The Diocese of Argentina, part of the Anglican Church of South America, has marked the 200th anniversary of the first official Anglican service held in the country.
Held in Buenos Aires on 25 September, the thanksgiving service in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, commemorated the city and day on which the first recorded Anglican service took place back in 1825.
The service took place at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist (the oldest non-Roman Catholic church building still in use in the country). Clergy and lay members from across the diocese, representatives of other Christian denominations, government authorities, the British Ambassador to Argentina and members of missionary, educational, health and public service institutions attended.
The service was conducted in Spanish, with one reading in Wichí and the final blessing in Toba, as languages spoken by indigenous communities in northern Argentina. Organisers described the inclusion as a gesture honouring the Church’s historic missionary work among indigenous peoples and its ongoing commitment to cultural respect and inclusion.
Following the service, participants shared a communal meal and viewed a short film tracing the history of Anglican witness in Argentina. Messages of greeting were received from organisations and members of the wider Anglican Communion. Music was provided by the Gospel Jazz Band of Buenos Aires, adding a vibrant note of worship and thanksgiving.
This bicentenary celebration was not simply an exercise in looking backwards to past milestones but a powerful renewal of vision. The Most Revd Brian Williams, Primate of the Anglican Church of South America and Bishop of Argentina, who presided over the service, affirmed that, ‘With grateful hearts for two centuries of God’s faithfulness, we step into the future with hope, trusting that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’
As part of the bicentenary commemorations, the Diocese is preparing for its first-ever diocesan-wide spiritual retreat, scheduled for the weekend of November 1st-2nd. The retreat will include dedicated moments for children, young people and adults, as well as shared inter‐generational activities.
This offering is a positive way to conclude a year that has been deeply meaningful and to launch into the next chapter of witness and service, hand in hand with the communities and indigenous peoples the church serves.