Over the weekend, the year-long 200th anniversary celebrations of Methodist Witness in Anguilla reached arguably the highest point of the year, with the staging of two special events namely: the Awards Banquet on Friday 11 October, under the patronage of the Superintendent Minister, Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs and Mrs Gumbs; and the Anniversary Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 13th October. Special guests of the Circuit for the occasion were the Connexional President, the Rev Otto Wade, and the Leeward Islands District President, the Rev Franklyn Manners, both of whom were joined by their wives.
The Awards Banquetwas held at the dining room of the Anguilla Great House, specially decorated for the event.A large crowd celebrated as they remembered the life and witness of those who had gone before.The attendees included members of the clergy, retired Methodist Ministers, the Chief Minister and other Government Officials.
Silence was observed as the names of over 100 members who had passed on over the years were remembered – after which Dr Lindel Brooks presented a moving poem in tribute. These names will later be placed on honour boards in their respective congregations.
Sister Stella Gumbs, wife of the Superintendent Minister, presented 200th Anniversary Awards to thirty specially selected current members from all of the six congregations, in honour of their contribution to the life and witness of the Methodist Church in Anguilla. A special Circuit Award was given to Bro Lindsay Richardson Sr. a long serving Local Preacher, Class Leader and Captain of the Anguilla Boy’s Brigade.
An embroidered Clerical Stole, specially created to commemorate the 200th Anniversary, was presented to each of fifteen ordained Anguillian Methodist Ministers in appreciation of their service to the Church in Anguilla and beyond.
At the dinner two announcements were made. The first was that the Name/Awards and Honorarium Committee had recommend the naming of the road from the Anguillian Building to the Cottage Hospital the “Rev John Hodge Road” in honour of the founder of Methodism in Anguilla. This recommendation is now before the Executive Council for its approval. The second announcement was that Postmaster, Mrs Jacqueline Bryan-Niles, had reported that Buckingham Palace had approved the issue of three stamps in commemoration of 200 years of Methodist Witness in Anguilla. These stamps will be released on a first day cover on 11 November 2013. Activities in relation to these two announcements will be publicised later.
The District President, Rev Franklyn Manners, brought greetings on behalf of the various Circuits which comprise the Leeward IslandsDistrict. The Connexional President, in addressingthe gathering, reminded that Christians were surrounded by a “great cloud of witness”, Anguilla has a rich heritage like John Hodge and others. He challenged them to build on this legacy by being examples of the faith and defenders of social justice. Rev Wade also paid tribute to the Anguilla Circuit for producing a cadre of Ministers including: Rec C. L Carty, who was his mentor as a young local preacher in Belize: Rev John Gumbs; Rev Cecil Weekes; Rev. S Wilfred Hodge; Rec H Clifton Niles; and many others, who served the region and Anguilla faithfully. He closed with the phrase that had being the chorus of his message: “God is not finished with the Methodist Church in Anguilla”.
At a crowded Bethel Methodist Chapel, South Hill, on Sunday 13 October, an excited congregation was treated at an impressive 200th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service. Officiating at the service were the two visiting Presidents, Rev. Wade and Rev. Manners, the Superintendent Minister, the Rev.Dr Wycherley Gumbs,the Rev. E Dunstan Richardson and Supernumerary Ministers residing in the Circuit, Rev. John A Gumbs, Rev Franklin A Roberts, Rev Cecil Weekesand Rev. Joseph R Lloyd.
The Connexional President, the Rev. Otto Wade, brought greetings from the Conference Area. The Hon. Chief Minister, Mr Hubert Hughes, brought greetings on behalf of the Governmentand people of Anguilla, while the Rev. Menes Hodge,of the Anglican Church, brought greetings from the Anguilla Christian Council.
The singing was lively throughout the service and did justice to the often quoted saying, “Methodism was born in song”. The addition of several brass instruments to the traditional organ and piano added to the vibrancy of the worship. The Circuit Choir, under direction of Mrs Lois Hazell-Carbon, thrilled the congregation with an awe-inspiring rendition of the Lloyd Larson anthem: “By Faith And Not By Sight”.
Bro. Kenn Banks, Convenor of the Anniversary Committee, related the History of the Methodist Church in Anguilla 1813-2013, closing with a quote from Sir Winston Churchill: ‘This is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it might be the end of the beginning.’
In his message the Rev. Franklin Manners called for re-commitment and challenged members to renew their personal relationship: “Let each one of us,my friends, use this celebration of 200 Years of Methodist Witness in Anguilla to evaluate our relationship with God and If, perchance, we discoverthat it is not what it ought to be, then let us pray in the words of the hymn writer Edwin Hatch – “Breathe on me breadth of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love and do what thou wouldst do”. We give thanks to God for his energy which has energised the Methodist Witness in Anguilla over the past 200 years. We praise him for all that is past and trust him for the witness which will be experienced in this place over the next 100 years”.
The anniversary celebrations began in January and included a number of festivals; services; lectures; and other activities, which have all energised the membership.The final activity for the Celebrations will be a series of Evangelical Services in November, led by Rev Theophilus Rolle of the Bahamas Turks& Caicos Islands District, who served in Anguilla from 1995 to 2000.
– Contributed
