The Tribune

By Cara Bethel

cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

The Anglican Church of The Epiphany observed its Feast of Title on Monday evening with a Pontifical Solemn Holy Eucharist and Laying of the Corner Stone for the new church on Prince Charles Drive.

The celebrant of the mass was Diocesan Bishop Rev’d Laish Boyd, assisted by Epiphany’s rector Rev’d Atma Budhu Rector and other clergy from the Anglican Diocese. The Church of The Epiphany will also be celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year on April 23.

The first service was held on that date in 1989 on the front lawn of the home of the then Parish Priest Canon Delano Archer and Agatha Archer in Nassau East. On June 26, 1991, the congregation moved to the newly constructed parish hall on Prince Charles Drive.

On Monday evening, members of the church and invited guests watched with great joy and pride as Bishop Boyd blessed the site and laid the cornerstone of the new church, a long awaited dream of Epiphany’s 400 members.

The church’s name Epiphany, meaning manifestation of God, comes from the Christian Feast Day, the Epiphany of Our Lord, which is observed on January 6, twelve days after Christmas, to celebrate the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ and the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus. The vision of the Church of The Epiphany is “to become one family striving in faith and love through commitment to manifest Jesus Christ” and its mission is “to develop people into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ”.

Bishop Boyd, in his sermon, noted that Cannon Archer should be commended for the role he played in propelling the church from that first small gathering to the parish it is now and added that it will be the task of current Rector, Father Budhu to lead them into this new chapter of its history. The Bishop admonished the vestry and members that a tremendous responsibility has now fallen on them.

“This church will be a beacon in the Eastern district to lead people to God. And just as the church will stand as symbol, so must the members of the church be a beacon to lead others to God just as centuries ago the star led the wise men to the infant Jesus during the first Epiphany,” he said.

He urged the parish to grow its congregation, witness door to door to every home in the community and display the gift of love and caring not just to their own members but to the entire eastern end of the island.

Fr Budhu said that the laying of the cornerstone is the actualization of the dream that Epiphany has had for many years. He said that once the parish remains committed and focused on the task at hand, it will be able to achieve all of its goals. “We just need to work with resolve and be of one mind,” he said.

The Urban Renewal Youth Band also performed a selection after the cornerstone was laid. Other events to commemorate the church’s 25th anniversary will include an Easter egg hunt and fun day on Monday, April 21; an outdoor mass on the actual anniversary date, April 23; a gala banquet on April 25; and a concelebrated Solemn Holy Eucharist which will be broadcast on TV and radio on Sunday April 27.