Waite Hockin Stirling
Encyclopedia
Waite Hockin Stirling was a 19th century missionary
with the Patagonian Missionary Society
and was the first Anglican
Bishop of the Falkland Islands
.
In the mid-19th century, the Patagonian Missionary Society suffered several tragedies, including in 1851 when Captain Allen Gardiner and his companions at Spanish Harbour on Picton Island died of starvation, and another in 1859 when a group of missionaries were massacred at Wulaia, Navarino Island. In 1854, when the work of the mission was re-established at Keppel Island
in the Falkland Islands, Stirling became secretary of the mission in England. In 1861 he went to Keppel Island as the mission superintendent and from there re-established contacts with the Yaghan
of Tierra del Fuego
. In January 1869 he established a new mission at Ushuaia
in Tierra del Fuego.
Whilst in isolation in Ushuaia, as "God's Lonely Sentinel", as Stirling called himself, he was summoned to London
to be consecrated on 21 December 1869 in Westminster Abbey
as "Bishop
of the Falkland Islands", in keeping with contemporary practice to name overseas bishopric
s after one of Her Majesty's
possessions. Seven consular chaplain
cies in South America
and several private company chaplains were placed under his jurisdiction
. He spent his first few years establishing his authority over recalcitrant clergy and congregations who resented this Episcopal "upstart" and who still thought they owed allegiance to the Bishop of London
, the person responsible for oversight of overseas Colonial and Consular Chaplaincies.
On 14 January 1872, Bishop Stirling was assigned his "Throne and Episcopal Chair" by the Colonial Chaplain, the Reverend Charles Bull. His enthronement was to take place in the Exchange Building in Port Stanley; however, Stirling refused to be enthroned in "half a commercial building" because it was not a cathedral
. After a wall of the Exchange Building was destroyed in 1886, the present Stanley Cathedral was built, and consecrated in 1892.
Bishop Stirling resigned in 1900 to become a Canon and Assistant Bishop at Wells Cathedral
, where he served for 20 years until his retirement at the age of 91.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
with the Patagonian 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...
and was the first Anglican
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...
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:...
.
In the mid-19th century, the Patagonian Missionary Society suffered several tragedies, including in 1851 when Captain Allen Gardiner and his companions at Spanish Harbour on Picton Island died of starvation, and another in 1859 when a group of missionaries were massacred at Wulaia, Navarino Island. In 1854, when the work of the mission was re-established at Keppel Island
Keppel Island
Keppel Island is one of the Falkland Islands, lying between Saunders Island and Pebble Island, and near Golding Island to the north of West Falkland on Keppel Sound. It has an area of and its highest point, Mt Keppel, is high. There is a wide, flat valley in the centre of the island with...
in the Falkland Islands, Stirling became secretary of the mission in England. In 1861 he went to Keppel Island as the mission superintendent and from there re-established contacts with the Yaghan
Yaghan
The Yaghan, also called Yagán, Yahgan , Yámana or Yamana, are the indigenous inhabitants of the islands south of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego extending their presence into Cape Horn...
of Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of , and a group of smaller islands including Cape...
. In January 1869 he established a new mission at Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
in Tierra del Fuego.
Whilst in isolation in Ushuaia, as "God's Lonely Sentinel", as Stirling called himself, he was summoned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to be consecrated on 21 December 1869 in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
as "Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Falkland Islands", in keeping with contemporary practice to name overseas bishopric
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...
s after one of Her Majesty's
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
possessions. Seven consular chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
cies in 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...
and several private company chaplains were placed under his jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
. He spent his first few years establishing his authority over recalcitrant clergy and congregations who resented this Episcopal "upstart" and who still thought they owed allegiance to the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
, the person responsible for oversight of overseas Colonial and Consular Chaplaincies.
On 14 January 1872, Bishop Stirling was assigned his "Throne and Episcopal Chair" by the Colonial Chaplain, the Reverend Charles Bull. His enthronement was to take place in the Exchange Building in Port Stanley; however, Stirling refused to be enthroned in "half a commercial building" because it was not a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
. After a wall of the Exchange Building was destroyed in 1886, the present Stanley Cathedral was built, and consecrated in 1892.
Bishop Stirling resigned in 1900 to become a Canon and Assistant Bishop at Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
, where he served for 20 years until his retirement at the age of 91.