Herault English Church

 Madagascar

Chaplaincy members may remember our Harvest Festival at Margon in September 2018, when Bishop Todd McGregor and his wife Revd Patsy, from The Episcopal Church, were with us and Bishop Todd preached. They were based then in Madagascar, where Bishop Todd had been the founding bishop of the Toliara Diocese. The Toliara Diocese grew rapidly and two of our members, Jane and John Griffin, are very involved with support for the churches there.

The McGregors have since retired, but our link has continued.  We are now "twinned" with the parish of Fenoarivo. Their priest is Revd Delphin Thessaloniane, who speaks English.  Carol Gardner and Phyl Mallett are our "link leaders".   Please click here to read our Link Agreement and here to go to the Diocese of Toliara website.

Below are photographs Revd Delphin sent in August 2022: one of him with his wife and son and one of him travelling on his motorbike to take a service.  He thanks us for our prayers as he undertakes difficult journeys on this bike which he says is too small and too old. 

Carol and Phyl, our Link Leaders are now in regular contact with Revd Delphin.  They receive photos and videos as well as exchanging written messages and occasionally chatting.  Hooray for WhatsApp!  Sadly, sending photos from All Saints is hampered by European data protection laws.

The church in the Toliara Diocese is still growing rapidly, amidst extreme poverty and extreme weather conditions.  In January, Revd Delphin baptised 47 new members in three separate services, including a combined baptism and marriage and sent us photos. In February he sent a video of him travelling by boat to one of his congregations. Please click on the link below the photos to see it.

In March, Cyclone Freddy caused devastation. Homes and crops were destroyed, as shown in photos below, and money was sent from All Saints to try to help the efforts to re-build and re-plant.

Friends of Toliara support the diocese in a variety of ways and produce an e-newsletter.  The newsletters have general news about the Diocese, but also news at parish and individual level.  If you'd like to subscribe, the link is: http://dioceseoftoliara.org/en/contact-us/subscribe-to-newsletter/   

The January edition of their newsletter features Revd Delphin on the front page.  Click here to go to that page.  You will read that his wife is ill.  Please remember them especially in your prayers.

In the February edition you'll see advertised a musical being performed in Florida in March.  Jane and John from our congregation will be there.