By Francis Quamina Farrier

THE All Saints Anglican Church in New Amsterdam, Berbice, has been celebrating its 180th anniversary this past week with a series of activities. They included a public parade around New Amsterdam, the ordination by Bishop Charles Davidson of Mr. Ezra Minty and Mr. Theodore De Monick as deacons of the church, at the St. George’s Cathedral in Georgetown. There was also the distribution of food hampers to a number of shut-in elders in New Amsterdam.

The celebration concludes this afternoon with a High Mass at 15:00hrs at the church on Main Street, New Amsterdam. A few weeks ago, the building was given some needed repairs. It was not quite of the scope as that still being undertaken at the iconic St. George’s Cathedral in Georgetown. The Anglican Christian denomination has been functioning in Guyana for over 200 years and has had an impressive reputation for its contribution not only to the spiritual needs of its members but also to the education of youths of all denominations, for well over a century. Many Anglican schools were established all around the country. Part of my own early formal education was at the St. Ann’s Anglican School at Agricola, East Bank Demerara. Many of the clergies have been active in civil and business activities such as the scout movement, which itself is 110 years this year in Guyana. One of the Anglican priests, Fr. A.L. Luker, who was serving at All Saints at the time, wrote the words for Guyana’s National Anthem in 1966.

There are other Christian churches in Guyana which have also been around for a very long time. The Mission Chapel, which is also located in New Amsterdam, is now 205 years old. On the island of Leguan in the Essequibo River, Region Three is the 190-year-old St. Peter’s Anglican Church, which was built with bricks. At present, its tower is being repaired. That historic Anglican Church is also being promoted as a tourist attraction. On Brickdam in the city of Georgetown, is the 200-year-old St. Andrew’s Kirk, and further east, also on Brickdam, is the 175-year-old Smith Memorial Congregational Church.

The Anglican Body has also established churches on the Corentyne Coast, all along the West Coast Berbice and the Demerara and Essequibo Coasts. There is the St. John-the-Baptist at Bartica in Region Seven, and also on the Pomeroon in Region Two, among other locations in Guyana. All that leads to ask how often do Guyanese reflect on those who went before us and what were the treasures they left to us for our own joy and development- or example, the hundreds of miles of streets, roadways and highways which we use on a daily basis and the thousands of bridges which we cross daily. The hundreds of miles of pavements, and the hundreds of miles of canals which were constructed in past centuries and which we use daily. When last have citizens of Georgetown reflected on the Century old Lighthouse which is located at the northern end of Water Street and thought of its important use in guiding ships into Port Georgetown with all the imported goods we purchase for our daily needs and comfort?

With the above-mentioned, century-old Christian Churches in Guyana, including the Bethel Chapel in Beterverwagting on the East Coast Demerara, there is proof enough that the Christians have been around for a very long time here in British Guiana/Guyana. During that time, they have been doing great work for the people of this country, including the task of education. Many citizens who now hold positions of influence and power in the country, including the President of Guyana, His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, have benefitted. A controversial spot of the history of the Anglicans in this country is the demolition of a great Anglican church, the St. Barnabas which was located on Regent Road at Orange Walk in Georgetown. However, the 180-year-old All Saints Anglican church is likely to be there on Main Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, for many years to come. Those who went before us have laid the foundations on which we continue to build and develop, not only our religious faiths but also our entire ‘Dear Land of Guyana’.