Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs
The curtain has come down at Bethel Church on the observance of the 200th Anniversary of Methodism in Anguilla. One of the concluding activities on Sunday evening, September 29, was the launching of a new Hymn Book – for the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas – entitled Voices in Praise. The other was a Festival of Choirs presented by youth and adult groups of the six congregations in Anguilla.
The Hymn Book was launched by Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent Minister of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit, who was among other Ministerial officials in the Caribbeaninvolved in its creation.
Rev Candis Niles, Minister in training, said that the decision was taken at the 2000 Connexional Conference to produce an indigenous hymn book, with a priority selection of 400 hymns from the previous hymn book by the Faith and Order Commission. She reported that Voices in Praise came into being after a long process. “The new era that has dawned enables Methodists in the Caribbean and the Americas to rejoice that we have a hymn book that is rightly theirs,” she added in delivering a short history of the work.
Following a Prayer of Dedication, by Rev Dr Gumbs, a copy of the new hymn book was presented to Rev John A Gumbs and Rev Franklin Roberts both of whom had served with distinction in various areas of the Caribbean before returning home.
The Festival of Choirs was chaired by Rev Niles who commented that it was a fitting way to climax the observance of the 200th Anniversary of Methodism in Anguilla and the early work of John Hodge, a Free Coloured Man and Lay Preacher. The first part of the festival featured selections by the Maranatha Sunday School; Immanuel Youth Choir; Maranatha Youth Choir; Bethel Youth Choir and the Ebenezer Men’s Fellowship.
The second part comprised the main choirs of the six Methodist Churches. The selections were: Crown Him With Many Thorns by Immanuel Choir, West End; Away With Our Fears by Trinity Choir, Sandy Ground; O For A Thousand Tongues by Maranatha Choir, Blowing Point; O For A Heart To Praise My God by Zion Choir, North Hill; Thee Will I Love by Ebenezer Choir, The Valley; And Can It Be by Bethel Augmented Choir.
The last hymn is considered to be the anthem of the Methodist Church. This and a number of the other hymns above were reflective of the work of Charles and John Wesley, both largely credited with founding the Methodist movement.
The selections, directed by several choir leaders and accompanied by a number of musicians, were well delivered and inspiring.
