Church of Kelly

A stained glass depiction of Kelly as a goddess.

One of your officers has direct contact with a primitive alien civilization and you don't think that's of consequence? A religion has developed around your First Officer.— Admiral Ozawa

The Church of Kelly was a religious organization on Kandar 1 dedicated to the worship of First Officer Kelly Grayson of the USS Orville.

On the planet itself, the Church's existence spanned roughly 2,100 years, from its humble origins in a small Bronze Age village to a slow demise as planet's inhabitants ceased to follow the religion. However, due to radically different time progressions between universes, the Church lasted only one month for observers aboard the Orville.

Kelly

The deity of "Kelly" was said to be an omnipresent and omniscient goddess who dwelt upon a mountain-top and descended to heal those she deemed worthy.

History

Main article: Mad Idolatry

The Church of Kelly began in the Bronze-Age period of April 2420 when Kelly Grayson healed a young injured girl. The healing was witnessed by villagers of a nearby tribe, who interpreted what they saw to be a goddess perform a miracle. The girl told the people the name of her healer, Kelly.

Medieval period

Valondis, leader of the Church of Kelly roughly 700 years after foundation.

News of the healing spread throughout the planet over 700 years (or until the Medieval period of late April 2420). Much of the planet had adopted the "Word of Kelly," a body of religious teachings that had grown alongside the faith. Non-believers existed and were fiercely persecuted or killed by the Church.

In the Medieval period, the Church of Kelly was headed by a religious leader known as the Valondis, in charge of spiritual matters and criminal justice, and described as very powerful. He was aided by spiritual viziers known as dignitaries.

It was at the period Kelly attempted to end worship in her by showing him that technology (not miracles) healed their wounds and that she bled as any mortal would. The reigning Valondis at that time was persuaded and intended to tell the people the truth, but he was hurriedly assassinated by a dignitary for political reasons.

Modern period

Seven-hundred years later (or May 2420), the Church of Kelly's influence had waned but still pervaded society. On television talk shows, the species debated whether the worship of Kelly was truly necessary in their education system. Televangelists preached of Kelly from pulpits. Further, the faith of Kelly had diversified into several competing branches; terrorist attacks were committed in the name of Kelly. At this point, the USS Orville, desperate to end the worship of Kelly, sent Isaac to the planet to educate the populace for hundreds of years.

Post-modern period

Seven hundred years later (mid-May 2420) and 2,100 years since the start of the Church of Kelly, the Church had disappeared for some time. The people of the planet viewed Kelly only as a Human who played a significant role in their planet's development. Representatives Baleth and Fadolin explained that they had evolved beyond the worship of Kelly in exchange for the pursuit of science and logic.

Legacy

By 2422, over 50,000 years had passed for Kandar 1 and the species from there had evolved into seemingly immortal beings. One of them, Dinal, placed several members of the Orville's crew, including Kelly, into simulated life-threatening situations in order to try to experience the feeling of mortality. Afterwards, she revealed herself by stating "Oh, Kelly, our goddess, lord and savior," before then describing her as being "a simple human woman with a less-than-simple relationship to our forebears," revealing that even over 50,000 years later, something of the history of the Church of Kelly survived.

Trivia

• During Season 2 production, the statue of Kelly stood between writers rooms, overlooking editor Tom Costantino's desk.

Appearances

• Episode 1x12: Mad Idolatry