OUR PATH TO ST. OSWALD’S (Part 2)
At one time, the English community in Lisbon did not have a consecrated
burial ground in which to lay their dead to rest.
The restoration of King John 1V in 1640 eventually brought about a
change. Fourteen years later, the English were granted permission to have
their own burial ground. Heartened by this, two years later, they petitioned
to build their first church. Stern opposition from the Jesuits and even the
Pope, caused King John to refuse the petition.
Because there was no church, services were held in the house of the
Envoy. The first known Chaplain was 23 year old, Zachary Craddock, from
1656-1659.
At one time, the Chaplaincy was offered to Jonathan Swift. Although he
accepted the position, he never travelled to Lisbon. He was then 34 years of
age and had been given the Deanery of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin.
The present church was finally built and completed in 1822 and was
dedicated to “St. George the Martyr.” It is on part of the old burial ground
and buried there is Henry Fielding. There is also a World War 2 last resting
place for 6 young airmen who lost their lives when their plane crashed.
Recently, a war memorial was erected to the memory of British service men
and women who lost their lives in two world wars. This memorial stands at
the front of the church and on Remembrance Sunday, after the Eucharist,
many wreaths are placed around it by members of the British Legion, the
British Consul, armed forces and the British community.
It was in this church, as our friendship with Verna and Michael deepened,
that I am certain our approach to the Anglican way of worship began to
blossom.
We became particularly close to Verna. Indeed, we attended her
60th birthday celebration in Cascais on the Lisbon coast, where she had her
flat. We were the only people in Scotland to be invited.
Verna was born in England but moved to the Stirling area with her parents
when she was a child.
She eventually married and moved to Portugal with her husband Charlie,
sadly this did not work out and they separated. Verna did not want to return
to Scotland, she stayed in Cascais where she became involved in St Pauls
Anglican Church. She started studying for the ministry, going over to
England to retreats etc. When she came to Scotland to visit, we always met
up either in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Five years ago when I underwent surgery for cancer, Enez at once informed
Verna. She e-mailed back immediately and she and Michael ensured that I
was included in the “Prayers for the Sick” in both churches, St Paul’s in
Estoril and St George’s in Lisbon. I freely admit that we were both much
moved by this Christian gesture of love and concern.
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