St Paul’s Anglican celebrates 175th Anniversary

Come January 24, 2016, the Sunday dedicated to Feast of the Conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, the Parish Church of the Parish of St Paul with St John will celebrate its Feast of Title and bring to an end, year-long celebrations marking the 175th Anniversary of its institution as a house of worship.{{more}}

Celebrations began a year ago with a week of mission services focusing on aspects of an inspired theme: 175 Years – We Remember, Renew, Reach Out. Feast of Title 2015 featured two bishops leading the faithful in worship, witness, praise and thanksgiving, Bishop of the Windward Islands, the Right Reverend C Leopold Friday and Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago, the Right Reverend Claude Berkley.

Over the past year, monthly activities gave prominence to the work and existence of St Paul’s as a beacon of hope, overlooking the town of Calliaqua, providing pastoral care and missionary leadership over the decades to a wide area that included Calder, Marriaqua, Evesham, Belmont and Belair.

One tangible accomplishment was the production and publication of a commemorative magazine and a 2016 calendar highlighting special events in the life of the Church.

Sunday’s commemoration will feature Solemn High Mass at 7 a.m. and, at 3 p.m., Solemn Evening Song, sermon, delivered by the Reverend E Ulric Jones, procession through the streets of Calliaqua, benediction, followed by fellowship in the Parish Hall. The new Parochial Church Council will be installed during mass. In addition, Project 175, an initiative recognizing the milestone of 175 years of existence, will reach a climax. Parishioners, friends and well-wishers of St Paul’s will give as an act of thanksgiving, monetary donations in multiples of 175. Funds collected will be dedicated to restoration and developmental work in the parish, as well as educational and medical assistance to the needy among us.

As our Church continues its mission and ministry in the final quarter of two centuries of existence, Rector, Canon O Samuel Nichols, Father Hanif Johnson, Deacons Verbina Gonsalves and Elso Ross and the congregations of St Paul and St John pray for God’s continued protection, guidance and blessings and seek the solidarity of the community they serve, the Anglican Communion and the nation as a whole.