Guide to the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Commission on Ecumenical Mission and Relations Secretaries' Files: Chile Mission

Protestant missionary efforts in Chile originated in 1845 with the arrival in Valparaiso of David Trumbull. Sponsored by the Seamen's Friends Society and the American Foreign Christian Union, he organized the Union Church for English speaking Protestants in 1847. In 1873, the work he commenced was transferred to the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions with the Board assuming responsibility for Trumbull and the other missionaries in the field.

The first station of the Chile Mission was established in Valparaiso in 1868, followed by another at Santiago the same year. Taltal station was organized in Northern Chile in 1888, followed by the opening of Concepcion a decade later. The last station, Curico, was established in 1912. Although missionaries were appointed periodically, the staff of the Chile mission was always small in proportion to the size of the mission field.

The work of the Board in Chile was primarily evangelistic and educational. Ministering to the peoples' spiritual well-being resulted in the establishment of numerous churches. Concern for their educational needs was manifested by the founding of schools such as Ecsuela Popular, the Instituto Ingles, the Union Bible Seminary and the Woman's Union Training School, the latter two being supported by the Presbyterian and Methodist missions. A religious weekly newspaper, El Heraldo Evangelico, later renamed El Heraldo Cristiano, was published in addition to numerous books and tracts. Though no medical work was undertaken as in the other Latin American fields, the needs of children and young mothers were attended to by institutions like the Madre e Hijo hospital and the San Martin baby dispensary.