About The Episcopal Church
to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing,
and Late Deafened
Commission on Ministry to the Deaf
Updated: 07/29/2003
The Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, of a family distinguished in the education of Deaf people in America, founded the first church specifically for Deaf people in St. Ann's Church for the Deaf in New York City. He became a true apostle to Deaf people, traveling extensively and gathering congregations of deaf people wherever he went. August 27th marks the anniversary of his death after a long and fruitful ministry, at the age of 80.
The Rev. Henry Winter Syle was born in China, the son of Anglican missionary parents. Becoming deaf from scarlet fever and in frail health, he was sent to live with his relatives in the United States. A brilliant man, he was educated at Trinity College and Yale University in the U.S. and at St. John's College of Cambridge in England. Encouraged by Gallaudet and supported by Bishop William Bacon Stevens of Pennsylvania, on October 8, 1876, at St. Stephen's Church Philadelphia, he was made a deacon, the first deaf man ever to be ordained to the ministry in any church. Along with the Rev. Austin Ward Mann, another deaf man from the Diocese of Ohio, Syle became a priest on October 14, 1883 on the occasion of the General Convention of that year in Philadelphia.