Three events – the birthday of Anguillian Reverend Dr Wycherley Gumbs, 200 years of Methodism on the island, and the observance of Black History Month – were celebrated at the Bethel Methodist Church on Friday evening, February 27.
The Methodist family and friends came out ‘en masse’ attired in African cultural wear, with choirs singing a variety of Negro Spirituals in honour of Black History Month.
Reverend Dr Gumbs was in part the focus of the congregation members as they sang the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. He did not give his age but was quite willing to let everyone know that Methodism in Anguilla was 200 years old.
The celebration of Methodism and Black History Month are poignantly tied, for Methodism in Anguilla was founded by John Hodge, a zealous, freed coloured son of a slave. His conversion and deliverance from the vice of gambling, and his zeal to preach the gospel, in spite of the challenges of race, colour, creed, societal pressure and fear of the unknown, were remembered at the special service.
John Hodge’s life and ministry were portrayed in dialogue, monologue, skit, dance, poetry, choir and music renditions. Some persons played the piano, guitar, while others performed on the traditional bath-pan and the horn. But no one could beat the Ebenezer Men’s Choir in their rousing and beautifully executed rendition of the Negro Spiritual ‘Pharaoh Let My People Go’ which climaxed the event.
Today John Hodge’s legacy lives on. It lives on in the life of the Reverend C L Carty, Reverend Sister Vera Richardson, Reverend Franklyn Roberts, Reverend Cecil Weeks, Reverend Dr Wilfred Hodge, Reverend Joseph Lloyd, Reverend Dr Clifton Niles, Reverend Neville Buchanan, Reverend E Dunstan Richardson, Reverend Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Reverend Lindsey Richardson, Reverend Jefferson Niles, Reverend Hugo Rey, Reverend Erica Carty, Reverend Barbara Lake, Reverend Myrna Lake, Reverend Candice Niles, Reverend Damien Hughes and Reverend Wilmoth Richardson. They continue the process of sowing and growing the seed of Methodism in Anguilla 200 years later.
