Myanmar - Burma

The Diocese of Yangon (Rangoon) was founded in 1874. The Diocese of Winchester raised much of the endowment for the new diocese, which had been carved out of the Diocese of Calcutta. The one diocese has now grown into six and they form the Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma). There has been a strong partnership between the Church in Burma and the Diocese since the beginning, which has changed and grown over the years. The hardest time was between 1966 and 1987 when the frontiers were effectively closed to all foreigners. The then Bishop of Basingstoke, Michael Manktelow, rekindled the partnership in 1987 when he was able to be in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Yangon, for its centenary. Although our partnership has to find its greatest expression in our prayer for each other, it is still vibrant. The Burmese church also values enormously monies that are collected from Winchester to buy rice for all who work for the Church. It is vital.