Caribbean-led Flatbush church marks 190 years with reparations lecture and homecoming
UWI historian Dr Henderson Carter spoke at St Paul's Church in the Village of Flatbush, where members from across the region, including St Kitts and Nevis, shared national dishes.
NEW YORK, United States. St Paul's Church in the Village of Flatbush, Brooklyn, held its homecoming celebration on September 12 and 13, coinciding with planning for the Episcopal church's 190th anniversary.
The homecoming committee is co-chaired by Vincentian-born Sandra Millington and Jamaican-born Rona Larmond. The church's rector is Barbadian-born Father Sheldon Hamblin.
"As Father Hamblin says, 'we did it again,'" Ms Millington told Caribbean Life. "I know we would all agree that we have just had a wonderful and informative homecoming weekend."
Reparations lecture
The weekend opened on Saturday, September 12, with a lecture by Dr Henderson Carter, senior lecturer and dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, and a former head of its Department of History and Philosophy.
Dr Carter edits the radio programmes Today in Bajan History and Today in Cricket History and is principal investigator of the Mellon-funded Constant/Carmichael Research Project. His doctoral thesis was on post-slavery protest in Barbados.
His lecture was titled "Faith that Repairs: Reparations, Responsibility, and the work of Hope."
"He also highlighted the responsibilities of governments, churches and institutions, and the work that must be done by the people," Ms Millington said. "His lecture was relevant and timely."
International Day
The Holy Eucharist on Sunday, September 13, was led by the Rev Lester V. MacKenzie, chief of mission programme in the Office of the Presiding Bishop. The service began by paying homage to ancestors. Worshippers included Roland "Patel" Matthews, the new consul general of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the United States.
Afterwards, members gathered in the auditorium for food from their home countries. Countries represented included Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Guyana, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, Nigeria, Ghana, Costa Rica and Panama. Judith Coker and Tasha Edmead represented the St Kitts and Nevis team.
"Members from the various countries decorated areas of the hall with their flags, art items, artefacts, and by wearing clothing of their national colours and sharing their tasty national dishes," Ms Millington said.
"The end result is what counts, and it was fabulous," she added.
