HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON THE METHODIST CHURCH IN ANGUILLA
Methodism was brought to Anguilla by Mr John Hodge a ‘free coloured’ who it is said was converted to Methodism in St Barts or St Eustatius. In 1813 Hodge petitioned the Deputy Governor and received permission to preach to the slaves. Anguilla was without any form of religious instruction since the French invasion in 1796. His work has had a great effect on the slaves. In 1817 the Deputy Governor in response to a request from the British Parliament seeking information on the social and moral conditions of the islands and the work of missionaries wrote:
“The unexpected introduction of religion took place in the year 1813 in which year I received a letter from John Hodge, a free coloured man and a native of this island, importuning my sanction for the establishment of it……. I readily offered every encouragement to the petitioner, who proceeded to discharge his religious duties as a Local Preacher with out the most trifling procrastination, until Class Meeting were established and leaders appointed to investigate them.”
Hodge made himself so indispensable in Anguilla that when he was recommended by the Missionary Committee for special work in Africa the appointment had to be turned down. He was ordained in 1822, the first coloured West Indian to be so honoured.
By his efforts the church in Anguilla grew but he was also responsible for the development of the Methodist mission in St. Martin (SXM).
In 1819 the Lieutenant Governor in Anguilla wrote to the Wesleyan Missionary House in London on Hodge’s behalf in the matter of him being discriminated against at the District Meetings by his white colleagues. In it he highlighted the work by Hodge in SXM:
“I beg leave to proceed to state that salutary effects of religion in the Island of St Martin, were occasioned by John Hodge’s unwearied attention and perseverance. It is an island, peopled with an ungodly people, who were strong and powerful enemies to the Methodist Religion, …..Thus after many Missionary attempt to settle in that island, which proved vain, God saw meet to display his wonders through John Hodge, in bringing into complete condescension, the people in SXM to bow with submission to His will.”
The first Chapel in Anguilla was built at The Valley by Hodge in 1815. It was 36 by 21 feet. On the completion of Ebenezer in 1830 by Rev Henry B Britten this building was turned into the Manse.
Britten replaced Hodge in Anguilla on 28thFebruary 1828. When he arrived he reported that the membership was 500.
Britten was largely responsible for the construction at Ebenezer and for the first wooden Chapel built at the Road in 1828:
“On Wednesday the 12th of Nov. the New Wesleyan Methodist Chapel at the Road denominated Coke Chapel was solemnly dedicated to the Worship of Almighty God. (Also 36 by 21feet.) The Rev H.B. Briton resident Missionary commenced the morning service by reading Prayers: after which an appropriate & very excellent discourse from ‘Christ in you the hope of glory’ Col 1 27-28 vs was delivered by the Rev B. Milfore of St. Martins. A variety of pieces both in prose and verse were repeated by the School Children greatly to the credit of the teachers & gratification of the very numerous & respectable audience assembled. The evening service was conducted by the Rev W.F. Picketts of St. Bartholomews whose subject was 7 Heb 25 v. The evening congregation like that of the morning was a great deal larger than the chapel could possibly contain. The sittings are all [ready] & the chapel free from debt……. The Land was purchased by a very respectable inhabitant of the colony and graciously presented to the Society for the purpose to which it is now appropriated.”
The foundation is still visible at the old cemetery across the road from Bethel.
Britten’s account of the opening of Ebenezer is found in his journal of 25th July 1830:
“The Chapel at the Valley is finished, at least so far as to be consecrated to Divine Worship. It was opened on Sunday July 25th 1830. Several weeks previous notice had been given and great interest was excited in the minds of our dear people, and in the colony generally. My most sanguine expectations were excited, but the events of the day happily more than exceeded them all. (The day was delightfully cool and pleasant and at an early hour in the morning the people were seen in every direction bending their course to the sacred edifice. Long before the time appointed for the commencement of the service, the cool commodious building was crowded to excess. Such congregations were never before witnessed on any occasion in this colony, and their behaviour throughout was marked with the greatest possible decorum and seriousness.)”
An account of the service of consecration was also reported in the St Christopher Advertiser and weekly Intelligence:
“During the recitations of the children, the audience was several times affected to tears, particularly when a lad of about thirteen years of age repeated in a most impressive manner Cardinal Woolsey’s commendation of his fall at the closing stanza-
‘Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my King, he would not in my old age have left me naked to mine enemies.’
“The congregation wept aloud and the lad sat down amidst the sighs and tears of nearly all present.”
At this time membership was over 450 members, 350 of whom were slaves, ten whites and the remainder free coloureds.
The work of the mission was not confined to The Valley and South Hill. Britten reported on the long distances he had travelled to service. He also established small societies in West End with 40 members, Blowing Point 40, and Mount Fortune East End 50 members. The congregation at Coke Chapel the Road grew to two hundred members. Stories the conversion of slaves and influential whites are also told.
Journal Thursday July 13th 1829:
“Had an intensely hot ride of more than 10 miles to the West End. About 5 or 6 miles of the way is through a wood where is a very narrow path in some parts nearly overgrown with bushes. The horse having to clear his way with his head as he goes forward & his rider obliged to be very watchful & active or the consequence to his face & eyes would be very serious. I met five people under the shady boughs of two cedar trees. I trust my visit was not in vain, as two poor sinners came to me at the close of the service with the all important question “what shall I do to be saved”? It was midnight when I returned.
Britten was replaced by Rev Matthew Banks in 1831. It seems that in that same year there was a great epidemic in Anguilla which greatly affected the island. A long drought that same year which threatened the island with famine freed the island from ‘Marsh Miasma” which was the immediate cause of the epidemic.
Of course the Methodist Church played an important part in the fight for the emancipation of the slaves. The church championed the rights of the slave in marriage issues, court representation etc. There was also an incident when several escaped slaves from SXM who sought refuge in Anguilla and were embraced by the church. They were, after several months, arrested by the local militia and put in prison. After a few days, in spite of the active protestation of the Methodist Church, they were returned to slavery in SXM.
But there were several other social matters in which the church was involved including education. In the 1820’s there were over 200 children in the day-run by church. Letters from Rev Britten and Rev Schouten in 1870 indicated the church was involved in providing medical services. Rev Schouten in a letter in 1881 to the Missionary Society requesting medical journals medicine, and dental surgical instruments reported that:
“….. for 12 years prescribing and administering medicine gratuitously. Among the cases treated successfully were ..consumption, difficult labour, dysentery, epilepsy, palsy, prolepses of the womb, severe fever, hernias …… beside hundreds of less serious ones.
This blend of evangelical fervour and Christian social witness has been the hallmark of the Methodist Church in Anguilla for the past 200 years as well as in the wider Caribbean beginning in ANU 250 years ago. It was a witness that transformed the nation. This is what we will be celebrating over the next 12 months.
