St. James Methodist Church
Today is Sunday, and that means a church service in out tiny town on this wee cay – Hope Town.
That’s how our church looks now, but it has had a few iterations since 1870.
The lower left shot is the present-day church.
I am finding it interesting that there is very little information available on Google about the church’s history. Seems it is more word-of-mouth! And since I am working on a new church bulletin, that won’t do!
The first church, built in 1870, was built of wood and it burned down.
Then we’ve heard stories about a big stone church, and the current church shares its foundation, and the Bahamas Methodist Conference didn’t want to leave it standing after it was damaged in a hurricane, and it took a heck of a lot of work to tear it down, it was so strong.
The church before our current church was made of wood as well, and – yup, it burned down. And the Methodist Conference said forget it, no more churches for Hope Town. But two amazing community leaders, Vernon and Bobbi, said ha! And they saw that the funds were raised for our church.
There are stories about the configuration of a previous church – that the pews were arranged so the minister would face the ocean (the church is on the ocean!) and the congregation faced the town. However, one of the main sources of income in this area with the world’s second largest barrier reef was – wrecking. And the rule is that the first one to a wreck could claim it. Everyone wrecked! And there were lots of boats that hit these reefs, so it was profitable.
At one point in a church service eons back, the minister asked the congregants to bow their heads in silent prayer. They did.
And they prayed. And prayed.
It seemed to go on for an inordinately long time… so they began to look up, and around. The minister was gone!
He was spotted outside in the ocean on a wreck. He was first there – it was his!
And now the pews and the congregants face the ocean in our new-fangled church. I guess that gives us all a fair chance in case we see a wreck! Of course, that nasty old lighthouse helped ensure there wouldn’t be lots of those. But that’s a story for another day.
My gratefuls – That we have a warm and thriving church community on this wee cay. That people in the church put their time and energy where their mouths are. That the foundation of the church gives this tiny cay a solid spiritual base, which is palpable.
meandering minds... 
Lovely little church .. would make a delightful painting 🙂
It would, Ruth!
Can you come and visit and paint it? 🙂
You are right, we have tried for a long time to find pictures of the old churches like the ones above – where did you find them, Patty? And of course no one has dates, either. You’d think that the Methodist Church would have something!
How are you feeling, my Dear?
I am still pooped….!
Not much info – we may have to go on word of mouth and spoken history to learn some more!
The photos are in Vernon’s hands.
And I am feeling pooped, and icky. I could have had a better night – and I know you could have too. Maybe it is all the wind…
Do you have an image of the oldest church (the first one) separately, or in a higher resolution? And if you do, could you send it to me via e-mail? Donnie says this is the one he doesn’t have a picture of. It was made of quarry stone, from the quarry on Elbow Cay – as you come out of HT harbour, you can see the old quarry on your left. Donnie’s parents house was also built from stones from there – the walls are about 20″ thick. There is no hurry for this!
Wishes for a restful night are coming your way, Dear…hope you feel much better tomorrow.
I am sending hugs and love!
Brigitte – I don’t have the individual photos yet, but I want to get them so I can clean them up really well for the church bulletin. I will have to look for the quarry!
I hope you sleep well – no boat rides in rages for a while!
Hugs and love back at you.