Trinity Methodist Church, at Sandy Ground, the sixth such church to be established in Anguilla, and one with the smallest congregation, has observed twenty-one years of spiritual witness – notwithstanding the historic years of its early beginnings.
In addition, the observance on Sunday, February 22, also marked fifteen years since the Church was further improved and given its official name, on June 13, 2010, at a special service conducted by the then Superintendent Minister, Rev Dr H Clifton Niles, and the then Circuit Minster, Rev Careen White. Last Sunday’s anniversary service was moderated by Rev Valina Petit, the Current Circuit Minister responsible for Trinity Methodist Church.
Rev John Gumbs, who instituted the Sunday morning worship services at Sandy Ground, which began at the Church on June 3, 1991, delivered a brief address. He was grateful to Mr Edwin Carty and family who had voluntarily donated the building for renovation and for the establishment of the Church. He congratulated the Trinity Methodist Church’s congregation for the strides they made over the years and advised them that there was still other challenges which they should continue to battle against.
The Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Methodist Circuit, also spoke briefly about the work of the Trinity Methodist Church and commended the congregation and all those who assisted with its establishment and growth.
The sermon was delivered by the Rev Dr S W Hodge, a former Minister at the Church, who reflected on its early functioning at another location in Sandy Ground. He referred, among other matters, to the struggles of a number of persons – in the formative years – to carry on the Methodist mission there, walking up and down the difficult Chapel Hill to and from the place of worship. He pointed out that the influence of Methodism was present at Sandy Ground many years before the eventual formalisation of the Church.
“What we are celebrating today is not something that happened twenty-one years ago,” he stressed. “What we are celebrating is a witness way back in 1813 which shows that we are more than twenty-one and that we are grey and ageing. I think that is something worth shouting about – that the roots of Methodism at Sandy Ground started during the teaching of John Hodge [some 200 years ago].”
During the service, a brief history of the Church was delivered by Mr Ensor Gumbs. Among other information, he said the Church began with a membership of 67, some of whom opted to be transferred from the Bethel Church at South Hill. The present membership is about 82.
He stated that the original building at the site was once used for entertainment during the August boat races and after some structural changes it was transformed into the present church building. “On February 25, 2001, a service for the rededication of the church was held by Rev Joseph E Lloyd and, at that time, the church property was officially transferred to the Anguilla Methodist Circuit by the then owners, Mr and Mrs Edwin Carty of Sandy Ground,” he noted.
“On June 13, 2010, under Superintendent Rev Dr H Clifton Niles and Circuit Minister, Rev Careen White, a special service was held to celebrate the official naming of the church as ‘Trinity Methodist Church”’.
Earlier, Mr Gumbs noted that “Rev Neville D Broodie, recognising the progress of the Church in Sandy Ground, recommended that the congregation should become an autonomous congregation.” Hence, on September 4, 1994, a service was held for the inauguration of the sixth Methodist congregation in the Anguilla Circuit.
