the obscurantism of the priest and his followers, invited a Waldensian pastor
to talk and preach, even offering him a Catholic church no longer in use. In the
Autumn of 1871, Augusto Malan talked during a week to an audience of 300–400
every night and on the last day 700 attended! Waldensian schools followed
(new building 1897) and then the church in 1898. In the census of 1911, half of
the population (of 12,000 people) declared themselves Waldensian! Which was
not really true, but showed how popular the Church was. In those 40 years
many people had learnt to read and write and had progressed socially, and the
Church had now a mixed congregation with a growing middle class. My fam-
ily is typical also in the way women were treated. My great grandfather, one
of the founders, had five daughters and a son, and they all studied to become
teachers. One of them would become Headmistress of the Waldensian schools,
so good that everyone, the Prince and the Head of the Police included, would
send their children there.
Among many active and promising youngsters, the new pastor found a
very gifted little Filippo Scroppo, whose aunt he later married. Born in 1910,
Filippo was intellectually adopted by the pastor-uncle, who offered him the
use of his vast library and prepared him for the equivalent of O and A level
exams. In those days Riesi did not have Secondary schools.
Very early on, Filippo showed a talent for painting, but could also play
music, write, act and had a very profound faith and a drive to share it. After
all, his forebears had started the Waldensian Churches in Riesi and Piazza
Armerina in an environment that was not exactly easy nor friendly. Pastor
Mingardi was particularly keen on
Evangelisation, organising excursions
and trips to nearby villages and towns
with the large young people’s group.
New Testaments and musical instru-
ments were always copious. The means
of transport, one must not forget, were
mules and donkeys. Out of