The Trinity Parish, Fray Bentos
 | Giebert 3383, Fray Bentos Holy Eucharist:
Contact:Revd. Gonzalo Soria (598-56) 28582 / 099 252555 |
Parish Office Hours
Monday to Saturday 8.30am - 11.30amOther ActivitiesThe Parish is organised into two neighbourhood communities that undertake Bible study once a week where the consider their situation and how they can serve their community. There are also Sunday School groups and confirmation classes. A current priority is centered on the formation of work groups which will reach out to new neighbourhoods and new families.History of the ParishThe oldest records that exists of the work of the Anglican Church in Fray Bentos goes back to November 1875 when a Revd. Richard Croker was designated as a chaplain in Fray Bentos by the South American Mission Society
The congregation principally consisted of the businessmen and workers connected to the large local meat-factory "Liebeg". It was they who constructed the chapel which survives to this day. During the war years there were no chaplains but a faithful group, in particular the family Gepp, maintained the work and the temple. In 1971 with the sale of the factory and the return of the majority of the English to England, the chapel became increasingly decrepit until it was practically abandoned. The manager of the meat factory got in touch with the Anglican Bishop of Buenos Aires to ask him to take charge of the situation, and the chapel was used temporarily by other church groups. When the Diocese of Uruguay was established in 1988 the missionary interest was reawakened and years later in 1997 Bishop Godfrey accompanied by Fathers Tamayo, Moore and Porcal went to Fray Benos to celebrate a Eucharist in the old and abandoned temple, and to ask God for a vision to reinstate the work here. In 1998 it was agreed that a celebration of the Eucharist should take place once a month and a group from Salto and another from Montevideo maintained this regular contact until 2001 when repair work was undertaken on the chapel thanks to a donation from the United Society for the Propogation of the Gospel (USPG).
In a short space of time the missionary work within the area has borne fruit and there is now a faithful community of some 30 people. |
(SAMS) and sought permission to work here. Revd. Croker faithfully visted the English farmers in this area, baptising, celebrating the Eucharist and teaching the Gospel whenever possible.
In September 1878 the Revd. W.H. Shimield arrived to take charge of the chapel and was subsequently followed by a succession of other chaplains. 
When the work was finished Bishop Miguel Tamayo rededicated the church and parish hall on the 8th December 2002. At the same time Rev. Gonzalo Soria was installed as the Parish Priest here.