What does the Maranatha Methodist Chapel at Blowing Point and the Anguilla Revolution have in common? The answer is that they are both celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year. The chapel was dedicated on February 3 and the Revolution occurred on May 30, 1967.
The chapel’s first event in a week of activities, to mark its milestone, was a Gospel Concert on Saturday evening. The modern day edifice was filled to capacity mainly by the congregations of all six Methodist Churches in Anguilla.
The anniversary concert, which lasted for about one hour and forty-five minutes, had as its theme “God’s Grace Is Sufficient For All; Lean On Him”.
Directed by Anguilla’s upcoming musician, Devaunie Richardson, the 17-item programme featured the following: Let the Peace of Christ; 10,000 reasons Bless the Lord; Speak, O; Jesus is the Living Stone; Raise Your hands; the Old Rugged Cross made the Difference; Words of Assurance, Hymns of Hope; He did it Again; Above All; I Will Rise; Order my Steps (In Your Word); He Keeps on Blessing Me; Sanctuary/Total Praise; Leaning on the Everlasting Arms; In that Great Getting Up Mornin’; and Lean on Me. The musical tunes were adaptations from a number of international musicians.
The songs were sung by a combined choir mainly from the Maranatha Chapel with others from Ebenezer Chapel in The Valley. Listed as the singers were the Sopranos: Joanne Snagg, Victorine Brooks, Simone Gumbs, Olga Romney, Roselia Connor, Julian Hodge, Kathryne Connor and Carmen Daniel. Altos: Menelva Romney, Betty Romney and Carmencita Davis. And Baritones: Wycliffe Richardson, Khajudeem Richardson, Conrad Wilson and Dennis Romney Jr. The additional singers were members of the Maranatha Youth Group who sung with the combined choir. They were all trained by Ms. Esther Davis-Roach. A visitor from St.Maarten who worked in cooperation with the Choir Director, Devaunie Richardson, mentioned above.
The musicians were: Lois Hazell, Kimba Southwell, Casey Richardson, Khajique Fleming and Michael Christie.
Prolonged applause followed each presentation and there was an standing ovation at the conclusion of the overall programme.
The benediction was performed by the Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit. He took the opportunity to congratulate the various singers and musicians for their presentations.
