Remembering Thomas Bray (1656-Feb. 15, 1730).

This week we remember Thomas Bray whose saint’s day was February 15.  Bray, for whom our Diocesan headquarters was named, was Commissary to Maryland and Founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. He was born in Marton, Shropshire, England. Bray graduated from All Souls College, Oxford, in 1678, and then was ordained deacon and priest. He served as a country curate, chaplain, and vicar until 1690, when he became rector of Sheldon, Warwickshire. While at Sheldon he wrote his famous Catechetical Lectures. In 1696 the Bishop of London named Bray the first Commissary to Maryland where he helped formally establish the Church of England. He served in that position until 1706.

Interestingly, he spent only ten weeks in the colony of Maryland, but he radically re-organized and renewed the Church here, providing for the instruction of children and the systematic examination of candidates for pastoral positions. He founded thirty-nine lending libraries and numerous schools. Both in Maryland and upon his return to England, he wrote and preached in defense of the rights of enslaved Africans, and of Indians deprived of their land. Back in England, he worked for the reform of prison conditions, and for the establishment of preaching missions to prisoners. He persuaded General Oglethorpe to found an American colony (Georgia) for the settlement of debtors as an alternative to debtors’ prison. He founded an educational and publishing society as well, the SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge), which is still active in our Diocese of Easton today and is centered in Hebron, MD.

Before going to Maryland Bray founded the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which sent missionaries and libraries to the colonies, and provided charity schools in England. Bray arrived in Maryland on Mar. 12, 1700. He returned to England in early 1701. Bray also founded the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, which sent 354 missionaries to the American colonies. In 1706 he became the rector of St. Botolph’s Without, Aldgate, where he remained until his death. Bray was described as “a Great Small Man.”