PREAMBLE
The History of St. George’s Church begins when Donald
Roland Knowles humble, dedicated and visionary Bahamian priest, was appointed Rector of
St. Matthew’s Parish, Nassau, New Providence 1938. Today, some fifty years later, St.
George’s Anglican Church represents an impressive institution that continues to
address the spiritual, educational and social needs of its members and community at large.
THE EARLY YEARS
During the forties, New Providence experienced a marked rate of
housing expansion due to the improved economic opportunities and the migration of many
Family Islanders to the capital. The area south of the "Hill" known as Sears
Addition was one of the areas that experienced this population explosion.
"The Valley" was also known as Sears Addition,
Shirley Heights, the Farm and Death Valley. Life styles were still simple, families and
neighbors were close to each other and the nurturing of religious beliefs and practices
was an important aspect of daily living. Many of the residents in the community were
Anglicans and members of St. Matthew’s Parish. This historic parish was responsible
for the establishment of four other mission parishes.
Members of the mission parish who lived in Sears Addition either rode their bicycles or walked over Sears
Addition Hill to attend worship services at St. Matthew’s church on Shirley and
Church Street. This walk was especially difficult for the older ladies. Some of these
ladies, including Mrs. Alsaida Barry, Mrs. Maud "Ma J" Johnson and Mrs. Mary
Johnson petitioned the rector to provide relief by supporting the establishment of a
mission church in their area.
As fate would have it, the Rector, Fr. Donald Knowles, spent
some years in Long Island and had intimate knowledge of the value of mission parishes to
far flung congregations. He fully endorsed the proposal and committed himself to the task
of providing a church in the community. What followed was a flurry of fund raising
activities by the members, neighbors and friends of the community. Initially two lots were
purchased on Ludlow Street, however later there was a preference that the church should be
located on the main road. Finally a lot of land was purchased from Mr. Samuel Knowles on
Montrose Avenue.
In the meantime Fr. Knowles took the services of the church to
the people by conducting masses and other services on the porches of Mrs. L. Minns and
Miss Beatrice Adderley. Following the purchase of the lot on Montrose Avenue some services
were held under the Almond Tree.
World War II ended in 1945 and the Royal Air Force personnel
who were stationed in New Providence were leaving The Bahamas and their building were
being put up for sale. The R.A.F Chaplain, Fr. Eric Jay, a scholar and devoted priest had
involved himself with the Diocese and was aware of the aspirations of the Sears Addition
community. Through his influence and the unanimous decision of St. Matthew’s vestry
on December 18, 1946 the R.A.F chapel, located at Oakes Field, would be purchased for one
hundred and twenty pounds and would become the church’s first edifice. The first
service at the new mission church was held on the evening of August 19, 1948.
Approximately one hundred people attended the this evensong service. On February 5 1950,
the Rt. Rev’d Spence Burton, Bishop of the Diocese dedicated the mission church of
St. George. Other important "firsts" in the parish included the baptism of
Evarista Thompson on September 12 1948, the commencement of Sunday School on October 3,
1948 and the confirmation of Ruby Duvalier and others on June 2, 1950.
GROWTH AND NEW CHALLENGES
In the years that followed the Valley experienced a population
explosion. The small church building could not accommodate the membership. The day school
registration was growing rapidly and the Sunday School had already emptied into the yard
under the Almond and Sapodilla Trees. During this period, Fr. Knowles was called to serve
as Bishop of Antigua. Fr. Donald Lambert was appointed priest-in-charge of the parish in
1953.
By the middle of 1953, St. George’s growing pains had
reached a critical stage.
The congregation was coming out of the windows and doors, and
the day school population had reached one hundred with just two teachers. The stuccoed
wooden building had a leaking roof since 1950. The Vestry gave these concerns serious
consideration in October 1953. By this time it was obvious that a new church building had
to be constructed. Following a site inspection by the vestry Fr. Lambert, tenders were
received for the construction of a new building for St. George’s Parish.
In 1955, following his ordination to the Priesthood, Fr.
Michael Eldon joined the parish as the assistant priest.
After Easter services in 1956, the church building was
demolished to make way for the rebuilding of the new edifice. During the period that
followed, services were held on the porch of Mr. & Mrs. Percival Albury, which was
north of and adjacent to the church. In later years, this house would be purchased for use
as the Rectory for the Parish.
Just one year later, Fr. Eldon became the priest in charge of
the parish of St. Matthew, which included the mission churches of St. George and St.
Margaret. Work on the church and the Day School was completed as scheduled on December 23,
1956. Bishop Burton conducted a simple cornerstone and dedication ceremony. The church
continued to grow during the tenure of Fr. Eldon.
FIRST RECTOR APPOINTED
Growth of the Valley continued and at a vestry meeting held on
January 19, 1963, members were informed that with the consent of the Rector and the
concurrence of the Diocesan Committee, the parish of St. Matthew’s had been divided.
Effective February 1, 1963, St. Margaret’s and St. George’s would form a
separate parish. A new era was started with Fr. Collingwood Cooper, Vicar General of the
Parish, as Priest in Charge.
Under Fr. Cooper’s guidance, the parish continued to grow
and St. George’s played a pivotal role in the spiritual and social development of the
residents of the area. In 1964, following the liquidation of its outstanding debt, the Rt.
Rev’d Bernard Markham, Bishop of the Diocese, consecrated the new church on December
24, 1964.
In 1970, St. George’s and St. Margaret’s were
separated into two parishes. Fr. Cooper remained at St. George’s as its first Rector
while Bishop Knowles, who had retired as Bishop of Antigua, became the Rector at St.
Margaret’s, Kemp Road. Canon Cooper continued his faithful service to the people of
St. George’s and the community in the Valley up to the time of his death on St.
George’s Patronal Festival, Sunday April 23 1978.
During the period prior to the appointment of a new Rector,
Canon Irwin Johnson served as the Priest-In-Charge of the parish. Canon Johnson was
responsible for the formation of the Guild to Help the Sick and Needy.
November 1979 saw the induction of Canon N. W. Dudley Strachan
has the second Rector of the Parish. He was a lover of little children and was able to
encourage and see to the growth of the Saturday morning children’s mass. Canon
Strachan also revitalized the annual parish bazaar and picnic. He was the driving force
behind the popular Wednesday 6:00 am Mass. During Canon Strachan’s tenure the diocese
identified St. George’s parish as a training ground for ordinands fresh from
theological training. He served until his retirement in August of 1996.
A NEW ERA BEGINS
"In October of the same year Fr. Basil Leon Tynes was elected and installed as the 3rd rector of the Parish. He along with his wife Sonia and son Benjavare introduced a new sense of ministry through the Diocese 2000 and Beyond program to the parish. In 2000 Fr. Tynes was given a new cure which made way for the election of Fr. George Kingsley Knowles as the 4th rector of the Parish on April 3, 2001. During the interregnum the parish was served by Fr. Harry Ward and Fr. Stephen Davies, a "son of the soil" Fr. Knowles was installed by Archbishop Gomez in July of 2001. Since that time, he and his wife Sandra and daughters Kandra and Kia have been a blessing to the life of the parish."
