By Jeffrey Trotman
St Aidan’s Parish commemorated its centenary anniversary with a church service and rededication of the church building at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden on Sunday under the theme ‘Celebrating one hundred years in unity, restoring and rebuilding, and regenerating in fellowship’.
The Right Reverend Cornell Jerome Moss presiding over the Eucharist noted that the parish has offered dynamic leadership within the Diocese over the hundred years and made significant contributions to the spiritual life in the Upper Demerara Region.
He said even in the face of great challenges there is always a strong element of hope to overcome difficulties, which has been of personal inspiration and it is no surprise to him that the two congregations – St Aidan’s and Christ the King at Mackenzie – richly offer spiritual leadership in the communities they serve.
Rev Moss stressed that we have to be child-like, not childish to experience spiritual sustenance.
He said a building is not a church but a place where people gather in communion. That is why the 100th anniversary began with a rededication of the church building.
He said it is natural for man to submit to a greater power and he contended that no intellectual philosophising can effectively deny the presence of God since in attempting to rationalise that God does not exist one is unwittingly expressing a belief in the existence of God.
Rev Moss further stated that no matter what one achieves one of the most fundamental needs of man is the desire to be at peace with God.
“No matter how great and powerful he may be in the world, he must submit to a greater power,” he said as he stressed that the Church is a beacon, showing people how to live.
He said charity should begin at home where members of the denomination should live in love and extend such love to the wider society, particularly in this age of growing secularism where too many people attempt to acquire material comforts even by immoral means.
Among the attendees were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Chairman of the Linden IMC Orin Gordon, Parliamentarian Renis Morian and Rev Charles Davidson, a born and bred Lindener, who has served in the Bahamas and came from the US for the occasion.
Recognition was given to two parishioners, Agatha Campbell and Margaret Osborne, who are centenarians. However, only Osborne was able to attend.
St Aidan’s Anglican Church started some time before 1913 as an offshoot of St David’s Anglican Church at Dalgin, which was then the main church on the Demerara River about 18 miles south of Linden.
The original St Aidan’s Church building also served as a school and was consecrated by Bishop William Proctor Swaby in 1913.
The church has seen constant expansion over the years with most of the Upper Demerara missions falling under the charge of the St Aidan’s Parish priest. Rev Joseph Wagner is the current parish priest.
The church currently has 300 members while many dedicated former members live abroad.
