Calvary AME Church Holds Centennial Celebration
By Shernette Wynter, 16thEpiscopal District
The 100thAnniversary Celebration for Calvary AME Church was held December 7-9, 2018. The theme was “The Journey Continues,” with Acts 9:3 as the scripture.
The Celebration began with a Gospel Explosion on Friday night with various performers followed by a banquet on Saturday night. The weekend ended with a Worship Service on Sunday morning. The festive service featured traditional hymns including “Holy, Holy, Holy,” taking us back to our early beginnings when the choir marched into the sanctuary to the singing of this song on Sunday mornings.
The Rt. Rev. E. Anne Henning Byfield, the presiding prelate of the 16thEpiscopal District, was the guest preacher for the service. The message was taken from Psalms 107:1-2 and the topic was “Give Thanks.” She encouraged the congregation to give thanks, no matter the circumstances. We should give thanks for simple things as well as the big ones.
In June 1918, the church’s journey began with the late Rev. F. A. Robinson at the helm. He formally organized the Calvary Mission Station with only a few members and the first worship service was held in an old garage. Worship services were held there on a number of occasions, as the faithful few embraced their humble beginnings while looking forward to God to provide them with the means to build a church.
On Monday, December 10, 1918, the first cornerstone of the church was laid by the Rev. Alfonso Dumar, B.D., on a plot of land donated by Mr. Jacob Pennicott. Layer by layer, the foundation was meticulously laid as they knew that with the “right foundation,” Calvary AME Church could “weather” many storms. More resources were gathered and the few members of the church, along with members of the community, contributed to the building of the Calvary AME Church in its current location.
In 1951, Hurricane Charlie devastated Jamaica and some AME churches were destroyed, including Calvary. However, the Rev. Robinson and the congregants were not dismayed. They quickly recovered, rebuilt the church, and in 1953, rededicated the building.
In 1934, the Rev. Robinson was appointed the presiding elder of the Western District in Jamaica. He served in this capacity, as well as traveled to various churches, preaching the gospel with great zeal. His belief in the power of education inspired him to operate a school in the small vestry adjoining the church in the early 1950s. Carisbrook Basic School (formerly “Little School”) was established with approximately 10 children in attendance from Carisbrook and the neighbouring communities.
The Rev. Robinson served as the pastor for Calvary AME Church for 47 years and as the presiding elder for the 16thEpiscopal District for 39 years. After his retirement, five other pastors served the congregation, the Revs. Lambert Mullings, Sydney Jones, Omar Douglas, Michael Blake, and Phillip Mundle, who is the current pastor.
Towards the end of the service, various members of the church were recognized for their contribution to the ministry. This included honoring the oldest member of our church, Mrs. Clara Campbell, who is 102 years old.
We were also blessed to have a former presiding elder and pastor as well as several former members in our midst to help us celebrate. Pastor Mundle said, “I am grateful to see what God had done and to see that Calvary had what it takes to move forward on the journey. I am also grateful to have had the Rt. Rev. E. Anne Henning Byfield with us and other individuals who would have been around in the year that Calvary journey began.”
Today, Calvary AME Church is the oldest church in St. Elizabeth. As a congregation, we will all work assiduously to keep Calvary AME Church as a symbol of hope, a place of refuge, a soul-saving station, and a living testament of the greatness and goodness of God. To achieve these goals, we will continue the journey and build upon a legacy of strong Christian service worthy of continued emulation as a very special place close to our Saviour’s Throne. To God be the glory!
