REV. DR. CYRIL SINCLAIR BUTTERFIELD 1916-1991

HIS SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS

Cyril Sinclair Butterfield was born on June 23rd. 1916 the son of Charles Augustus and Margaret Butterfield in Pembroke Parish. He attended Matilda Crawford’s School at Tills Hill and went on to Central School. He won a Scholarship to attend the Berkeley Institute and after his father’s death, he volunteered to leave high school to help support his younger siblings. His first job was at Mr. Murphy’s grocery store on Front Street. He continued his Secondary Education by taking lessons with Mrs. Louisa Gardener Richards and was able to enter Wilberforce University.

In 1951 he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Payne Theological Secondary and returned to Bermuda to take on a Ministerial position at St. Philip A.M.E. Church in Bailey’s Bay and to join his family. He became active with the Boy Scout’s Association first as a King’s Scout and later as a Scout leader. He taught in several public school.

In 1969, Rev. Cyril was appointed Presiding Elder of the Bermuda Conference of A.M.E. churches. Two years later, he was presented with an honourary Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary. He was an Itinerant Pastor at a church in America. Dr. Butterfield belonged to several organizations, a member of the Bermuda Christian Ministerial Association where he served as it’s President as well as Secretary and Treasurer. A member of the special Juvenile and Domestic Court Panel. He served on the Pringle rest home Advisory Board. He chaired the case committee of the Lady Cubitt Compassion Association. He was a member of the Treatment of Offenders Board and member of the Kiwanis Club and served as Chaplin to H.M.S. Casemates Prisons. He was named on the 1982 New Year’s honours list being awarded the M.B.E. by her majesty the Queen Elizabeth 2nd. Well done Cyril you served with wisdom and understanding.