Bishop Charles Henry Brent (March 27th)

Bishop Charles Henry Brent 

By the Rt. Rev. Fr. Paulinus Molina (Ancient Church of the West)

Our Vicariate’s ambitious project in the Philippines, through the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of the Philippines, will mark the planting of the first mission in the Anglican Patrimony in Cebu since 1898, when the first Anglican missionaries from the Episcopal Church (USA) first arrived in the Philippines. 

Bishop Charles Henry Brent was the first Missionary Bishop of the Philippines, an orthodox churchman with a profound commitment to the Apostolic Gospel. He had to establish a Church away from the main population centers as these had been governed (or Lorded!) for over 300 years by Roman Catholic friars of different stripes (OP, OAR, OFM, etc.). Anglican missions were directed to the (head-hunting!) Igorot peoples in the north and the (Islamic) Moro peoples in the south, as well as the Chinese in Manila. Brent labored for 17 years evangelizing and putting an end to the opium traffic throughout South East Asia. The Canadian-native’s methods were highly contextualized as he believed that Filipinos could develop a Christian faith that could contribute uniquely to the world. 

With his heart set on the right priorities, Bp. Brent achieved in 17 years what the Spaniards and their missionaries couldn’t: the conversion of the Igorots in the north, established peace with the Moros which had waged war for 300 years in the south and allowed the Chinese to hear the Gospel for the first time ever since their arrival! 

Even as the Anglican Vicariate of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Manila undertakes this great mission, we take confidence in knowing that we walk in the footsteps of such a great saint. By divine providence, our Metropolitan was given the hollowed Mitre of Bp. Brent, a token of the great mission that he had, and took it as a prophecy of our jurisdictional mandate in the Philippines. 

Bp. Brent’s Miter for the Diocese of Cebu

Our Metropolitan, the Rt. Rev. Rogelio Cruz, now has the miter of the sainted Bp. Brent. This relic shows the continuity of our ministry in the Philippines, the treasured role of the Episcopacy in sharing the Light of Christ’s Gospel in Southeast Asia, and the mission of our Church as we seek to join those within the Anglican Patrimony back to Holy Orthodoxy! 

May God continue to grow and expand the work of the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church in the Philippines, protecting our bishop and clergymen, and increasing our flock as our parishes grow!

COLLECT

We pray with him in his own words, “Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.”