” Impressive Ceremony”

It may seems as if I’m getting into some religious fanatic bits but no I just feel this is a message that needs to be recorded for the future.

What a glorious day it was when on May 4th. 1940 the People of St. Monica’s Mission demonstrated what they were capable of achieving. At three o’clock on the above date their new Church Hall was dedicated by His Lordship The Bishop with in the course of a few months of construction. The large crowd packed the spacious hall to its capacity, every available inch of standing room was occupied.

The Rev. E.M. Strong, Rector of Pembroke Parish, previous to the dedication stated the afternoons service would be strictly a religious one but a civic one would take place later in the month. Two main points which actually accentuated the building of the hall was the welfare of the Sunday School and secondly the welfare of the Young People of the Village.

The outlook financially was also a factor this was another source of inspiration to the movement, by raising the funds in a very short time. Which cost 1,100pds.This was raised by donations from various church guilds, singing groups and other organizations. The service which was brief and very impressive opened with a hymn “Thy Hand, O God has Guided us.” The singing was led by an orchestra under the direction of Mr. Arthur Rawlins. Choir Master of St. Monica’s.

The procession entered during the singing of the hymn and took up their position on the stage at the Northern end of the hall. Included in the Procession were Mr. Carl P. Wade and his Assistant Mr. Arthur Deshields, Rev. J. Knewstub, Rev. E. M. Strong and his Lordship the Bishop. Prayers from the specially arranged form of service were used, following which the Bishop addressed the congregation emphasizing the two essential reasons which brought about the erection of the hall. He paid glowing tributes to the late Archdeacon Davidson, the pioneer of the work of St. Monica’s and also the late William Francis Wilson 2nd. its first Lay Reader , who gave his best in the cause of the work and under whose capable leadership the work had formed to such a proportion that St. Monica now stands as a monument to him. He also highlighted the roles by Rev. Strong in engineering the entire scheme.

The hall which is situated at the northwest corner of the Mission is 21, 1/2 feet by 72 feet, and accommodates 300 people and has all the necessary requirements for carrying on social work, its basement is the entire width of the hall and runs to about one third its length. The building was erected by Mr. Mansfield Richardson Mason Contractor and Mr. Charles Smith Carpenter Contractor both of whom were actively engaged in the work at the mission.

A final hymn was sung and collection taken raising 10pounds 13/_ and 1pence. Among those present were Mr. F. Gibson Ward, M.C.P. Mr. Francis Edmondson M.C.P. and Mrs. Rachel Darrell . noted Lodge member of Samaritan Lodge No 8, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Tucker, Mrs. M. Deshields, Mr. Levison Heys and Mr. Alfred Eve from the A.M.E. Church connection a blessing was given and service was ended among much excitement.

Since those many years St. Monica’s hall have seen lots of activities such as Old fashion concerts with it’s star performers Arnold and Etta Robinson. Many concerts put on by Nellie Swan, June Dill and several others. and many Band Concerts. It became a center icon for it’s location. It is also here that the first Village gift club was opened in 1907 and operated until 2016. It is here many political meeting and health clinics took place and nursery schools were held. A plaque was donated to the church by the Loyal Flower of the day lodge #6347 in memory of their lodge Brother Wm. F. Wilson and a stain glass window was donated by the guild of St. Monica to the Memory of Wm. F. Wilson, May 4th 1986 and unveiled by his son William F. Wilson 3rd. with several of his family members in attendance. Guild Presidents past and present were Earlston Earl Lee great grand son of W F Wilson 2nd. Earl served from 1981-88. Leroy Dowling from 1987.

There was a Stain glass window dedicated in memory of Winton William Organist and Francis Vanlowe on June 28th.1987. St. Monica’s Organist Francis Vanlowe 1962-1969, Winton Williams 1970-1976 Esther Burgess 1977-2000 , Winston Vaughn and Roslyn Dowling.

It is also here where a village reunion took place and bought back to the fold that day many of it’s former Sunday School Scholars, This event was organized by Leon “Jimmy” Williams and the granddaughter of Wm. F. Wilson Joy Wilson-Tucker . A march took place led by the Nelson Bascombe M.P. band from the St. Augustine Church on Smith’s Hill along Pond Road to St. Monica’s Church and after the service where the sermon was preached by Canon Thomas Nisbett refreshments were served in the hall and many friendship renewed and acquaintances remembered. The St. Monica’s Church and Hall location is held dear in the heart of many North Villager and where blessings and memories sad and good will always abound.

Researcher and organizer of recognition day Joy Wilson-Tucker