The Anglican church in Kingstown held an open-air Ash Wednesday service this year, and Bishop of the Windward Islands, the Rt Reverend C. Leopold Friday used the occasion to urge Vincentians to repent and believe the Gospel.{{more}}

Friday delivered the sermon to the gathering just outside the Kingstown Vegetable Market.

The Bishop said that Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of lent, is a time for reflecting on how persons have not been faithful to what God has called us to do.

“This is a period of time in which we prepare ourselves to celebrate the truth that God came into the world through Jesus Christ to offer us salvation. We prepare to celebrate our redemption. We prepare to celebrate Easter acknowledging we have gone astray and have not been faithful to God…

“Constantly, we are to come to God confessing our sins, repenting and seeking his pardon and forgiveness…,” Friday said.

Persons walking along where the service was taking place joined the congregation and engaged in the singing of hymns.

The commencement of Lent was also observed by attendees having their foreheads marked with ash during the Ash Wednesday service.