The Forgotten “Grandfather” of Protestant Mission

Abstract

The abortive French Protestant mission to Brazil in 1556 has been noted by historians but has generally been treated as, at best, a footnote to the story of Protestant missionary work, A major factor in the neglect of what was almost certainly theJirst effort at cross-cultural mission overseas on the part of European Protestants is found in the fact that the classic work of Jean de Lery describing this mission in detail has, until recently, remained untranslated from its original French. This article describes Lery's contribution to the history and theology of mission and argues that his book deserves recognition as one of the classic missiological texts. Furthermore, it is suggested that Jean de Lery's work demands a revision of our understanding of the nature of the relationship between Calvinism and mission, and that it offers a contemporary challenge to faithfulness in the era offull-blown globalization.ome fifteen miles from the ancient university town of Oxford, England, on a steep hill that runs down to the River Windrush, sits the Cotswold town S of Burford. Here, tucked away behind rows of stone-built houses that have remained unchanged over the centuries is one of the most remarkable parish churches in all of England.' High on one wall of this church there is an ancient carved panel which has been dated back to 160 CE, portraying figures that may be connected to Celtic fertility rites. Elsewhere, scratched around the lip of the baptismal font is the name of Anthony Ledley, one of a group of Leveller parliamentary soldiers who rebelled against Cromwell in 1659 and found themselves imprisoned within these walls. Three of these radical Protestants were shot for sedition in the churchyard and are today commemorated by a plaque on the external wall of the church. However, our interest in this church is focused on a tomb in the north aisle of the nave which displays what is believed to be the first artistic representation of Native American peoples in England.