Spiritual Baptists in SVG celebrate 100th anniversary

Spiritual Baptists from around St Vincent and the Grenadines gathered on May 20 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Spiritual Baptist freedom to worship openly here in this country. The event was marked with a special thanksgiving at the Mount Caramel Spiritual Baptist church in Chester Cottage.{{more}}

The event was also used to mark the 10th anniversary of Spiritual Baptist Recognition Day on May 21.

Addressing the audience was noted Vincentian Historian Dr Adrian Fraser.

Dr Fraser retraced the history of the religion and the persecution suffered by its worshippers in the early years.

The feature address was made by Senator Elvis Charles. The congregation was also addressed by visitors from Trinidad and Tobago, including Trinidad and Tobago’s Senator Barbara Gray-Burke and Archbishop Dorothy Hercules. Commissioner of Police Keith Miller, Father Kari Xavier Marcella of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Georgetown also spoke at the forum.

Archdeacon Ian Enoch delivered the sermon, while Archbishop Johnny Jones used the opportunity to remind the congregation of the importance of remembering the Recognition Day and those who would have gone through the struggle to ensure Spiritual Baptist could worship freely.

The Spiritual Baptist religion is seen as one of the few religions indigenous to the Caribbean in the post-emancipation era.