Gibraltar Archdeaconry - Diocese of Peru link


Partnership links between our Archdeaconry of Gibraltar and the Anglican Diocese in Peru were strengthened following the visit of Bishop Bill Godfrey to the archdeaconry synod this year. Bishop Bill led the Bible studies and so moved the members with the story of how God is leading and equipping his diocese that the synod agreed to deepen the links of cooperation, partnership and support. As part of the next stage in the link, a small group of people (10-15) from our parishes in Spain and Portugal will travel to Peru in November. It will be a working visit, to experience and share in the ministry of that diocese and report back to the archdeaconry. A visible sign of our partnership, a colourful altar hanging, in the style of a traditional Peruvian arpillera, made by women of Bishop Bill's diocese, is circulating around the churches of the Archdeaconry. It is pictured above.

We have much to learn from the Diocese of Peru. It is growing rapidly, having gone from 8 to 40 congregations and from 4 to 32 clergy in the past 6 years, yet it is both a poor diocese and a church of the poor; 90% of her people live in situations of great need. The mission of the diocese is holistic and includes programmes of church planting, theological education, social outreach, schools, micro-finance and income generation projects.

The Diocese of Peru has an informative website here. Bishop Bill is a USPG mission companion and information about projects in his diocese can be found on the USPG: Anglicans in World Mission website here. The Revd Haynes Hubbard, Senior Chaplain of St Vincent’s Algarve, is organising the Peru partnership visit in November. For more information, you can contact Fr. Haynes at fr.hqhubbard@gmail.com. St Vincent’s website is here.

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