Above 1 month old

Right 2 months

Left 3 months 

• Gran and Grandma´s visits

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Above and below: Timothy 6 months old.

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Uruguay and the
Anglican Church of Uruguay 

Uruguay is about the size of England and Wales and is one of the smaller Latin American countries, sandwiched between Brazil and Argentina. It has a population of 3.4 million and 1.3 million of these live in the capital Montevideo where Andrew and Genevieve are based. Montevideo  is the social, political and cultural hub of the country. The next biggest city Salto in the north has a population of 104,000.

Uruguay became a republic in 1825, independent of both Argentina and Brazil who both had claims on the territory. It is mainly populated by European immigrants the biggest groupings of which are Spanish and Italian. There is also a minority population of those with Afro-Caribbean roots., mainly distant relatives of Brazilian slaves from the 19^th Century. There is no indigenous population as such, although some 20% of the population claim descendancy from the ´Charruas`; the indigenous people who once inhabited this land.

Uruguay is a secular state, the church and state having been officially separated at the beginning of the 20^th Century. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination in Uruguay and all the main denominations are represented. The last decade or so has seen the growth of many charismatic Pentecostal churches.  

Until the mid fifties, Uruguay was considered the "Switzerland of Latin America" with the most sophisticated democracy, highest education levels, and most complete set of social benefits for its citizens on the continent. All that changed in the 60´s and 70´s with the move towards the military dictatorship, and total domination of the military until the mid 80´s. Over 60,000 people were detained during these years, and over 20,000 held in prison - almost all of them tortured, and most held for over 5 years. This means that one in 50 Uruguayans were victims of illegal detainment and/or torture, one of the highest levels in the world.

Now Uruguay enjoys a strong democratic system. Until recently Uruguay politic have been dominated by two right of centre parties the Colorados and the Blancos. In November 2004 the Frente Amplio, a left wing coalition party won just over 50% of the popular vote and became Uruguay’s first ever left-wing government.

The Uruguayan economy was traditionally based on agriculture especially the sale of leather, beef and wool. Nowadays banking and tourism – especially in relation to Argentineans visiting Uruguay’s beaches- are also important factors in the economy.

While Uruguay has traditionally been one of the better off than many countries of South America, nowadays there are high numbers of people living in poverty. Child poverty, for example, has risen steadily in Uruguay over the past two decades, Now about half of Uruguayan children aged between 0 and 5 are living in poverty, and child mortality rates are increasing according to UNICEF. Half of children under five treated in Uruguay’s state hospitals show signs of malnutrition, while around 22% have reached such a serious level that they are at risk of death.

Such statistics are brought to life in the high numbers of children seen working to support their families and in the number of children whose families have broken down, who are forced, temporarily or permanently, to fend for themselves on the streets and are thus vulnerable to the dangers of labour and sexual exploitation.

This situation has been made worse by economic downturn in recent years. The general recession that has affected Latin America over the last few years has had a significant impact on Uruguay. In 2002 the country went through a socio-economic crisis; the banking system collapsed, the value of the local currency fell, and unemployment and inflation rose sharply. Unemployment and inflation are still high and the poorest and most vulnerable members of Uruguayan society continue to be worst affected.

The Anglican Church of Uruguay

There has been an Anglican Church in Uruguay since the 19th Century, but the church has only existed as an independent Diocese, with its own Bishop, since 1989.

Its present Bishop, Miguel Tamayo, from Cuba, was appointed in 1998. There are seven parishes and several missions located across the country. While the number of practicing Anglicans is numerically small, the church has developed a vibrant holistic mission programme. This brings it into contact with over 1000 people daily through various social action programmes. These programmes include night shelters for the homeless including homeless children and young people, a soup kitchen, nursery schools in some very poor areas, vocational training projects for teenagers and young adults including single mothers; and also work with people with disabilities.

Its community projects include a medical centre in a poor neighbourhood that has no other healthcare facilities and a family vegetable project in an impoverished area. Much of this work is undertaken in partnership with state and city institutions. This commitment to holistic mission puts the Church in the front-line of meeting the needs of the poorest people in the aftermath of the recent socio-economic crisis.

History of the 
Anglican Church of Uruguay 

At the end of the first half of the 19th Century English businessmen came to South America in order to invest in the railways that had recently opened, and other public services, as well as in industry, ranching and agriculture. With them they brought their faith and its traditions and consequently it was in 1843 that the Reverend William Birch was designated as the first Anglican chaplain of Montevideo. He celebrated the first religious offices on the 4th of June of that year, and weekly services continued from that time.

At the start of the following year work began on the first church in Montevideo which was located on an area of land next to the sea at the start of the street ´Treinta y Tres`. It remained here until 1934 when the local government ordered it to be relocated to the nearby position it now occupies a few hundred yards further inland; this was to permit the building of the main coastal road.

When a Diocese of the Anglican Church was formed in Argentina in 1925 it included the three congregations originally established in Uruguay i.e. in Montevideo, Fray Bentos and Salto.

During the 1950´s and 60´s, and after many changes both nationally and internationally, church activity lessened. The faithful members declined in numbers as British business interests in Uruguay declined and the British community in Montevideo became less significant. With its focus remaining on the English speaking community the church was becoming less and less relevant. The communities in Salto and Fray Bentos practically disappeared.

The first services in Spanish took place in 1970 when a Brazilian Bishop asked the Bishop of Buenos Aires for permission to visit and take services in Spanish in Montevideo for a few families that had moved from the northern border with Brazil. In 1979 a Spanish speaking priest from England arrived with the task of developing the Spanish speaking ministry. The Spanish ministry has continued and grown since that time and Spanish is now the main language used throughout the Diocese. There is still a small English Ministry which is based at the Cathedral.

In 1986, Archdeacon William Godfrey arrived and started to work towards forming a new Diocese. This was achieved on 10th December 1989 when the Diocese of Uruguay became part of the Province of South America, with its Episcopal Seat in the old Holy Trinity Church, Montevideo, which therefore became the Cathedral.

The church has grown significantly since that time, and now has 7 parishes and 5 missions. Rev. Miguel Tamayo was consecrated as the second Diocesan Bishop in May 1998. He and his wife Rev- Deacon Martha Lopez are Cuban and came to Uruguay in 1995 as mission partners sponsored by the Anglican Church of Canada.

Click here for further information about the Anglican Church of Uruguay on the Church´s website.

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San Esteban Hostel

Hogar San Esteban (Saint Stephen’s Hostel) is a project of the Anglican Church of Uruguay that offers help to vulnerable people living with HIV/AIDS in situations of extreme poverty. It has been operating since 2003. Since then the hostel has been undertaking various activities in the fields of health care, family reconciliation, interpersonal relations, help in training for and securing employment and spirituality.

In the years since the hostel opened its doors the church has attempted to create a community that attends to and helps those in desperate need, reflecting the love shown in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Between 2002 and 2005 some 150 people have passed through the hostel. About 50 of these have lived there as residents for a while and the rest have in various ways benefited from the services the hostel offers. Many other people have participated in different types of activities, training and health promotion and courses for those who want to accompany people living with HIV/AIDs.

The hostel is connected to the Parish of San Esteban in Montevideo, Uruguay, which has its chapel in the same building. Pastoral support is always available and there are regular prayer times. Many hostel residents choose to participate in the life of the parish church. The congregation has witnessed processes of conversion, baptisms and confirmations and has also had moments of sadness as several companions have passed into the presence of the Lord.

The community has passed through difficult times because it is accompanying a group of vulnerable people with very severe problems. Often, for the people being served, being HIV is one further complication in already difficult circumstances. Consequently, it is not not surprising that life at the hostel can be difficult. But in the difficult times there is a strong enough community to persevere, strengthened by times of reflection and study of the Word.

Part of the message of commitment of the San Esteban Hostel, proclaimed Easter 2003.

The dignity of every person, in every moment and in all circumstances is what has called us to come together to reflect and plan actions in the crisis presented by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. As followers of Christ…we want to come together through the San Esteban Hostel to raise our voices to pronounce words of hope and unity and to denounce situations of injustice and exclusion. With the objective of breaking the silence that has, for many years, brought pain and death, we want to… demonstrate what Jesus himself has taught us, both in our words and in our commitment to pastoral action.

Below are the life stories of two people who have been assisted by the work of the San Esteban Hostel.

Eliana´s story

My name is Eliana. I come from a family of 4 brothers and 4 stepbrothers. I was born 2^nd January 1954. I never went to school as a child, but since I came to the San Esteban hostel I been able to go to a school for adults with special needs.

I grew up with several different families. At the age of 20 I got married, and then divorced and I ended up living on the streets. I met a man and had a child while I was living on the streets.

I survived for many years by begging and looking after parked cars. I was taking drugs and I was in and out of hospital. Then I got very ill and I was told that I was hiv positive. It was at this point that I came to the San Esteban hostel. I weighed 25 kilos when I arrived but I started to get better as a result of the work of the hostel. I would go to the public hospital for treatment and check-ups, and San Esteban offered a place where I could rest, take my medications as well as get fed and have a shower and wash my clothes. They also helped me to go to court to get access to some benefit payments that I was entitled to from the government, so that I would have money to live in a Pension. I left the hostel for a while but got very sick again and had to come back.

Now I weigh 76 kilos; I’ve got new clothes and soon I’m going to the dentist to get new false teeth fitted.

I’m so grateful to the San Esteban hostel, where I have received such love and such help. They always care for me here, and I have the love of God in Jesus Christ, who protects me and guides us all.

Raquel’s story

My name is Raquel. I’m 49 years old. I’ve been a sex worker since I was 17 and a drug addict since I was 21, so that I haven’t really known any other world. When I was 48, I discovered I was a carrier of hiv-aids.

This was a very great shock for me; it was the last thing I needed. After hearing the terrible news, I was inconsolable. I put myself in the hands of my doctor in the Institute of Hygiene, which is the national centre for those who need help but don’t have money. They put me on to the pills and treatment to lengthen my life, without which I’d already be dead.

But I had no means of living. Apart from everything else, it isn’t the same being a 48 year old sex worker as it is being a 20 year old sex worker. But with no money I couldn’t eat and I needed at least 2 meals a day to take my medications which involved 14 tablets a day.

Then at the hospital I met with friend, also a carrier, who helped people with hiv-aids. She told me about a place - San Esteban´s - that helped people living with hiv/aids who were homeless , that would be able to help me. I arrived at San Esteban´s very confused and embarrassed because I’d never asked anyone for anything in my life, least of all food. I’d always managed alone. But I went to San Esteban and asked for help and I was able to get food and therefore continue with my treatment.

From the first moment they helped me. At first I would just go for food and many times when I went for dinner I felt comforted and protected. Little by little I was spending more time at San Esteban and helping out with different things and feeling part of the community where I felt love, solidarity and help. I left behind the feelings of being an infected person, discriminated against and I felt I had many reasons to live. It was good to be with companions who shared the same problems and I learned to accept more my situation. For 10 months I went to San Esteban to eat; but also to be happy and to find love. I, who had always been someone who felt I had no need for anyone, that I could do it all myself, learned that I couldn’t cope alone. I learned to share and got to know people who had nothing to offer but love, support and companionship. All that before had been grey began to be coloured. With the support of my companions and the help of the Psychologist I got to know myself, to love myself and to accept myself. I never thought that my life would change so much.

But in February this year I started to take drugs; “pasta base”. I need to get away from this other epidemic - that of “pasta base”, and I asked for help to leave from the poor neighbourhood where I was living. I asked for help from a companion from San Esteban, who isn’t a carrier, but who helps with the work of the hostel who told me there were people at the Hostel who loved me and were worried for me. Never before had anyone loved me with out their own self-interests; I’d always been surrounded by people who were interested in sex or money or some other form of exploitation.

So I came to live at San Esteban where I love my colleagues and companions and where I feel loved. I am helping with the work of the hostel, collecting food donations and loving it. I feel useful. At this time my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count is at acceptable levels,  thanks to taking my medications and getting regular check-ups. I’m enjoying good health, feel cared for and helped. I feel tolerance and a new quality of life, protection and hope. My home is San Esteban. 

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Alpha

The Alpha Course started by an Anglican church in London over 15 years ago consists of a series of talks addressing key issues relating to the Christian faith. Alpha has been used throughout the world and over 7 million people worldwide have participated in Alpha courses.

The Diocese of Uruguay has run a number of innovative Alpha courses. One of these was for homeless people who go to the church's soup kitchen. Many of those who participated in that Alpha course continue to attend a regular Bible study. Another Alpha Course for young people successfully integrated young people with learning difficulties and many of these have continued to be involved in the youth activities of the Church.

Last year the Diocese ran another Alpha course and there are plans to run further courses in several parishes this year.

The photo was taken at the Alpha weekend away in 2005.

Work with people who are homeless

In the coming year, much work will go into support for people - particularly those who are homeless - in the cold winter weather. The church runs two nightshelters for homeless men and another shelter for adolesecents and mothers with young children. In addition there is a soup kitchen providing regular hot meals for the homeless based in the crypt of the Cathedral. 

People in the UK tend to assume that South America is always warm, but average temperatures can be as low as 6° celsius during the winter months of June to August. Please follow this link for information on Montevideo's weather.

Panambi - Centro Diurno

Posada de Belen

“A story too sad to be told.”

“Problems with my parents” is how Pedro, 15, describes what led him to leave home to live on the streets. He has been at the “Posada” for 2 months, his first time in a place like this.

The project was set up in 1999, with government support, in response to a growing awareness of the difficult and dangerous lives of  Montevideo’s “street kids”. At any time there can be around 20 people at the hostel. Some are there long term; others are there briefly, or return frequently as family circumstances change. As well as providing shelter and food, the hostel helps the young people go to school or train for work and, where possible, to return to their family.

Pedro studies at the hostel; trying to make up for several years of education that he has missed. His goal is to leave Uruguay and join the Italian army. When he isn’t studying, he is working; selling little card calendars on buses. He buys 100 calendars for 45 pesos, (about one pound), and he’ll sells these for whatever people are willing to give - 1 or 2 pesos. The trouble is that this money then goes on playing video games and smoking marijuana; so he is always having to beg for the money to start the process again. It takes a long time to raise 45 pesos by begging.

Pedro ended up at the Posada early on in his life on the streets. For others it may be years before contact with the police or social workers puts them in touch.

When Esteban, 16, is asked to tell his story, he is reluctant at first, saying, with half a smile, that it’s “a story too sad to be told.” But he relents and tells how he started living on the streets when he was 9. At that time he started sniffing glue; the glue used for sticking the soles on shoes, and consequently had half a lung removed. At 12 he got involved in robberies with a gang of older youths. He says he didn’t want to be involved in crime but when you’re hungry what can you do? He ended up at a detention centre. This, he says, was awful, and  he was subjected to various abuses.

The hostel staff are familiar with stories like these; poverty and family breakdowns leave young people with nowhere to go. Juan says it can often be frustrating work. But the project can make a difference. He talks about the young people he has seen who came off the streets in a terrible state; on drugs, unable to read and write. With patient support they have gone back to school and are now living independently. It doesn’t always happen, of course, he says; and it depends as much on the young people as on anything the project can do. But, yes, at times the Posada really can make a difference.

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St Paul's Mission, Progreso

Andrew helped St Paul's Mission to secure funding for the development of the mission and the family vegetable growing project. In 2005 the Scottish Episcopal Church Provincial Overseas Commitee gave a grant towards this project and recently the project secured further funding through the Episcopal Relief and Development fund (ER-D) of the Episcopal Church of the USA which will support and develop the project for four years. The following profile of the Mission and the vegetable growing project first appeared in the newsletter of the Friends of the Diocese of Uruguay.

Progreso is a town (pop. 17,000) situated some 32 km outside the city of Montevideo. St Paul´s Mission is located in La Villa Felicidad (pop. 2,000), a suburb of Progreso. La Villa Felicidad is a recently developed neighbourhood, dating back only 15 years or so. This is an impoverished community. Basic infrastructure is in place–unsealed roads; street lighting on main routes; water and electricity–but it is substandard. Many families have unauthorised access to electricity. There is a lack of adequate social, health and community facilities. Housing is largely self-built and is generally of poor quality. The semi-urban/semi-rural location means that, for work, the population is mainly dependent on local seasonal rural work and/or long commutes into the city of Montevideo. Unemployment and underemployment is very high. The Mission Team are aware of local problems with drugs and family violence. Many people in this community are living in poverty and one way in which this manifests itself is in the form of poor diet leading to malnourishment and poor health.

St Paul’s Mission

In 1999 the Bishop granted permission to a Seminary student who lived in La Villa Felicidad, Progreso, to undertake Bible studies and Devotions at his home in response to local interest and to fulfil the pastoral duties required by his theological training. 10 people began meeting regularly. The Bishop himself played an active part in the Mission visiting once a month to celebrate the Eucharist and, in time, undertaking Baptisms and Confirmations.

Gradually this small group began to grow in numbers and it became increasingly impractical to meet in local homes. This led to the initial discussions about establishing a permanent presence in the area which would provide not only space for gathering for prayer and worship, but also for the implementation of the social and practical activities that the Mission was increasingly involved in, in an effort to meet some of the needs of this impoverished community.

In 2002, with funds from the UK Mission agency, United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and a partner church All Saints, Dale City, Virginia, USA it became possible to purchase a plot of land with a view to constructing a church building. The plan is to develop this in the following 3 phases, as resources allow.

1. An initial multi-purpose building for worship and social activities

2. An extension to the building to provide dedicated space for worship and social activities

3. Housing for the Clergy.

In 2004 All Saints Church, Virginia, USA generously supported the first phase of building which was completed in October 2004 fulfilling the aspirations that the community had had for several years. Bishop Miguel undertook the consecration of the new chapel on November 21, 2004.

A group of between 10 and 20 families form the congregation of St Paul’s Mission. The core group is principally women, adolescents and children from the local neighbourhood who are familiar with the problems that exist here. The congregation aspires to assist with all the needs of the local community.

The Mission Team consists of a Priest, Rev. Paulo Duarte who is also responsible for the Old City Parish in Montevideo, and Alejandro Manzoni a Seminary Student, and co-ordinator of the Mission’s social activities.These social activities include children and youth work and craft workshops as well as the family vegetable project described below. A number of new developments are currently under discussion. These include the possibility of offering vocational training activities for local people of the church premises. Another idea currently being explored is the potential development of a child and family centre to provide pre-school support for local children.

Funding has also been secured from a partner church in the USA, Church of the Apostles, Fairfax, Virginia,  to undertake the second phase of building work, the construction of a church hall. Plans are currently on hold to ensure that the new hall is compatible with the various new activities that are currently under development.

St Paul´s Mission Family Vegetable Project

More than 60 local families participate in this project, which seeks to support the development of family vegetable gardens within the neighbourhood to improve the local diet. The project undertakes training, works together in groups, and makes tools and materials available for the local community. Cooking workshops are also undertaken using the vegetables that have been grown through the project with a view to increasing the local knowledge of the most nutritious and economic forms of food preparation.

The Vegetable Project has previously received funding from the Scottish Episcopal Church and recently secured funding through the Episcopal Relief and Development fund (ER-D) of the Episcopal Church of the USA which will support and develop the project over the next four years. This is part of ER-D´s “Food Security Program” which operates in several locations worldwide and tries to ensure families have enough food to eat on a daily basis and food supplies are available, affordable, and accessible.

Alejandro Manzoni, who coordinates the vegetable project said:

“It’s wonderful to have the funds from Episcopal Relief and Development for developing our project to improve the local diet through organic vegetable growing.  At the same time we’re also trying to follow the model of the journey to Emmaus; we seek to walk with the people of this neighbourhood and to get to know them on the journey, with a view to ultimately recognising the presence of God in all His magnitude.

The vegetable growing project lets us to experience the wonder of God’s creation, while allowing us to look for concrete solutions to problems such as hunger, poor diet and poor health and an absence of a culture of community participation and organisation.

Primarily we seek to achieve an improved diet with little money and more natural resources. At the same time this gives us the opportunity to get to know the local families and the project functions as an example of how local solutions can be found to some of the many problems that exist locally.

We are working 7 days a week in the community. Sharing the Eucharistic table is part of the community life that we are trying to develop; but we want to emphasise that God is present at all times.

As a result of this project we hope that over the next few years more than 150 families that currently live in poverty will improve their situation – they will be able to eat better, their children will grow up healthier and will therefore be in a better position receive the education they need to confront the future. We also intend the project will be a source of hope demonstrating that it is possible to improve health, diet and ways of living and working; and showing that the local people themselves can play a major part in improving their situations. We do so working alongside the local school, the neighbourhood health clinic and local neighbourhood associations.

We’re a small congregation but we’re striving to be like the grain of mustard; to be a seed that will grow vigorously.”

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 Saturday 16 December 2006