From the hard days of 1967 and before, to present day 2024, Anguilla has gradually evolved with a spirit of grit and resilience to celebrate 57 years of freedom from the oppressive St. Kitts regime.
An Ecumenical Service of praise and thanksgiving was held at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary under the theme “Honouring Our Past, Celebrating Our Present, Building Our Future”, as part of activities to commemorate the 57th Anniversary of the 1967 Anguilla Revolution. Many civilians, as well as Government Ministers, Members of the Opposition and members of the local clergy were in attendance.
The service was moderated by Pastor Phillip Gumbs of the Church of God (Holiness). The Opening Prayer was offered by Pastor Elmead Allen of Kingdom Vision Apostolic Church, and Reverend Wilmoth Hodge of the Methodist Church delivered Welcome Remarks and the Introduction to the service.“Today we have come with gratitude to God and in remembrance of our forebears, who are the heroes and heroines of the revolution,” Reverend Hodge said. “We stand today on the foundation of faith which they established for a better Anguilla in which we all can peaceably live. We have come this far by faith, notwithstanding the challenges of the past and the present. We hold fast to the opportunities of today, and we trust that the God of our ancestors will lead us into a bright and prosperous future.”
The Church of God (Holiness) Praise Team led an inspiring session of praise for the goodness of God, and exuberant songs of adoration ushered in an atmosphere of joyous worship.
The Old Testament reading from Isaiah 43:16-21 was read by the Honourable Acting Premier, Mr. Kenneth Hodge. Special music ministry in song was then rendered by Mrs. Jemima Romney, followed by the reading of New Testament scripture by the Honourable Opposition Leader, Cora Richardson-Hodge.
The 1896 hymn “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations”, written by Ernest Nichol, was lustily sung with much energy and enthusiasm, followed by the sermon preached by Canon Reid Simon.
Canon Simon took time to reflect on the hardships of the past and all the struggles that the nation’s forebears endured; he acknowledged the shortcomings and crises of the present, as well, but he stressed heavily on the need to set a sound foundation for building the future, saying that the battle is not yet done.
“Today I ask the question, ‘What are the values upon which we can build our future?” Canon Reid inquired. “What is there in our history that we can use as a foundation upon which to build our future? Blessed Saint Paul in Ephesians Chapter 4 wrote: ‘So then, putting away all falsehood let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours for we are members of one another. Therefore, put away from you all bitterness and wrath, and anger and wrangling, and slander, together with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you.’
“If we are to build a future, my friend, we need to establish Christ-like principles which are reflective of the Rock, Jesus Christ, upon whom we are called to build…”
“We have come a long way – fifty-seven years,” the Canon reflected. “There are many people who gave of themselves. There are some who are doing so now. But the battle is not over. The battle for building Anguilla’s future still goes on. Now, more than ever, there is a need for patriots; there is a need for committed men and women; there is a need for persons who are going to say ‘I am doing this for my land, because this is my home and it is a special place. I am not just going along for what I can get, or what I can acquire. But I am following the words of St. Francis of Assisi. I know, as he said, ‘it is better to give than to receive.’ I will be working to build my nation land’.”
“As we celebrate 57 years,” he pondered, “we thank God for his mercy and for His grace upon us, but we pray even more that we will allow this grace to be our guide for future years to come.”
Reverend Vincia Celestine, Superintendent of the Methodist Church, Anguilla Circuit, offered a prayer of intercession followed by the singing of The Lord’s Prayer. The Ecumenical Service ended with the singing of “The Right Hand of God is Writing in Our Land”, the Benediction, and the recessional song “To God be the Glory”.
