Although he only spent a brief time in the colonies, Bray established the two organizations that built missions and parishes throughout the New World, including the original Christ Church. Those organizations, now 300 years old, remain active to this day. More may be read of him at
their site. He also, among other endeavors, was an abolitionist, founded a number of lending libraries that enabled the Church of England in the colonies to champion colonial literacy and education, and was responsible for the creation of what is the Episcopal Church in Maryland. Not bad for a parish priest in England.
O God of compassion,
who opened the heart of your servant Thomas Bray to the needs of the
Church in the New World, and to found societies to relieve them: Make
the Church diligent at all times to propagate the Gospel, and to promote
the spread of Christian knowledge; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
