It was all started through the work of John Hodge whose hobby was cockfighting which he rescinded having upon accepting Jesus Christ as his Saviour. He began his ministry by preaching to slaves around The Valley area on the various estates. It was then he envisioned the need for a building to collectively worship and praise God, hence the evolution of Ebenezer began.
The first church, a wooden building, was built on the site where the playground for Ebenezer Preschool now stands. In the early 1800’s the membership had outgrown the church necessitating a larger building just to the west where the present building now stands. The serving English minister saw the urgent need for a new church and sought funding from England.
This new building was dedicated to the service of God on the 25th July 1830. The church was packed to capacity. There was also an upstairs balcony which seated up to 200 children. The first chapel was used as a manse with the new Ebenezer chapel a tower of strength, promise and hope from the struggles of slavery to the present.
In 1910, the manse caught fire which spread to the church.The roof and the other wooden sections were burnt leaving its thick massive walls intact. Immediately, the members, eager to have the roof replaced, set to work.
During those years, Anguilla had no wharf and the boat, that brought the lumber, wood and other material anchored in Crocus Bay, offloaded into smaller boats which took the supplies to the shore. The members of the church, mostly women, would head the lumber up the steep climb of Crocus Hill to the men who did the work. With the roof completed, all the members were filled with joy and happiness. The church continued its mission but, unfortunately, the upstairs balcony was not replaced.
The church played a key role in educating the populace. An agreement was made between Methodist and Anglican churches – hence the creation of the Anglican Boys’ School and the Methodists’ Girls School. This happened until the 1970’s when the Government took over education merging the Boys’ and Girls’ School together creating the Valley Primary School.
At present, Ebenezer now boasts one of the three Methodist preschools.
There have been many changes at Ebenezer from then till now. We have moved from gas lamps to electrical lights and from a pedal organ to an electrical Allen organ. The pews have changed from plain wooden benches to comfortable cushioned benches – but there are still remnants of the rock wall and a stonework monument, home of a bell, once used by pioneer John Hodge on the site of the first chapel.
The current structure remains the same Ebenezer today, which continues to be a tower of strength in the Methodist Church, The Valley Community and Anguilla as a whole.
183 years later we commend the work started by Rev John Hodge in 1830 and strive to persevere, and remain a Vision, a Heritage and a Beacon!
We have been through many trials and struggles but Ebenezer has stood tall for 183 years of:-
• Praise and worship
• Faithfulness and steadfastness
• Support and Fellowship
• Warfare and Deliverance
• Prayer and Consecration
• Tears and Joy
Hitherto had the Lord helped us! He will continue to be with us as we move on in his service.
