The Filipino Chaplaincy of the Diocese of London was highlighted during the 45th anniversary celebration of the Concordat of Full Communion between the Church of England and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente on 13 July 2008 at St. John’s Church in Notting Hill. The Chaplaincy was acknowledged as a recent expression of the two Churches’ communion that started in 1963.
Bishops and priests from the Church of England, The Episcopal Church of USA, and the Philippine Independent Church attended the Eucharist presided by the Most Revd Dr Godofredo David of the Filipino Church. Bishop Michael Doe of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) delivered the Sermon. Representatives of the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams and Bishop of London the Right Revd Dr Richard Chartres also came. The Eucharist and the subsequent forum were attended by Filipinos and the English congregation of St. John’s . During the forum, Filipino organizations Kadamay and Migrante UK presented an excerpt of the play “Maleta: Mga Kwentong Di Maikwento”.
The Church of England through the USPG and the Philippine Independent Church have been doing joint mission by serving the struggling poor in the Philippines . USPG is an international mission society of the Anglican Communion. The unity of the two Churches is made even closer by the formation of Filipino Chaplaincy two years ago.
The Chaplaincy was formally launched on 18 May 2006 at St. John’s in Notting Hill. It has two Filipino chaplains headed by the Revd Fr Salvador Telen, and supported by the Diocese of London and St. John’s Parish. The Chaplaincy is serving the Filipinos through pastoral care, assistance on immigration and medical problems, community development, and through Sunday Eucharist in Tagalog. All Filipinos are welcome regardless of faith and denominational affiliation. The Filipino Chaplaincy is based at St. John’s Church Notting Hill, Lansdowne Crescent , London W11 2NN , at the top of Ladbroke Grove.
