Episcopal Visit to Brazil
The Rt. Rev. Brian W. Keith
L
ast October Gretchen and I visited our church congregations in Brazil.
The purpose of our trip was to better connect the Bishop’s Office with
the church uses there, perform an ordination into the second degree, and
participate in local clergy meetings.
Background
The beginnings of the New Church in Brazil harken back to the late 1800s.
Senhor Levindo Castro de la Fayette, Chancellor of the Brazilian Consulate
General in France, had found the Heavenly Doctrines in 1892 while in France.
The New Church people there supported him in starting groups back in Brazil
in 1893, primarily in Rio de Janeiro, and publishing a monthly journal. French
was widely enough known in Brazil at the time that French translations of the
Writings could be easily read by many. He also was instrumental in promoting
the translation of the Writings into Portuguese.
In 1898 he reported about 100 receivers in Rio de Janeiro and about 20
more elsewhere in Brazil, all of whom were very poor.
In 1915 John Pitcairn visited Brazil and wrote an extensive report for New
Church Life. He also created a fund to promote translation and publication of
the Writings into Portuguese, which continues to be a tremendous help to this
day. The church had developed in those years and when Mr. Pitcairn visited
it was noted that there were nearly 400 receivers of the Heavenly Doctrines
throughout Brazil, from all walks of life. Attendance at church in Rio de
Janeiro was typically about 50.
After that, Senhor de la Fayette visited Bryn Athyn for six months to
obtain formal theological training. He shared that experience with newcomers
Henry Leonardos and Joao de Mendonça Lima, who were soon recognized as
ministers, pending ordination. Carlos Braga was also authorized to function as
a priest, but died before he could be inaugurated into the priesthood.
The church continued to develop, but experienced significant difficulties.
Spiritism, prevalent in Brazil, was embraced by Senor de la Fayette in 1919,
causing a split in the Rio congregation. Leonardos and Lima allied with the
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