As a part of its 200th Anniversary celebrations, some eighty members from the Methodist Church in Sint Maarten/St Martin, led by Superintendent Minister the Rev Dr Joan Meade, made a visit to the Anguilla Circuit on Saturday June 3rd.
The visit was symbolic because John Hodge, an Anguillian Methodist layman, who pioneered the work of the Methodist Church in Anguilla, also took the Methodist witness to St Martin. When several previous attempts by British Missionaries were unsuccessful due to hostilities from the French administration and the planters, Hodge was able to win their support after fierce opposition and ignited the flame there in 1817. Hodge was later ordained in 1822. He was the first black Methodist Minister in the Caribbean.
The group made up of a cross section of the membership of the eleven local congregations in Sint Maarten/St Martin arrived in Anguilla by charter around 9:00 am for a day of activities.
The first stop was a brief welcome devotion and fellowship at the Maranatha Chapel in Blowing Point where they were welcomed by the Superintendent Minister the Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Rev Dunstan Richardson, who coordinated the visit, and Rev Wilmoth Hodge MIT. The service included a brief history of the beginnings of the Methodist work in Blowing Point. This was followed by breakfast.
The pilgrims then embarked on a bus tour through the island. In the morning they visited the Immanuel Chapel in West End, the Trinity Chapel at Sandy Ground, and the Eleos Centre, a Family Support Centre run by the Methodist Church at the Old Manse in Sandy Ground. At all the stops, they were welcomed by Congregational Stewards and other members, who spoke of the history of their respective congregations. At the Eleos Centre they were able to witness some of the services that the Centre provides.
Just after midday the group arrived the Bethel Chapel where they first visited the ruin of Coke Chapel. This was the first Methodist building in the Road area. There a plaque has been erected to the memory of The Rev John Hodge. In the Bethel Chapel the history of the congregation was presented by Sis Yolande Hodge. This was followed by lunch at the Church Hall.
After lunch the caravan continued on to the Zion Chapel, North Hill, where again they were met by Congregational stewards and members. Bro Sinclair Buchanan gave a brief history of the Methodist work in North Hill.
The last stop on the visit was The Valley where the Methodist witness in Anguilla began. The Ebenezer Chapel there is located on the Rev John Hodge Road and a memorial to him and his faithful colleagues has also been erected on the grounds at the site of the first Methodist building in Anguilla. At the Chapel they were greeted by retired Methodist ministers Rev Franklin Roberts and Rev Joseph Lloyd, their wives, and many other members of the congregation.
A short service of thanksgiving was held where the Rev Dunstan Richardson offered a brief meditation. The history of the Sint Maarten/St Martin Circuits was presented by one of the Circuit Stewards from that Circuit and a history of the Ebenezer Congregation presented by Sis Kenniva Brooks. This was followed by words of appreciation from the Superintendent of the Sint Maarten Circuit the Rev Dr Joan Meade.
Before the visit the Superintendent Minister of the Anguilla Circuit, the Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, said: “This is a important pilgrimage for the St Martin Methodist as they reflect on the history of the mission there and the pivotal role played by John Hodge a black man who started the work there in spite of strong opposition from the planters and ruling class.”
After the visit, Rev Dr Joan Meade said: “Spiritual Journey aptly describes our brief visit to Anguilla. Reviewing the faithful, costly and prolific witness of our forbears and receiving the loving service of our fellow Methodist, we have been encouraged and enlivened. We will always treasure and pass on this great heritage of faith.’”
The joyful pilgrims left Anguilla at 5.30 pm.
-Contributed
7 June 2017
