All Saints Celebrates its 160th Anniversary
Messages From
Bishop Calvin Bess
Bishop Rawle Douglin
Bishop Clive Abdulah
Canon Claude Berkley
Reverend Canon Winston Joseph
Canon Carl Major
Fr Andy Moore
Fr Richard Jacob
Bishop Randolph George
Deacon David Aldred
Bishop Calvin Bess
Bishop Rawle Douglin
Bishop Clive Abdulah
Canon Claude Berkley
Reverend Canon Winston Joseph
Canon Carl Major
Fr Andy Moore
Fr Richard Jacob
Bishop Randolph George
Deacon David Aldred
THE SAINTS CELEBRATE 160 YEARS OF SERVICE TO GOD
Sunday May 7th was a very special day at All Saints’ Church for, exactly 160 years earlier, the Church had
been dedicated as a Chapel of Ease to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. In 1868, we became a parish in our
own right and in 1889 our first ‘Vicar’ was appointed, in the person of the Reverend Lewis Alfred Taitt. It is
said that ‘what goes around, comes around’ and, in 1972, the foundation stone for the new building to
house the All Saints’ Chapel of Ease in Maraval was laid; the building was finally completed in 1978. And
now, in 2006, we remember all those Rectors, Curates, other Clergy and the people of All Saints’ parish –
together comprising the Saints – as we celebrate ‘160 Years of Service to God’.
ANNIVERSARY DINNER
We began with a dinner on Friday May 5th – a happy event, which took place in a large tent on the lawn
next to the Church; the pretty lights and other decorations transformed the area, providing a classy and
perfect ambience. Following a welcome to all (‘all’ was quite a lengthy list of persons!) by our Rector,
Canon Claude Berkley and, with grace said by His Lordship, Bishop Bess, the many guests enjoyed a
tasty meal and entertainment by a group of singers from the Marionettes.
We were especially happy to welcome back to All Saints’ Canon Carl Major and his wife (as Fr Major, he
was Rector from 1973-1977) and Fr Andy Moore and his wife (Fr Moore was our Curate during the late
1990s). In truth, it was difficult to know who was more happy – the parishioners or Fr Moore and Canon
Major! Our thanks go to Len Marshall, who chaired the dinner committee and ensured that everything was
in place for a very special evening.
ANNIVERSARY SERVICE
The major event was the very special service, held on Sunday May 7th – fortuitously, the actual anniversary
date. We were greatly privileged to have, as our chief celebrant and preacher, The Most Reverend Drexel
Gomez, the Lord Archbishop of the West Indies, Primate and Metropolitan and Bishop of Nassau and the
Bahamas. Our many special guests included President Richards and his wife and also Prime Minister
Manning and Mrs Manning, themselves regular members of our congregation.
At All Saints’, we have always been known for the excellence of our music and, on that day, the hymns and
music of praise and thanksgiving demonstrated to all present in the Church (and anywhere within
earshot!) just how much we valued this celebration. Music and singing of the highest quality was enjoyed
by all, from the opening trumpet solo to the Halleluia Chorus at the end. Naturally, ‘For all the Saints’ was
the hymn to which the long procession entered the Church at 8 am!
As we left the church, we were presented with a copy of the 160th Anniversary Commemorative magazine
– an informative document carrying greetings from past All Saints’ clergy and containing many interesting
articles and old photographs.
ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ’ SERMON
It is not possible to do justice to His Grace’s sermon here; like the entire service, it was simply
inspirational and it is hoped that a future Outlook will carry the full text. Archbishop Gomez took, as his
text, Genesis 28:17 - Jacob was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than
the house of God and this is the gate of heaven”. (NRSV) This is a text which, he told us, ‘addresses both
the immanence and transcendence of God’. As with Jacob, God continues to encounter us and the actual
Church building symbolises this encounter in four ways:
(read more)
Sunday May 7th was a very special day at All Saints’ Church for, exactly 160 years earlier, the Church had
been dedicated as a Chapel of Ease to the Holy Trinity Cathedral. In 1868, we became a parish in our
own right and in 1889 our first ‘Vicar’ was appointed, in the person of the Reverend Lewis Alfred Taitt. It is
said that ‘what goes around, comes around’ and, in 1972, the foundation stone for the new building to
house the All Saints’ Chapel of Ease in Maraval was laid; the building was finally completed in 1978. And
now, in 2006, we remember all those Rectors, Curates, other Clergy and the people of All Saints’ parish –
together comprising the Saints – as we celebrate ‘160 Years of Service to God’.
ANNIVERSARY DINNER
We began with a dinner on Friday May 5th – a happy event, which took place in a large tent on the lawn
next to the Church; the pretty lights and other decorations transformed the area, providing a classy and
perfect ambience. Following a welcome to all (‘all’ was quite a lengthy list of persons!) by our Rector,
Canon Claude Berkley and, with grace said by His Lordship, Bishop Bess, the many guests enjoyed a
tasty meal and entertainment by a group of singers from the Marionettes.
We were especially happy to welcome back to All Saints’ Canon Carl Major and his wife (as Fr Major, he
was Rector from 1973-1977) and Fr Andy Moore and his wife (Fr Moore was our Curate during the late
1990s). In truth, it was difficult to know who was more happy – the parishioners or Fr Moore and Canon
Major! Our thanks go to Len Marshall, who chaired the dinner committee and ensured that everything was
in place for a very special evening.
ANNIVERSARY SERVICE
The major event was the very special service, held on Sunday May 7th – fortuitously, the actual anniversary
date. We were greatly privileged to have, as our chief celebrant and preacher, The Most Reverend Drexel
Gomez, the Lord Archbishop of the West Indies, Primate and Metropolitan and Bishop of Nassau and the
Bahamas. Our many special guests included President Richards and his wife and also Prime Minister
Manning and Mrs Manning, themselves regular members of our congregation.
At All Saints’, we have always been known for the excellence of our music and, on that day, the hymns and
music of praise and thanksgiving demonstrated to all present in the Church (and anywhere within
earshot!) just how much we valued this celebration. Music and singing of the highest quality was enjoyed
by all, from the opening trumpet solo to the Halleluia Chorus at the end. Naturally, ‘For all the Saints’ was
the hymn to which the long procession entered the Church at 8 am!
As we left the church, we were presented with a copy of the 160th Anniversary Commemorative magazine
– an informative document carrying greetings from past All Saints’ clergy and containing many interesting
articles and old photographs.
ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ’ SERMON
It is not possible to do justice to His Grace’s sermon here; like the entire service, it was simply
inspirational and it is hoped that a future Outlook will carry the full text. Archbishop Gomez took, as his
text, Genesis 28:17 - Jacob was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than
the house of God and this is the gate of heaven”. (NRSV) This is a text which, he told us, ‘addresses both
the immanence and transcendence of God’. As with Jacob, God continues to encounter us and the actual
Church building symbolises this encounter in four ways:
(read more)
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| The Parish of All Saints |
| The Anglican Church in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago |
