To: Clergy and People
From: The Bishop
29th July, 2016
Greetings grace and peace to you from God our Father and the lord Jesus Christ!
Emancipation
182nd Anniversary of the Emancipation of Slavery
Between 1662 and 1807 Britain shipped 3.1million Africans across the Atlantic Ocean in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Africans were forcibly brought to British owned colonies in the Caribbean and sold as slaves to work on plantations. Those engaged in the trade were driven by the huge financial gain to be made, both in the Caribbean and at home in Britain.
Enslaved people constantly rebelled against slavery right up until emancipation in 1834. Most spectacular were the slave revolts during the 18th and 19th centuries, including: Tacky’s rebellion in 1760s Jamaica, the Haitian Revolution (1789), Fedon’s 1790s revolution in Grenada, the 1816 Barbados slave revolt led by Bussa, and the major 1831 slave revolt in Jamaica led by Sam Sharpe. Also voices of dissent began emerging in Britain, highlighting the poor conditions of enslaved people. Whilst the Abolition movement was growing, so was the opposition by those with financial interests in the Caribbean.
The British slave trade officially ended in 1807, making the buying and selling of slaves from Africa illegal; however, slavery itself had not ended. It was not until 1st August
1834 that slavery ended in the British Caribbean following legislation passed the previous year. This was followed by a period of apprenticeship with freedom coming in 1838.
Even after the end of slavery and apprenticeship the Caribbean was not totally free. Former enslaved people received no compensation and had limited representation in the legislatures. Indentured labour from India and China was introduced after slavery. This system resulted in much abuse and was not abolished until the early part of the 20th century. After indenture, Indians and Africans struggled to own land and create their own communities.
Taken from: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/caribbeanhistory/slavery-negotiating-freedom.htm
Let us continue to work together for freedom and emancipation, not for some, but for all.
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. {Galatians 5.1)
As servants*- of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. {1Peter 2.16)
Have a Happy Emancipation Day, Monday 1st August, 2016
The Proper for EMANCIPATION:
Collect:
Liberating God, whose service is perfect freedom, Who delivered your people Israel from slavery in Egypt; we thank You for delivering the people of these lands out of enslavement into freedom; and we pray that by Your help we will preserve our freedom, respect and defend the freedom of others, through Him by Whom we are made free, Your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Lessons:
Exodus 6: 2- 13 Psalm 114
Philemon 8- 21
Luke 4: 16-19
Resignation
Mrs. Camille Johnson tendered her resignation as Archdeaconry Youth Coordinator and Chair of the Archdeaconry Youth Committee of the Archdeaconry of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Secretary of the Diocesan Youth Commission with effect from 31st July, 2016.
We take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Johnson for her years of service in the above named post, and pray God’s guidance and blessings on her future endeavours.
Vacation
I hope to be on one months’ vacation from Thursday 4th August, 2016. During this period the Venerable Christian Glasgow will have oversight of the Diocese.
Thanks
The Rev’d Canon Leopold Baynes leaves the Diocese on the 8th August, 2016 after serving as parish Priest of The Parish of the Holy Trinity, Castries for the past eleven months and having oversight of the Parish of Grace Church, Rivierre Doree for a shorter period.
We take this opportunity to thank Canon Leopold Baynes for his ministry over the past eleven months and we are also grateful to Mrs. Baynes and the rest of his Family for their kind cooperation and understanding.
May God’s richest blessings be with Canon and Mrs. Leopold Baynes and Family now and always. Amen.
Prayers
I ask your prayers for the Rev’d Mr. John Mathurin of Grace Parish, Rivierre Doree, St. Lucia who fell from a height a week ago and sustained a minor fracture to a bone in his spine and who is also nursing a swollen leg.
Appointment
I have appointed the Venerable 0 Samuel Nichols as Rector and Dean of the Cathedral Parish and Church of St. George, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with effect from 1st September, 2016. The service of Institution, Induction and Installation will be scheduled after the restoration of the Cathedral.
Synod 2016
I am kindly asking that this prayer be said every day in your private and public prayers, especially during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sundays in preparation for Synod 16th to 21st October, 2016.
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with the Bishop and other Clergy and laity soon to be assembled to take counsel for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honour and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
With every good wish and God’s blessings!
Yours sincerely
The R . Rev’d C. Leopold Friday
Bishop of the Windward Islands