Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and San Pedro de Macoris of the Iglesia Episcopal Dominicana. Records

Identity elements

Reference code

MP-02-R0245

Name and location of repository

Level of description

Fonds

Title

Episcopal Diocese of Haiti and San Pedro de Macoris of the Iglesia Episcopal Dominicana. Records

Date(s)

  • 1897-1898 (Creation)

Extent

.15 cu.ft. (1 envelope)

Name of creator

(1897-)

Administrative history

The Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic began as a mission for English speaking residents. Responding to a call to minister to US occupational forces and to the British West Indian laborers of Anglican background who worked in the sugar and banana industries, Benjamin Isaac Wilson, a self-taught priest, founded the Church of the Holy Trinity, which was consecrated by the Right Reverend James T. Holly, Bishop of the Orthodox Apostolic Church in Haiti, in 1897.

This initial Dominican congregation, headed by Father Wilson, was at San Pedro de Macoris, and operated under the episcopal jurisdiction of the independent Haitian Orthodox Apostolic Church. In 1913, both the Dominican church and the church in Haiti were received into The Episcopal Church of the United States, although both were remained under the supervision of the Diocese of Puerto Rico for some time.

In 1928, jurisdiction over the Dominican church was transferred to the Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of Haiti. Though a Missionary District of the Dominican Republic was formed by General Convention in 1940, the Bishop of Haiti continued as Bishop-in-Charge, under the direction of the Presiding Bishop. In 1961, the Rt. Rev. Paul Kellogg became the first Bishop of the newly recognized mission diocese of the Dominican Republic.

Content and structure elements

Scope and content

This record group consists of seven hand-written documents which record the founding of the Dominican Episcopal Church in 1897, and the ordination of its leader, Benjamin I. Wilson, in 1898, under the aegis of the Haitian Orthodox Apostolic Church. Other historic documents, typescripts, and photographs represent the genesis and development of the Dominican Episcopal Church. Included are a “Covenant of Understanding” signed by Wilson and Bishop James Holly of the Haitian Church, and a testimonial in French signed by Monsieur A. Battiste, Chancellor of the Haitian Church. Also noteworthy are the Articles of Government of the Church of the Holy Trinity, a one-page document signed by representatives of the Church.

System of arrangement

Arranged chronologically

Conditions of access and use elements

Conditions governing access

Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.

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The Archives is able to respond to limited requests for reproductions subject to copyright restrictions, internal policy, and the condition of the source documents.

Languages of the material

  • English

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