BARBADIANS and friends in the United Kingdom travelled to Oxford to celebrate Barbados’ 57th anniversary of independence at a Service of Thanksgiving held on Sunday, November 26.

The celebrations were hosted at the New Testament Church of God in the residential neighbourhood of Cowley, an area with a bustling and eclectic mix of many cultures and creeds with a significant Barbadian presence.

The National Council of Barbadian Associations U.K. (NCBA U.K.) Thanksgiving service is rotated annually across the country using an interfaith template. This year, in its new location, the Pentecostal element shone through in a genuinely Barbadian atmosphere despite the cold wind and rain outside. 

Processional Hymn, And Can It Be, signalled the start before a welcome by Bishop Wesley Sealey, Senior Pastor at New Testament Church of God, Cowley.   The Barbados national flag was presented by Master Guide Ms Regina St. Hill, The Merchant Navy Standard and Ensign by Ben Stock (M.N.), and Ashdiene Greaves, Chairperson of Barbados Overseas Community and Friends Association (BOCFA), with the national pledge of Barbados read by Ms Jasmine Simpson-Smith.

The inclusion of the Merchant Navy Standard alongside the Barbados National Flag is in recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of the West Indian seamen, whose lives were lost during World War 2’s Battle of the Atlantic, which also commemorated its 80th anniversary this year. Even more relevant is that most West Indians who died during this period were Barbadians.

After the call to worship and a rendition of the hymn Be Thou My Guardian And My Guide, officiating Reverend Stephen Nelson, Pastor, Calvary Church of God in Christ, Cardiff, invited the congregation to veer away from the published programme. He asked his audience to join him in a chorus, ” When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory’!’ This became the backdrop and inspiration for a lively audience.

The first Bible reading was read by Jeffrey Hinds, JP, and the second was by Sandra Smith, Ipswich Merchant Navy.

A  further surprise awaited the audience as a quintet of visitors from Bim also performed, I Will Lift up My Eyes to the Hills, before the sermon by Bishop Wesley Sealy utilising  the service theme, ‘Celebrating our Windrush Heritage.’

Drawing on the scripture from the Book of Psalms, Bishop Sealey spoke about having goodly heritage – A Goodly Heritage is a Godly Heritage.   The essence of his sermon was that it was right to celebrate those Caribbean people, the Windrush Generation, who came to the U.K. and laid a foundation for many who followed.

He added: “They were heroes; many went to the U.K. with a good Christian heritage. They worked hard, and the community is still here after 75 years despite the difficult times they experienced. They have survived and thrived due to the grace and goodness of God.  

“Likewise, the nation of Barbados, after 57 years, continues to be a nation-state due to the goodness of God.

“The well-known greats of our land like Sir Grantley Adams, and He referenced the well-known greats of Barbados, like Sir Errol Barrow, along with the unsung heroes, e.g. those of the Windrush Generation who paved the way for us in this country today – we celebrate them all,” he said.

“People, possessions, positions and pleasure have replaced the worship of our God and His Son Jesus Christ, but we must return to our heritage, A goodly heritage – giving God thanks because all good gifts come from him.”

This was followed by a beautiful rendition of CC Winans’ The Goodness of God by Ms Pauline Catlyn-Reid, accompanied by keyboardist Ronnie Francis.

Intercession prayers were led by Father David Hoyte, The World – Dr Beverley Goring, Chair, Alleyne School Alumni Association UK (ASAAUK), The Diaspora – Ms Betty Lewis – Diaspora Attache, Barbados High Commission, The People of Barbados by Mr Tyrone Roach, Barbados Overseas Community and Friends Association (BOFCA).

After prayers, the offertory hymn Will Your Anchor Hold continued the spiritual uplift as the keyboardist led with a reggae beat. In his independence message, His Excellency Mr Milton Inniss, High Commissioner of Barbados to the U.K. spoke about the importance of the overseas community and its continued relationship with Barbados, noting the government’s recent achievements and the island’s second year as a republic.

In her vote of thanks, Sherry Maxwell, the NCBA Chairperson, expressed her gratitude to the congregation, clergy, and the invited guests.

These included the  Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor James Fry, Barbados High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Mr Milton Inniss, Barbados Diaspora Attache, Ms Betty Lewis, Chair, St Vincent & Grenadines National Association U.K. – Deiana Stapleton, Secretary of Merchant Navy Association, Ipswich Branch – Sandra Smith and Roy Glencross and Ben Stock from the National Merchant Navy Association.

Barbadian groups were represented in sizeable numbers, including from Leicester, Birmingham, London, Ipswich, and Oxford.

Guests then attended a reception where they were served  Caribbean cuisine, followed by Bajan delicacies sweetbread, cassava pone and conkies wrapped in banana leaves.