The first Church dedicated to the glory of God in honour of St Augustine is believed to have dated from the days of slavery, when it was used as part of a sugar factory.
The records show that on 14 March 1888 the Bishop landed at East End and visited the site of a proposed church. A section of the old building is still intact. Some of our membership will recall times of worship in the old building. These would include persons from Island Harbour as well. Far before the dedication of St Andrew’s Church in 1958, persons from that area worshipped at St Augustine’s. Many stories have been told about the very early morning walks through the bush paths by persons who attended the 5.00 am services on Christmas and Easter mornings.
By the 1960’s more space was needed to accommodate a growing congregation and to provide additional space on special occasions. The section of the church in the middle, which runs north to south, was added.
In the early 1980’s many persons in the congregation at St Augustine’s felt that a more imposing church building should be constructed to provide more space for worship and other activities. At the time, some persons serving on the Vestry opposed the idea citing financial constraints and the burden that would be placed on other congregations in the parish. Assurances were given by the Parish Priest and congregation that this would not be the case. The wish of the congregation at St Augustine’s prevailed.
On 4 September 1983, the Parish Priest, Fr Andrew Cooper, and the two Church Wardens, Mr Menes Hodge (now Fr Menes Hodge), People’s Warden, and Mr Eric Reid, Priest Warden, applied to the Bishop in Council for a faculty to begin the construction of the new building. The faculty was issued on 24 February 1984. The schedule of the faculty read:
1. “to erect a new building on the southern side of the present St Augustine’s Church as shown in the plan attached and marked “C” to replace the present St Augustine’s Church, subject to the submission of a floor plan showing the position of the altar, font, lectern and pulpit.
2. “To convert the existing structure into a church hall and install interior toilets.”
Apart from the two wardens whose names were mentioned earlier, the other members at the time were: Joseph N Gumbs, Calvin Ruan, Thomas B Smith, Auckland Kentish and Vivien Vanterpool.
In March 1984 a contract was entered into with Mr Robert Arrindell and St Mary’s Vestry. The contract was drawn up by Mr Don Mitchell for the huge fee of $1.00. It was agreed that Mr Arrindell be paid US$2,000.00 in three instalments. The St Augustine’s Building fund at the time stood at $36,800.00.
In June 1984 the Vestry gave its approval for the work on the new St Augustine’s Church to commence. The Vestry minutes of 10 January 1985 state in part “building at St Augustine’s moving rapidly”.
Whereas the initial cost of the steel frame was quoted as US$13,335.00, by June 1984 it had increased to US$38,675.00. This was due mainly to adjustments to the original plan.
It ought to be noted that funding to cover the cost of constructing the new building was raised by the congregation with much assistance from Anguillians living overseas as well as well wishers. The parish of St Mary’ in Slough, England, was extremely generous. That parish covered most of the cost for the stained glass portrait of St Augustine’s of Hippo. Five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) along with 2 acres of land at Corito, to cover the cost of materials for the roof, were donated by St Mary’s Church.
Successive Vestries under the Chairmanship of Fr Andrew Cooper and Canon Errol Brooks (now Diocesan Bishop) worked hard to see the project to completion. Special recognition ought to be given to the members of the A Y P A, at the time, for their willingness to give of their time and energy with the assembling, sanding and varnishing of the pews; the construction of toilets and painting.
The dove over the centre main entrance was designed by Mrs Marion Cooper, herself an architect. It is not unusual to see the image of the dove as a silhouette on the altar as the sun goes down. It must be noted that this building was designed similar to a church in Africa.
The new St Augustine’s Church took five years to be built. On the 8 January 1989 it was dedicated to the glory of God by The Most Rev Orland U Lindsay, Diocesan Bishop and Archbishop of the West Indies. The Rt Rev Alfred Jeffery , Suffragan Bishop, The Rev Fr Andrew Cooper, former Parish Priest, the Rev Canon Errol Brooks, Priest in Charge, and The Rev Thomas R Lake, Assistant Priest, were also in attendance.
Today, as we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of this edifice, let us use this occasion as a springboard to attempt greater things for God, His church and this community. Remember Jesus wants us to be living stones, to be built into a Holy Temple for Him.
