Our History

Shortly After World War II…

The Nippon Sei Ko Kai (Japanese Anglican Church) requested assistance from the Episcopal Church of the United States to look after the pastoral needs of the people of Okinawa, which became an American possession after the war. Also of concern were the many Anglican communicants on the island who were formerly afflicted with Hansen’s disease. All Souls Church was founded in the 1950s by the Americans stationed or working on Okinawa. Two American Priests, who were also World War II veterans, answered this call and arrived in Okinawa in 1951.

All Souls is named in honor of those of every nation who died during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 where over 240,000 lives were lost. The original congregation began under the supervision of the Bishop of Hawaii and the Episcopal Church of the United States. The clergy during those early years included Edmond Lee Browning, who came in 1959 and remained on the island for twelve years. The “Missionary” Diocese of Okinawa was formed and Edmond Lee Browning was chosen as our first Bishop (he later served as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church from 1985 - 1997).

In 1972, when Okinawa reverted from a U.S. possession back to Japan, the Diocese was transferred from the Episcopal Church to the Anglican Church in Japan (Nippon Sei Ko Kai). Paul Saneaki Nakamura was elected Bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Okinawa. In the transfer, it was agreed that All Souls Church would continue as an English-speaking congregation as a mission to the Americans, and would maintain its worship in the Episcopal tradition with the American prayer book.

Today…

The Diocese of Okinawa has grown from those early days and now consists of twelve churches, the sanatoria for the victims of Hansen’s disease, a student dormitory, and a convent and preschools and daycare centers.  The Anglican churches in the Diocese of Okinawa provide a strong witness to Christ within the Ryukyu Islands. All Souls Church is proud to be an important part of this vital mission.