April 9th, 2019 marked the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of the Hill Top Baptist Church in Island Harbour on April 9th, 1969. A Service of Thanksgiving was held on Sunday, April 7th, which launched a week of celebratory activities. The capacity audience heard congratulatory messages from the Government of Anguilla delivered by Chief Minister, the Honourable Victor Banks; President of the Anguilla Evangelical Association, Pastor Phillip Gumbs; as well as the church history delivered by Minister Elliot J. Harrigan, the Sermon by Pastor Gareth Hodge and special singing by long-serving members Joan Hodge and Elsa Brooks and the song “We Will Remember” by the Hill Top Baptist Church Chorale. They also joyfully sang several hymns and choruses in the lively style which has characterized worship there since its inception.
A number of presentations were made Pastor Emeritus Davis Lloyd, who served as the church’s pastor for its first 45 years, and to his faithful helpmate Sister Matile Lloyd, as well as to long serving members, and to the current pastor Gareth Hodge. Pastors Dwayne Adams, John Gumbs and James Richardson who, along with several others, credit the beginnings of their ministries to that of the Hill Top Baptist Church, played roles in the anniversary service.
A full week of anniversary services follows, with four nights of preaching by Pastor John Gumbs, Pastor James (Jim) Richardson, Minister Quincy Gumbs and Minister Elliot J Harrigan, and culminating in a night of Old-time Worship and the play “Blessings Above and Blessings Beneath”. The play, about the conversion story of Pastor and Sister Lloyd and the beginnings of the Hill Top Baptist Church with the backdrop of the Anguilla Revolution was written and directed by Timothy Hodge. Services begin at 7:15 nightly, and the Hill Top Baptist Church extends a warm invitation to all.
