Uttermost parts of the earth

Ushuaia is one of my favourite places. Southernmost city in a beautiful setting on the Beagle channel; good friends; and, perhaps especially, the mystic association with the early mission which led to the living church we have today in other parts of Latin America and especially the Amerindians.

 

And that is what brings me here in winter. It is exactly 150 years since the first white man  settled here: a missionary called Waite Stirling, who later became the first Anglican Bishop of South America. For that date in December some of us are planning an anniversary celebration, from those groups that owe him a debt of gratitude- the Amerindian church, Chile, chaplaincies in Buenos Aires and Lima – all that today goes to make up the Anglican Church in South America.

Apart from the fact that it is difficult to arrange a visit like this from a distance, I needed to check with local churches and civic authorities what their reaction might be. Over the past few years many of the traces of the early mission have been kicked over, especially since the Malvinas conflict. But there’s does seem to be interest, so we will go ahead, including a boat trip to the Chilean island to the south where much of the missionary work took place.

Sadly today the Amerindian  population is no more, and where the mission stood there is a desolate spot with a monument, where we hope to place a plaque.

It is still inspiring to stand where the early missionaries stood and one can’t fail to be spurred to continue as “God’s sentries”, patrolling not these beaches but the places where we stand today in joyful recognition that the kingdom of God is here.