A BRIEF HISTORY OF USPG
UNITED SOCIETY PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL
We bring to our work over 300 years of experience and expertise. We are proud of our history and have learned deep lessons from it.
Our story begins in 1701, when Bach and Handel were still young men and the finishing touches were still being made to the dome on St Paul’s Cathedral.
A visionary priest called Thomas Bray was granted a Royal Charter to set up a society that would send Church of England priests to settlers in America. He called this new organisation the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). This was the start of a story that is also a part of global history.
Expanding its initial remit, SPG quickly started sending school teachers to work with slave and native American communities. SPG missionaries worked within – and challenged – the cultural understanding of their day and did their best to help marginalised communities.
Over the next three centuries, we sent over 15,000 missionaries worldwide. Many of these missionaries were pioneers, tackling slavery, championing women’s rights and opposing racism. They also helped to establish indigenous Anglican Churches in the countries where they worked, helping to build what is today the global Anglican Communion.
Our story begins in 1701, when Bach and Handel were still young men and the finishing touches were still being made to the dome on St Paul’s Cathedral.
A visionary priest called Thomas Bray was granted a Royal Charter to set up a society that would send Church of England priests to settlers in America. He called this new organisation the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG). This was the start of a story that is also a part of global history.
Expanding its initial remit, SPG quickly started sending school teachers to work with slave and native American communities. SPG missionaries worked within – and challenged – the cultural understanding of their day and did their best to help marginalised communities.
Over the next three centuries, we sent over 15,000 missionaries worldwide. Many of these missionaries were pioneers, tackling slavery, championing women’s rights and opposing racism. They also helped to establish indigenous Anglican Churches in the countries where they worked, helping to build what is today the global Anglican Communion.
