Spiritual Baptists told to use first national holiday “wisely”

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will be the second Caribbean country to celebrate a national holiday in recognition of the Spiritual Baptists’ faith, with practitioners noting that the day has been long overdue.

The National Spiritual Baptist Committee, and representatives from the Ministry of Education as well as the Ministry of Tourism and Culture met at the UWI Global Campus in Kingstown on May 6, 2025 to launch the week of activities.

The week runs from May 18 to 25 and is being celebrated under the theme ‘Weeping May Endure for a Night: Joy Cometh in the Morning’.

Archbishop Johnny Jones of the Carmel Spiritual Baptist Archiodese, in his address noted the change in the attitudes of Vincentians toward Spiritual Baptists over the years.

“You know what joy I have today, that Spiritual Baptist people can walk the street of Kingstown decked out in their Spiritual Baptist clothes. And I was looking forward to hearing a bell ring in here today, but no bell ring. That was our symbol that get us in trouble…that is what put Baptists in trouble.

“Even now people feel that Baptist people are dunce, but that myth is long removed. We as Spiritual Baptist people- this is the beginning of showing our true colours,” Archbishop Jones said.

“ I was indeed happy when I looked at the calendar and I saw National Spiritual Baptist Day is highlighted.”

Archbishop Jones recounted the years of having to travel to Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate Spiritual Baptists Liberation Day as there was no day earmarked in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“Since I grow and have sense I know is St Vincent they come from, I start to feel like we being unfairly treated. The Baptist history is painted in St Vincent, how comes they [Trinidad] get a national holiday and we haven’t got one yet.”

Click here to subscribe to read the full article in the E-paper!