:...
. Until well into the 20th century the Bishop of the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
had episcopal authority over the whole of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, until power shifted to the Bishop of Buenos Aires
Bishop of Buenos Aires
The Bishop of Argentina is a bishop in the Anglican communion, the head of the Anglican Diocese of Argentina.Buenos Aires succeeded the Falkland Islands as the episcopal seat for the whole of South America during the 19th century, but it is now the seat only for the Diocese of Argentina within the...
. In 1982, Argentinian episcopal authority over the Falkland Islands was abolished and the rector of the cathedral now reports directly to the Archbishop of Canterbury while receiving pastoral guidance from the Bishop of Chile in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
.
History, 1869—1978
Waite Hockin StirlingWaite Hockin Stirling
Waite Hockin Stirling was a 19th century missionary with the Patagonian Missionary Society and was the first Anglican Bishop of the Falkland Islands....
was ordained the first bishop of the diocese in 1869. After his tenure, the history of the Falkland Islands diocese largely followed the waxing and waning fortunes of the South American Missionary Society
South American Missionary Society
The South American Mission Society was founded at Brighton in 1844 as the Patagonian Mission. Captain Allen Gardiner, R.N., was the first secretary. The name "Patagonian Mission" was retained for twenty years, when the new title was adopted...
(SAMS). In 1910 the diocese was divided for the first time into "East Coast" and "West Coast". Bishop Every became Bishop of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Eastern South America, and Bishop Lawrence Blair became Bishop of the Falkland Islands
Bishop of the Falkland Islands
The Bishop of the Falkland Islands is a bishopric in the Church of England; it was originally the ordinary of the Diocese of the Falkland Islands.-History:...
, which included oversight of Chile, Bolivia and Peru. He resigned in 1914 and Bishop Every took the post. 1910 was also the year of the World Missionary Conference at Edinburgh.
Norman de Jersey was bishop for 15 years. In 1934 he was succeeded by John Weller. Financial constraints caused him to consolidate, becoming Bishop of Argentina and Eastern South America while retaining oversight of the Falkland Islands, which technically was a vacant see until 1946. Daniel Evans, formerly of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, took over in 1946 when the diocese was once more united as the Diocese of the Falkland Islands, covering nearly all of South America. He died of a heart attack in Southern Chile in 1962.
After a convention in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Mexico, in 1963, the Anglican Church underwent dramatic changes and the vast diocese was divided into three parts. The West Coast Diocese of Chile, Bolivia and Peru came under Bishop Kenneth Howell, a former South American Missionary Society (SAMS) missionary, and Cyril Tucker was consecrated under two separate mandates, one as Bishop of Argentina and Eastern South America, and the other as Bishop of the Falkland Islands. The SAMS played an important part in financing and establishing the two bishoprics.
As a result of increased SAMS activity, more dioceses were created: in 1973 Northern Argentina and Paraguay; the Diocese of Peru in 1977; Uruguay in 1988 and Bolivia in 1996 (now all part of the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone of South America). The South America Dioceses joined to form the Anglican Council of South America, which included the Falkland Islands. This proved unsuitable for the congregations of the Falklands, as proceedings were conducted in Spanish, and most of the residents were English speaking.
History from 1978
In 1978, the Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Donald Coggan
Donald Coggan
Frederick Donald Coggan, Baron Coggan, PC was the 101st Archbishop of Canterbury from 1974 to 1980, during which time he visited Rome and met the Pontiff, in company with Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, future Cardinal of England and Wales.-Background:Coggan was born in Highgate, London, England...
, assumed personal responsibility for the Falkland Islands, with episcopal oversight exercised by his commissary. The first Episcopal Commissary for the Falkland Islands was Bishop Richard Cutts
Richard Cutts
Richard Cutts was a United States Representative from Massachusetts. Born on Cutts Island, Saco, Massachusetts , he attended rural schools and Phillips Academy, Andover. He graduated from Harvard University in 1790, studied law, and engaged extensively in navigation and commercial pursuits...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, an Anglo-Argentine and former missionary in Africa, who had succeeded Bishop Tucker in 1975. In 1982, during the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
many British troops came under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop to the Forces. The Archbishop of Canterbury decided to exercise his responsibility by giving his commission to any bishop visiting the Islands. In January 2007 Stephen Venner
Stephen Venner
Stephen Venner DL is the present Bishop to the Forces and Bishop for the Falkland Islands in the Church of England.-Education and career:Venner studied English at the University of Birmingham and is a qualified teacher...
was appointed Episcopal Commissary. The Episcopal Commissary is also known as Bishop for the Falkland Islands.
Since 1978, the clergy of the cathedral have adopted the office of rector. The post was held successively by Harry Bagnall (1979–1986), John Murphy, Stephen Palmer (1991–1996), Alistair McHaffie (1998–2003), Paul Sweeting (2003–2007), and Richard Hines (from 2007).