THE late Bishop Cornell Jerome Moss was yesterday acknowledged for his life’s contributions at a special memorial service held at the St George’s Cathedral, Georgetown.

President David Granger, himself a devout Anglican, was among the hundreds from across the Region to gather at the world-renowned Cathedral as tributes were paid to the late Moss.
He last served as the XII Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Guyana and Suriname, having been appointed by the House of Bishops.

Described as dedicated, a man of selfless service who believed in his God, and credited also with the reinvigoration of the Anglican Diocese across the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), the late Bishop Moss was consecrated in December 2009, after which he was enthroned in ‘The Cathedral of St George.’

SOLEMN EUCHARIST
Rain did little to dissuade the hundreds that gathered for the mid-morning start of the ‘Solemn Eucharist of the Resurrection’ in memory of the ‘Right Reverend Cornell Jerome Moss, DD.’

President Granger arrived promptly at the Cathedral for the 10:00 hrs start before personally offering his condolences to Dr. Moss’ widow, Carol.

The formal programme got underway with a procession of Thurifer, Crucifer, Accolytes, Lay Ministers of the Diocese, Deans, Provincial Chancellors, Regional Bishops and a number of other provincial top brass.

Incense permeated the ‘tallest wooden building in the world’, as altar boys and girls, sashed and gowned, led the procession with plumes of the aromatic smoke billowing out of each of their ‘thuribles’. The congregation joined in with the hymn ‘For all the Saints’, each in unison during the chorus, ‘Alleluia, Alleluia’.
Provincial Secretary, Eleanor Lawrence led the congregation in prayer in remembrance of the late Bishop. This, along with a contribution from immediate past Provincial Mother’s Union President, Leila Austin, on Corinthian’s take on death, mortality and God’s place in it, led to a sermon by ‘The Most Reverend and Dr. the Honourable John Holder.’
BIBLICAL CONVICTIONS
The Reverend, in his transfixing take on death, humanity, mortality and the life of the late Bishop Moss, told the congregation, “Not even death falls outside of God’s embracing love.”

He said that as such, in recalling the life of the late Bishop Moss, it must be stressed that he lived a life according to his biblical convictions.
According to Reverend Holder, the late Bishop had a passion for his Ministry and fervently believed that through the church positive ideals can be realised.

Bishop Moss was said to be a man who loved his God, his Lord and his church. Speaking to those who may be grieving at the loss, since, according to the elders, this is human, Reverend Holder urged that they take solace in the life lived by the late Bishop, and know “that with the Lord, all labour is not in vain.”

RENOVATION FUND
Vicar-General, Oscar Bazil, also joined in paying tribute to the late Bishop Moss. In fact, according to Vicar-General Bazil, under Moss’ stewardship, the Church has seen marked improvements.
He pointed to the fact that perhaps the final act of the Bishop was ensuring the establishment of the St George’s Cathedral Renovation Fund.

Another to join in praise of the accomplishments of Bishop Moss was the Right Reverend Laish Z. Boyd, who also provided testimony as it relates to the endeavours of the man in whose memory they had gathered.
According to Reverend Boyd, with the death of Bishop Moss, the Diocese of Guyana has suffered a tremendous loss.
He said some may even be tempted to feel that with the loss of the late Bishop, there is also a loss of the forward thrust and momentum that had been gaining traction under his watch.
It was observed that under Bishop Moss, the Guyana Anglican Diocese managed to have trained and ordained a number of priests, something that had not happened locally for a number of years.
Stressing service and dedication as Bishop Moss’s hallmarks, he recalled that the man had been called to leave the only place he had known as home, Nassau, Bahamas at the age of 50, with his family to take up the charge at the helm of the Guyana Diocese, a new land, a new culture, yet something he reportedly embraced.
Bishop Moss’ memorial service was richly punctuated with Anglican ritualistic tradition, supported by haunting notes of the organ and steel pan ensemble and choir.

President Granger also joined in the communion, a mark of remembrance of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour, according to the belief of Anglican Christians.

BISHOP CORNELL MOSS
Born December 1959 in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, the late Bishop Cornell Moss entered the seminary in 1978.
By 1982, he graduated earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology with Second Class Honours and a Diploma in Theological Studies.
Too young for ordination, the late Moss was at the time appointed Lay Assistant at Christ the King, Ridgeland Park, where he waited for six months to be ordained to the Order of Deacons in January 1983.
A year later, he was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood in Christ Church Cathedral, Nassau.
He married in 1986 to the now widowed Carol Lisa Thompson, after which he took up his first appointment as Priest-in-Charge of St John the Baptiste Parish, Southern Abaco.
Over the years, he ascended the ranks of the Anglican province, and by 2009 was ordained and enthroned as the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Guyana in December 2009.
While in Guyana, he introduced the tithing system throughout the Diocese, which is said to have strengthened its financial operations.
He also presided over the remodelling and refurbishment of Austin House, the century-old residence of all Diocesan Bishops of Guyana, and last month he launched the remodeling of the St George’s Cathedral.
Following three hospital stints last year, he underwent in May this year an aortic valve replacement surgery, but died soon after.
“Bishop Cornell Jerome Moss was a breath of fresh air to the Anglicans of Guyana,” according to President Granger.
By Gary Eleazar