Richland Park Methodist Celebrates 20 years of their Church Building

Ashley R Cain

The Journey

As the nation celebrated National Heroes Day on the 14th March 2004, Methodists were
celebrating the twenty years since the completion of the Richland Park Methodist Church
building. The building of the church in 1984 and it’s subsequent remodeling in the last
three years is a labour of love and faith by the type of unsung heroes, who daily build our
society and institutions and make our country a better place.

The Richland Park Methodist Church started in February 1972 when the journey to the
Marriaqua Methodist Church became too much for an ageing band of Methodists who
lived at Richland Park. The group worshipped at the Richland Park Government School
before building the Church at Richland Park. The congregation started with the tiny sum
of eight hundred dollars to build a Church estimated to cost $150,000.

The faith of the Richland Park Methodists eventually resulted in the completion and the `
dedication of the building in 1984 and the subsequent renovation, of the building during
the last three years. The story of the simple and valued contributions of Methodist and
others towards the building of the Richland Park Church is repeated so often in our
country as local people work together to build communities and a better nation.

The 20th Anniversary Celebration.

The Richland Park Methodist Church was completed on the 6th March 1994. The
Richland Park congregation celebrated the 20th anniversary with a re-dedication service
on Sunday 14th March 2004 and a Local Foods Day on Monday 15th March.

Reverend Claudius Harry who as Pastor was intimately involved in the recent renovation
of the church building chaired the re-dedication service. There were addresses from Rev.
Victor H Job, President of the South Caribbean District, and Hon Girlyn Miguel,
Parliamentary representative for Marriaqua who brought greetings on behalf of the
Government. Reverend Adolf Davis preached the sermon on the chosen theme ‘Led by
God’s Vision to Service and Praise” . Bro. Winston Bacchus, a long standing member of
the congregation, provided a historical review of the process of building the church. This
history was encapsulated in a poem “Time was when -we build a church” written by
Ashley Cain and recited by thirteen members of the congregation. The Youth Fellowship
and Sunday School children performed a liturgical dance and a special song composed by
Cecile Harry for the occasion.

Three persons were also honored for their outstanding contributions over the years. Elma
May was honored for dedicated service and financial support, Alcasta Cain was the main
builder in 1984 and has since been involved in maintaining and renovating the church
building. Winston Bacchus has served the Methodist community in Marriaqua and
Richland Park in particular for over fifty years as local preacher, Sunday School Teacher,
Society steward , cheerleader, musician and representative at Annual Methodist Church
Synods. He has been one of Pillars of the Richland Land Park Methodist Church. The
service ended with a rededication ceremony led by Rev. Victor H. Job.

The celebrations concluded on Monday 15th March with the Local Foods Day and
entertainment for the children including donkey rides and a bouncing castle. Local foods
were sold including madongo bakes, saltfish and breadfruit, dukona and a variety of local
juices. The Mt Coke Young Adults Group provided musical accompaniment to those
brave enough to take the microphone.

POEM
Time was when – We build a Church
Ashley R Cain - March 2004

Time was when Richland Park Methodist People

Walk they foot to P’tani Chapel and back
For Church,
For wedding,
For Funeral,
For inspiration,
To serve they god and king
Through rain, through sun
Through cold and wind.

Time was when the journey become too much

For old faithfuls,
Young children,
The weak hearted,
The ailing, and
Those betwixt and between.
Then the elders agree
This is much, much for we.
Ley we build a Church!

Time was when Richland Park Government school

Was the place,
For service,
For christening,
For concert,
For listening the eternal word of God,
For Sunday School,
Youth Fellowship,
For harvest,
For friendships to last life long.
Time was when one Sunday in Richland Park school
Local Preacher Tommy Saunders,
Lord bless his soul!
Said in his own deliberate way.
“And Jonah Swallowed the whale!
No? The whale swallowed Jonah?
Uh? Whether is Jonah swallowed the whale
Or the whale swallowed Jonah,
Some sort of swallowing went on”.
And the people had a hearty laugh!

Time was when we meet by Rhoda John,

Practice for concert, music contest and harvest,
When Norissa and Dorney, Pat Prince and Felix (re-christened Isaac)
Pearline McKie and company
sat in a Play and say “The way how things bear this year,
Ah frighten for next year”.

Time was when we search for church land

With hardly a little penny in hand.
Time was when Jerusha Williams said,
“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof”,
and offered the Methodists quarter acre and rood.

Time was when Church land was Nutmeg tree, “pissa bed cashee”
Then tannia and yam, cussada and ginger
So lovingly sown from old Phillip Cain hand.

Time was when it was old faithful choir

Winston Bacchus, Rhoda John, Baby Davis, Phillip Cain and so on and so on.
Yes, they made many a melodious note,
To ring through the ages
And help with my growth.

Time finally come to put up the church

And when the congregation ask how much?
Eight hundred dollars in hand! could ever build church?
But that was a time of patience and faith
Of hope everlasting
We no longer did wait.

On 28th December 1982

with shovel in hand
Young Adolf Davis and old Rhoda John
And praises to God
They turned the sod
With hands that were willing of sister and brother
Alcasta Cain as the builder took the project in hand.

Time was when Reverend Rogers and Rogers they put they hand
And work teams, did come, from America land
They bring money and labour, material and man
Their hand and our hand, was a missionary band.
The church tek a shape and the spirit waxed strong
By the mercy of God the church come along.

Time was when many a preacher

Kept the faith going strong
With words of exhortations
Sunday morning solicitations
Of money and hands
Time then come when the building complete
Praise the lord! Hallelujah!
We accomplish the feat!
Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!
We dedicate the work we complete.

Time was when we remodel

To keep it all strong
And a long line ah preacher
Make us all sing along
Rogers, Job, Taylor,…. to Harry
Kept us faithful for long
Glory be, Hallelujah!
Our faith , hope is strong.

Time is now for renewal

Of the spiritual house
A new mission to conquer
A new vision pursue
Bringing brothers and sisters
Yes, not just the few
But a large band of Christians
To fill up we pew,
To make Jesus be real
in the hearts of our land
Glory be! Hallelujah!
Lord please carry us along.
Glory be! Hallelujah!
Be our life and our song.
Ashley R Cain