Overseas Links

The Diocese has two formal Overseas Links:

Diocese of Connecticut:

This link is of enormous significance not just for the Aberdeen and Connecticut sees but for the whole wide-world Anglican Communion.  Following the American Revolution, the Church of England was unwilling to ordain a bishop from the Anglican churches of the new USA. Therefore Samuel Seabury was ordained bishop by Bishop Skinner in Aberdeen in November 1784. Thus the apostolic succession was maintained in the USA and the precedent was set for Anglican churches throughout the world to elect bishops who could be properly ordained.

The Aberdeen-Connecticut link itself has been maintained and has been reinforced by mutual visits at various levels and by the practice of each Church appointing an honorary canon from the other.

More information on the link with the Diocese of Connecticut is available here.

 

Diocese of Mthatha:

Originally established in 1872 as the Diocese of St John’s, it seems that it’s links with the Scottish Episcopal Church were established in the early twentieth century. In recent years there have been a number of reciprocal visits by individuals and Church groups. Mrs Roella Wilson from Orkney recently helped Mthatha to develop its IT systems while in 2016 Bishop Sitembele Mzamane visited Aberdeen and attended a meeting of the Overseas Task Group while some of the Mthatha Cathedral’s choristers sang in some of Aberdeen’s churches.

More information on the link with the Diocese of Mthatha is available here.

 

Congregational Links:

Some of our congregations have their own links, and many also support projects around the world.  For more information on these links, please contact the Overseas committee.