THE National Trust of Guyana has successfully erected interpretative heritage markers on 30 of Guyana’s historic sites as it continues the task of promoting education and awareness of the country’s proud heritage. The Smith Memorial Congregational Church on Brickdam, was the latest addition. Today, Pastor Oslen Small and other members joined Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust Nirvana Persaud at a simple commissioning ceremony.
Among the members present at the commissioning were Magda Pollard, one of Guyana’s stalwarts in women’s activism and Deacon Brynmor Pollard, a former Parliamentarian and member of CARICOM and, officials of Design Perspectives, the company that made the billboard.
The heritage marker, erected on the lawns of the church close to the parallel Brickdam roadway, provides the public with a brief description of the building and its history.
Smith Memorial Congregational Church has a history dating back to 1817 when Rev John Smith travelled to Guyana to preach the message of the gospel to the enslaved Africans.
He was well known for his sympathy to the plight of the disenfranchised much to the displeasure of the colonial elites who fingered him for  inciting the 1823 Demerara rebellion.
He was convicted by a local military court and sentenced to death, but while in the lockups he contracted tuberculosis and died in 1824.
Smith Memorial Congregational Church was consecrated as a tribute to his work by Rev Edwin Angel Wallbridge, a London Missionary Society Minister.
The church was built with the apse on the northern side, believed to be built in honour of the resilience of Rev. John Smith.
At today’s commissioning Pastor Oslen Small expressed gratitude to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and Chairman of the National Trust Dr. James Rose for the effort to promote history.
“I wish to assure both the ministry and the National Trust that we will surely cherish this heritage marker. It speaks for itself and we have no doubt that as you go around you will see many more heritage sites,” Pastor Small said.
The process of erecting heritage markers on historic sites commenced in 2008.
To date, signs have been erected at the Christianburg Waterwheel in Linden, New Amsterdam Town Hall,the Non-Aligned Monument, 1763 Monument, City Hall,the High Court, Umana Yana, National Cultural Centre, St George’s Cathedral and the Damon Monument,on the Essequibo Coast.
Corporate entities such as Republic Bank, RK Security and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company sponsored the erection of signs such as the Mission Chapel Congregational Church in New Amsterdam, St Andrews Kirk, Providence Mandir, Devonshire Castle Monument, Parliament Buildings, Red House, Light House and St Peter’s Anglican Church;the Jagan Memorial Site, Brickdam Independence Arch, Castellani House, Brickdam Cathedral,the Promenade Gardens,the National Museum, Open Air Mosque, Demerara Mutual Life, Seven Ponds, Fort Nassau, Austin House, Emancipation Monument, Stabroek Market, Parade Ground and Enmore Martyrs’ Monument.(GINA)