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In 1696, Thomas Bray, an English country parson, was commissioned to report on the condition of the Church in the colony of Maryland.
He spent only ten weeks in the colony, but he radically re-organized and renewed the Church there, providing for the instruction of children and the systematic examination of candidates for pastoral positions. He founded thirty-nine lending libraries and numerous schools.
Both in Maryland and upon his return to England, he wrote and preached in defense of the rights of enslaved Africans, and of Indians deprived of their land.
Back in England, he worked for the reform of prison conditions, and for the establishment of preaching missions to prisoners. He persuaded General Oglethorpe to found a American colony (Georgia) for the settlement of debtors as an alternative to debtors' prison.
He founded a missionary society, the SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) and an educational and publishing society, the SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge), both of which are still active today.
written by James Kiefer
O God of compassion, who opened the eyes of your servant Thomas Bray to see the
needs of the Church in the New World, and led him to found societies to meet those
needs: Make the Church in this land diligent at all times to propagate the Gospel
among those who have not received it, and to promote the spread of Christian knowledge;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.