 The Rt Rev Jack L Iker, SSC, Bishop The Rev Mark A Stockstill, SSC, Vicar Office 325.356.2997 Vicarage 325.356.2198 Cell 325.330.2411 mstockstill@fwepiscopal.org |
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In 1696 Thomas Bray,
an English country parson, was commissioned to report on the condition of
the Church in the colony of Maryland. He spent only ten weeks in the colony,
but he radically re-organized and renewed the Church there, providing for
the instruction of children and the systematic examination of candidates for
pastoral positions. He founded thirty-nine lending libraries and numerous
schools. Both in Maryland and upon his return to England, he wrote and
preached in defense of the rights of enslaved Africans, and of Indians
deprived of their land. Back in England, he worked for the reform of prison
conditions, and for the establishment of preaching missions to prisoners. He
persuaded General Oglethorpe to found a American colony (Georgia) for the
settlement of debtors as an alternative to debtors' prison. He founded a
missionary society, the SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) and
an educational and publishing society, the SPCK (Society for Promoting
Christian Knowledge), both of which are still active today.