HISTORY

The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (known as SPG) was founded by The Revd Dr Thomas Bray in 1701. SPG sent priests and schoolteachers to America to minister to the colonists and take the message of the gospel to enslaved Africans and Native Americans. During the 18th century, SPG’s activities expanded into the West Indies, Canada, Australia and West Africa.

Over its 300-year history USPG has sent over 15,000 missionaries worldwide. Many of these missionaries were pioneers, some were involved in 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.

USPG’s early focus was pastoral ministry and education among British settler communities in North America and the Caribbean. SPG’s history is complex and inextricably linked to an era of imperialism and colonialism. But its darkest, most shameful period came early in its history.

In 1710, SPG received a bequest from Sir Christopher Codrington for two plantations in Barbados. Between 1710 and 1836, SPG benefitted from the labour of enslaved persons on the Codrington Estate. It is an utterly disgraceful history for which USPG apologises unreservedly. USPG is committed to engaging critically with this shameful history and on Friday 8 September 2023 in partnership with The Codrington Trust, USPG launched Renewal & Reconciliation: The Codrington Project to address the wrongs of the past. You can read more about this on the project page here.

This history opens important debates about what reparation might mean. In the 15 years following emancipation SPG made grants totalling £85,000 and launched a fund that raised a further £80,000 (together equivalent to more than £17m today). This was spent in the Caribbean, much of it on educational infrastructure. Today, alongside The Codrington Project, USPG is committed to exploring how it might best support the work of the Church of the Province of the West Indies. In addition, USPG supports the CARICOM Reparations Commission agenda.

This is all part of our work engaging in a process of understanding our culpability as a colonial actor better through an intentional exploration of our archives, in dialogue with the CPWI. You can read more about this work on our Repair and Restore pages.

USPG’s role has always been to contribute to and encourage the development of the Anglican Church – and more recently the United Churches – around the world. Over the centuries it has done this in different ways, but always with the aim of seeing churches thrive to become autonomous members of the Anglican Communion, contributing to both the life of the Anglican Church and the country they are part of.

The rapidly changing world of the mid-20th century, and particularly decolonisation, challenged traditional mission thinking and activity. This led to the development of new concepts which emphasised the interdependence of the world church with relationships becoming those of equal partners. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, USPG’s role has increasingly become one of facilitation, enabling the movement of ideas, resources and people around the world church.