Southern Brazil, Missionary District of

The mission to Brazil began on Aug. 31, 1889, when James Watson Morris (1859-1954) and Lucien Lee Kinsolving (1862-1929) sailed for Brazil as missionaries. On Oct. 20, 1898, the House of Bishops elected Kinsolving Bishop for the United States of Brazil. The 1907 General Convention established the Missionary District of Brazil, and elected Kinsolving Missionary Bishop. The same General Convention also changed the name to the Missionary District of Southern Brazil. On Sept. 30, 1949, the House of Bishops divided the Missionary District of Southern Brazil into three missionary districts-Southern Brazil, Southwestern Brazil, and Central Brazil. On Oct. 20, 1964, the House of Bishops voted for an independent Brazilian Church, and in 1965 the Episcopal Church of Brazil, became an independent Province of the Anglican Communion.