A Brief History of the Diocese of Toliara
in the Malagasy Episcopal Church
(Eklesia Episkopaly Malagasy)
1971 – a few Anglicans gathered in the house of Dadabe and Mamabe in Toliara and began praying. They were determined to start an Anglican Community in Southern Madagascar.
1989 – the first ordained minister arrives in Toliara.
1991 – The McGregor family began their work in the city of Antananarivo, Madagascar, as a pioneer missionary family.
1999 – an Anglican Church is founded in western city of Morondava. Rev. Samitiana led the first service.
2000 – Rev. Todd McGregor led an evangelistic medical mission with his student evangelists, a youth group from the Canterbury Diocese led by Rev. Colin Preece, and Dr. Zoe the head of Social Development.
2006 – under the leadership of Archbishop Remi Rabenirina, the missionary area of Toliara was formed in the Diocese of Antananarivo. The main objective was to form a new Diocese.
The Standing committee of that Diocese elected Todd Andrew McGregor as Suffragan Bishop of Antananarivo, overseeing the missionary area of Toliara.
Todd was consecrated the first bishop of Toliara at St. Laurent’s Anglican Church in Antananarivo, Madagascar on December 10th, 2006. At that time there was 1 church building and 11 worshipping communities.
2007 – The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd McGregor and The Rev. Dr. Patsy McGregor returned to live in Madagascar. There were 11 Anglican churches, three clergy, and five evangelists in this missionary area.
St. Luke’s Church, Ankilifaly (in the center of Toliara town) was dedicated on November 18th, 2007 with over 250 people in attendance.
2008 – 2.5 acres of land was purchased for Cathedral and Bishop’s Residence in February.
Three new churches were completed and dedicated:
All Saints Church, Morondava on November 1,
The Chapel of St. Andrew, Mahabo on November 8,
Holy Trinity, Sakaraha on November 29.
2009 – Rev. RATSIMAVO Andriamahenina Dieu Donne moved to Ft. Dauphin (SouthEast coast) to begin the work in the south-east.
A final parcel of land for the Cathedral Complex was also purchased and construction began in October.
2011 – At the Cathedral Complex, housing for workers was completed. As was the Education Building which has two offices, one classroom and one large meeting room. It was dedicated on May 7.
The Dormitory, which accommodates 48 people, was dedicated on December 4.
Four new churches were completed and dedicated:
Ambohitsabo: St. Philip’s Church, dedicated May 8th,
Tolagnaro: St Gregory’s Church, dedicated May 1st,
Tsimahavoakely: St. Paul’s Church, dedicated August 27th,
Andranovory: Christ Church, dedicated Dec. 25th.
2012 – The Bishop’s Gathering Place (residence and offices) was completed on March 3, and a Guards’ residence was completed in June.
St. Michael’s Church, Motombe was dedicated October 14.
2013 – The Dean’s residence was completed in January.
On April 21, the Diocese of Toliara was formed from the Diocese of Antananarivo. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Todd A. McGregor was enthroned the first Diocesan Bishop of Toliara.
2014 – Construction of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toliara began in October.
2016 – St Patrick’s Cathedral was dedicated on 13th March.
St. Andrea’s Church, Morombe was dedicated November 30. There are now over 70 churches in the Diocese of Toliara.
The Women’s Center, at the Cathedral Complex, was dedicated on 4th September, during the National Mother’s Union Conference, with at least 3 Bishops attending.
2017 – St David’s Church, Miandrivazo was dedicated on September 12,
All Angels, Ankiliabo near Mahabo on September 16, and
we laid the cornerstone for the new church construction at Fenoarivo Parish on October 14.
2018 – Samitiana Jhonson Razafindralambo was consecrated Assistant Bishop on February 25th. His wife, Holy, has been appointed as Education coordinator for the Diocese. More photos can be seen here.
2019 – Rev Remamy Arisoa Nolavy Osoro was ordained the first woman priest in the Episcopal Church of Madagascar, on 25 August.
Also ordained were:
Rev Tsiavandeza Gaston (Transitional Deacon),
Lahitody Jean Florent (Permanent Deacon), and
Rafanomezantsoa Ferdinand Benjamin (Permanent Deacon).
Those commissioned Evangelist were:
Bon Coeur, Hanitra, Jean Michel, Crise, Alfredino, Jean Frederic.
2020 – There are now over 108 Churches in the Diocese.
On December 31st, 2020, Bishop Todd and Rev. Patsy McGregor (founders of the Diocese) resigned. They have returned to Florida, USA, where Bishop Todd will continue missionary work , and Rev. Patsy will serve as the Director of Spiritual Formation at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, in Stuart, FL, focusing on multigenerational spiritual growth, with an emphasis on youth and families.
2021 – During the interim period, the Vicar General, Rt Rev Dr Samitiana Jhonson Razafindralambo was in charge of the Diocese.
14 March 2021 – Assistant Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Samitiana Jhonson RAZAFINDRALAMBO was elected the next Bishop.
25 April 2021 – Rt. Rev. Dr. Samitiana Jhonson RAZAFINDRALAMBO was installed as the 2nd Bishop of Toliara. The service took place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toliara.
September 2021 – Rev. Berthier Lainirina was appointed Principal of St Patrick’s Theological College.
26 September 2021– Dedication of St Paul’s Church, Beabo, Ambovombe.
7 November 2021 – Ven Hery, Dean Donné, Dean Lova and Dean Noeli were made Canons of the Cathedral; Rev. Victor was appointed Dean of the new District of Sakaraha; Deacon Gaston was ordained priest and appointed sub-Dean of the new District of Ambovombe; Evangelist Antsa and Catechist Zafy were ordained Transitional Deacons, and Zarasoa, Tahora, Gaston Tsiagnangara and Jean were commissioned as Evangelists. The service took place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toliara.
3 April 2022 – Deacon LAHITODY Jean Florent was ordained priest. The service took place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toliara.
10 April 2022 – Deacon RAFANOMEZANTSOA Benjamin Ferdinand was ordained priest, and Evangelists RAMIANDRISOA Clovis, VANO Lazara and Julien were ordained deacon on Saturday April 9th in the Chapel of St Andrew, Mahabo, Morondava District.
October 2022 – St Patrick’s Theological College opened its first academic year with 50 students from around the Dioceses in Madagascar.
15 October 2022 – Formation of Menabe Archdeaconry, which encompasses the Districts of Mahabo and Morondava.
12 November 2022 – Formation of Anosy & Androy Archdeaconry, which encompasses the Districts of Ambovombe and Fort Dauphin.
20 November 2022 – Anglican Church in Ankilifaly, Toliara celebrated the 50th anniversary of an Anglican presence in the town.
27 November 2022 – Formation of Atsimo Andrefana Archdeaconry, which encompasses the Cathedral and Toliara Districts.
March 2023 – Seven representatives of the Diocese of Toliara (Bishop Samy, his wife Holy, their son Fifa, Rev. Victor, Rev. Zafy, Fiadanana and Harisoa) came to Florida for 4 weeks, to perform in Rev. Patsy McGregor’s musical ‘Miaraka – A Time to Dance’; and to meet with the Leadership Team of the Friends of Toliara, most of whom were able to be present in person.
23 to 26 July 2023 – 4th Synod of the Diocese of Toliara was held in the Cathedral. Celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the Diocese were held.
January 2024 – Adam, Avril, Caleb and Anna Friend, missionaries with CMS (Church Mission Society) Australia, arrived in Madagascar.