August 17
1635 Richard Mather, an English Puritan, arrives in Boston. He was a staunch defender of the congregational form of church government, but he ironically founded the “dynasty,” a puritan lineage, which dominated the religious and intellectual life of colonial New England and was involved in founding Harward University.
1662 Passing away of Philip of Sukhona, a famous Orthodox hermit on Mt. Yankov, who even refused to become the abbot of the monastery there, while he considered himself unworthy for the same.
1734 Presbyterian pastor John Craig arrives in America.
1761 Birth of William Carey, a pioneer English missionary to India, who taught at the Fort William College of Calcutta from 1801 until his death. He was involved in founding the Serampore Press, which made the Bible accessible to over 300 million people.
1780 Birth of George Croly, Irish churchman and author, who published many books of biographical, historical and religious importance, and also for hymns like “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart.”
1809 Thomas Campbell and his son Alexander establish the American Movement for Christian Unity, in Pennsylvania, which later came to be known as the Disciples of Christ Church.
1862 Stephen and Mary Riggs, missionaries among the Dakota, hold their final service in the chapel at Hazelwood, before fleeing an Indian uprising.
1878 Demise of Richard Upjohn, an architect who had designed many Christian churches in the United States, according to a revived English Gothic architectural style. He even refused to design a Unitarian church building, because he considered them anti-Christian.
1992 Repose of Bautista Silva, the first convert of the Piaroa tribe in Venezuela, who also had helped with Bible translation. He won others to Christ, traveling on foot and spending long hours with people.
Edited by: T. Chempilayil MCBS
Courtesy: www.studylight.org