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Montage of images showing the wide range of work carried out by Mission Overseas

Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Portugal (IEPP)


Beginnings

Robert Reid KalleyIgreja Evangélica Presbiteriana de Portugal(IEPP) - Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal - traces its roots to the ministry of a Scottish Presbyterian missionary, Robert Reid Kalley; a Glaswegian surgeon, who was originally accepted as a medical missionary for China by the London Missionary Society. However, due to Mrs. Kalley’s ongoing ill health, the couple was advised to interrupt their preparations for China so that Mrs. Kalley could recuperate in a more moderate climate.  As a result the Kalleys arrived in Funchal on the Portuguese island of Madeira on 12 October 1838.


Church growth

During the next eight years Robert Kalley set up a number of hospitals.  He also established schools for the local children so that they would be able to learn to read the Scriptures.  As time progressed the peoples’ interest in the Scottish missionary and his teaching increased, as did the opposition and persecution.  This culminated in 1845 with Robert’s imprisonment for six months without trial.   Finally, in August 1846, Robert had to flee the island of Madeira dressed as a woman and, shortly after, 2,000 of the so-called “Calvinist heretics” also had to flee their native island.


IEPP today

In the intervening 162 years the IEPP has grown from these humble roots on Madeira to reach mainland Portugal.  It is, however, still a small denomination with just 2,000 members in 27 congregations divided between the four regions of Lisbon & South (10), the Central Region (10), the Azores (3) and Madeira (4).  The small pastoral team of 10 ordained and 3 licentiate ministers faithfully serves the needs of these communities.

Recognising that they are not the only small Protestant denomination in Portugal, the IEPP has for some time been working closely with the Igreja Evangélica Metodista Portuguesa (IEMP) - the Evangelical Methodist Church in Portugal.  This began in 1964 with the production of the ‘Portugal Evangélico’ magazine, which has become the official publication of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches.  Then, on the 22 February 2007, a declaration was signed setting out a three-year process that will conclude with the two denominations joining by 2010.

 

This page was last updated: 27/08/09
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