The rural city of Danville in the western region of Virginia was a late addition to the itinerary for the Dean’s current program in the United States. Best known for its previous role as a center for the textile and tobacco industries, it also played a key role in the final days of the Civil War when Danville served as the last seat of government for the Confederated States of America.

What took the Dean to Danville was another historical link.

Following the recent round of scholarship grants, the Dean dropped a brief email to the Revd Becky Crites at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville. He was writing to let them know that he had drawn on a fund created by a gift from their parish some years earlier. That gift allowed him to offer scholarships for several clergy from the Hmong community in Minnesota to participate in a program at St George’s College later this year.

This simple courtesy note triggered a set of connections, new and old. A brief visit to Danville was arranged when other changes to the Dean’s schedule created a free day in the program.

As well as meeting with the Revd Becky, who is serving as the Interim Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, there was an opportunity to meet with Fr Jim Mathieson, who was Rector of the Church at the time when the original gifts to St George’s College had been made. His own love for the College and his vision of clergy professional development, had continued to bear fruit many years later. Jim had also served for a period on the North American Committee of the College.

Following a light lunch with Becky and Jim, there was an opportunity for the Dean to speak with the children from Eighth Grade in the small school operated by the Parish. The class had recently completed a unit on the Middle East, so a visitor from Jerusalem was an unexpected addition to the curriculum resources. The children were joined by a few parishioners who were available in the middle of the week and at short notice.

The connecting ripples of our fellowship in the Gospel spread even farther afield since the Dean’s email had been copied to the Revd Letha Wilson-Barnard. Letha’s church in Minnesota includes the members of the Hmong community who had received the grants ultimately funded by this gift from the Church of the Epiphany in Danville. As it happened, both Becky and Letha are classmates from Virginia Theological Seminary; another key partner for St George’s College.

Written in thanksgiving for all these special connections!