Background Parts of the Portuguese coastline and countryside between Lisbon and Porto are known to English-speakers as the “Silver Coast”. The location attracted an influx of expatriates, and within the area the city of Caldas da Rainha also grew with improved transport links. Soon the need for the help of the Church, in English, became apparent, and, on occasions such as funerals, assistance was sought from Lisbon. Clergy visits by Fr Michael Bullock and others led to a custom of more regular meetings for worship taking place in people’s houses from about the year 2000. Amongst the network of expats was the late Ms Verna Veritie, who worshipped at a Portuguese Baptist church. This then sprouted an Evangelical wing, in a modest but well-appointed building in a city side street. The pastor was the Rev. Alan Pallister, also English by birth. As a result of such informal contacts and networks, the services of Worship in the English language led by Fr Michael came to be accommodated in the Igreja Evangélica Baptista [Igreja EB]. The Congregation The worshipping English congregation, led by Fr Michael, was mostly small -- although at certain funerals, etc, upwards of 100 people were known to materialise! Fr Michael's visits were enhanced by members of the Estoril/Lisbon congregation who came along to support him during the road journeys, and to make up the numbers worshipping. Doubtless because of the small numbers involved, the Anglican church in Caldas da Rainha was never formally constituted, and neither was the accommodation-sharing arrangement with Igreja EB. The Present Situation During 2012-2013, the focus of the situation changed, through changes in personnel. As well as the loss of Verna and the retirement of Fr Michael, followed by months of interregnum and the arrival of Fr Nigel Stimpson, who moved to Mallorca during 2014, there was the loss of Robert Patten in 2013, the organist at St. Paul’s and in Caldas da Rainha. There were also changes at the Igreja Evangélica Baptista when Alan Pallister retired. In 2019 further changes were made with the departure of the Chaplain, Rev’d Dr. Frank Sawyer, putting the chaplaincy into interregnum once more. The COVID pandemic paused services for a while but on the arrival of our new Chaplain, Rev’d Canon Beth Bendrey, regular monthly services resumed. Pamela Patten is the Congregational Worship Leader (Caldas da Rainha) and local warden. Services are usually held at 3pm on the second Saturday each month at the home of Pamela Patten, in Casais Morgados, Chao da Parada. Additional services are held occasionally ie: the Annual Service of Nine lessons and Carols in Tornada Catholic Parish Church.

Meeting Places The Chapel of S. Elizabeth of Portugal & S. Oscar Romero of El Salvador, Rua da Fonte Velha 1, SALGUEIRO, 2540-435 Bombarral Rua das Flores 14, Casais Morgados, Chao da Parada, 2500-926 Caldas da Rainha

Pamela also is a member of the Royal British Legion Portugal Branch and arranges an annual Armistice Day Service on the Heights of Picoto, Bombarral, near the memorial to Col. Lake.