A Brief History

The Anglican Church has been in the town of Nova Lima (near the city of Belo Horizonte) in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, since 1834 when the St John Del Rey Mining Company was founded for the extraction of gold in the region. The company, of English origin, brought around 150 families from Britain and also an Anglican Chaplain. Two chapels were built in the town - one around 1840 and the other around 1850.

The existing church was built on the present site in Norman style around 1911. It was dedicated on 22nd February 1914 on the Sunday before the start of lent by Bishop Edward Francis in the 12th year of his consecration.

In 1960, with the sale of the Mining Company to other financial groups the families gradually returned to England or moved away to other towns in Brazil such that only English descendants born and living in Nova Lima remained in the Church.

On the 23rd June 1990, on the eve of St John the Baptist Saints day - St John the Baptist being the Patron of the Church - the community received the canonical status of Parish at the 44th Diocesan convention held in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1991 the parish of St John the Baptist held the 45th Diocesan convention which was the first to be held here in 157 years. The Diocesan Bishop at that time was Dom Sydney Alcoba Ruiz and parish priest the Reverend Djalma Alves Asfora.

The Church counts on over 80 members with Holy Communion celebrated every Sunday morning and other services periodically.

In 2006, the 64th diocesan convention was held in Belo Horizonte. The Diocesan Bishop was Dom Celso Franco de Oliveira and our parish priest the Reverend Severino Abel da Silva.

There are weddings and christenings regularly held in the church, young peoples meetings, bible study classes and other religious meetings. Also, fund raising events throughout the year are held like barn dances and afternoon teas.

Future projects include: Repair of the roof which started in 2006 with an insecticide treatment and in the next few years will have to be extensively repaired or replaced (as the beetles have chewed through quite a bit of the wood!); tuning and small repairs to the Organ.

Points of Interest

A large and beautiful stained-glass east window with 3 individual scenes - "Emmanuel, God with us", "It is Finished" and "The Resurrection and the Life". According to historical archives this came from England in 1834 for one of the original chapels.

The organ, not currently in use, manufactured by the Positive Organ Co. (1922) Ltd, London W10. Carved on the side is the inscription A. M. D. G Given by the directors of the St John Del Rey Mining Company to mark it's centenary MDCCCXXX - MDCCCCXXX

The baptismal font with inscription around the base Dedicated to the Glory of God and in Memory of those who gave their lives for King and Country 1914-1918, 1939-1945.

English Chaplains, Ministers and Parish Priests in the 170 year history.

Interval of 9 years

Interval of 31 years

Interval of 6 years being attended by Priests from Rio de Janeiro