Colombian President Attends Ecumenical Service
Diocesan Press Service. February 8, 1965 [XXIX-15]
The President of Colombia, Guillermo Leon Valencia, and his entire cabinet, most of whom are Roman Catholics, were present at a memorial service for Sir Winston Churchill Jan. 29 in the church belonging to St. Alban's Episcopal Church and the Union Church of Bogota. It was probably the first ecumenical gathering in Bogota.
The Rev. Jonas White, rector of St. Alban's, and the Rev. Howard Paul, pastor of the Union Church, conducted the service. The psalms were read by the Canadian Ambassador Ormond W. Dier and the U. S. Ambassador Covey T. Oliver, and the lesson was read by the British Ambassador Sir Edgar Vaughan. The Rt. Rev. David B. Reed, Bishop of Colombia, gave the memorial address.
The service of tribute was attended by representatives of all phases of civic and cultural life in Bogota, including almost the entire diplomatic corps. The national flags were carried in procession by members of the British Legion.