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About Our Church

A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE GRANT’S TOWN CHURCH

 “Recapturing the essence of our past is always a thrilling experience.   Reminiscing on the nostalgic and evocative bygone years captivates our attention as we long for the time when going to church seemed more spiritual and fulfilling.  An exercise will always stimulate the interest of the younger generation as they reflect and ponder how things used to be. Many of the churches that stand as the paragons of spiritual and moral strength in communities started in the living rooms of humble homes. In some cases, the members started worshipping under a tree or wherever they found somewhere to lift praises to the Lord. ” Dr. A. Nicholas

Missionaries brought the Seventh-day Adventist teachings to the Bahamas in 1893 from the United States. According to Historical records, the first Bahamians to accept the Adventists teaching and become Sabbath keepers were the late William Charles Antonio and his family.

As a result the family started worshipping in the family home.  A Sabbath School began in the Antonio home soon after they were baptized and continued for ten years. All of the Antonio family became Adventists. Then as the numbers grew, they became more organized and they stated having weekly meetings in the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall on Meeting Street. It was the first Adventist gathering of its kind.

In 1909, the first full-time missionary came to The Bahamas. He was W. A. Sweany. He conducted an evangelist series in the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall on Meeting Street and soon after the first baptism in 1911 he organized the first church. After he left Pastor J. H. Smith came to the Bahamas (1913).

Pastor J.H. Smith built the first Seventh–day Adventist house of worship on Shirley Street in 1914. This wooden structure was the only house of worship until 1929 when a hurricane destroyed the building and a stone building was erected on Shirley Street. The lumber from the wooden structure was given to the Grants Town Company to construct the first Grant’s Town Seventh-day Adventist Church on this present site.

This new emerging Adventist Church we call a Company was born out of a number of street meetings that were held every Sunday afternoon on the corner of Wellington and Market Street. While the church building was under construction, the members first, worshipped under a thatched booth at the back of the property on Wellington Street. The late William Fountain gave this plot of land to the Adventist Mission.

The faithful members like Brother and Sister Abraham Ward, Brother and Sister Oscar Johnson, Bro. and Sister Somellian, Sister Eliza Butler and family, the Bosfield family, the Higgs family and others who contributed free labour and love gifts, completed and dedicated the building in 1930.                                            

A few of the members from the Shirley Street church relocated to the new Grant’s Town Church, they became charter members. Among them were Brother Stephen and his wife Eliza Butler, Hasting and his wife Floy Louise Rollins, Brother and Sister Thaddeus Thompson, Brother and Sister Abraham Ward and one Brother Hall.

An elderly member of the Adventist Faith remembers Brother Sweeting as the first leader of the new company, and Brother Jack B. Dean who was baptized shortly after the company was organized, was the first ordained elder. After serving as an elder in the Grant’s Town Church for a number of years, Jack Dean moved into the Englerston area and started a branch Sabbath School that grew into the Englerston Seventh–day Adventist Church.  In December 1986 the Englerston moved to a large property on Tonique Williams Darling Highway. That church is now called Hillview Adventist Church. 

In 1931, Pastor O. P. Reed and the members of this small company conducted a crusade. Twenty – four precious souls followed their Lord in the watery grave of baptism. Some of the members were Nellie Rahming, (mother of Derrington Rahming) Hector Daswell, Evelyn Hall Woods, Gladys Bailey, Eugene E. Ferment, Daniel McMillan and Pearl McMillan (parents of Cyril McMillan). Daniel McMillan later became an outstanding local elder; he served in this capacity for fifteen years.

Gladys Bailey was an outstanding organist and Brother Ferment a distinguished choir leader. It was said, that when Sister Bailey played and Brother Ferment conducted the choir in that little building, “It felt as though all Heaven came down and glory filled the building.” Oh what glorious music!

 

In 1957 the women of the Welfare Society led by Pearl McMillan, wife of Daniel McMillan operated a centre in a rented building (owned by Sister Dorothy Seymour) situated on the corner of Cambridge Street and Hospital Lane. They presented plans to the church for the building of a Welfare Centre ( now referred to as ‘the Annex” ) Although “The Annex” started  as a centre for the Welfare Society, many of the members felt that they needed a larger building to worship in, because the little wooden building was seriously over crowded.  Later the Church Building Committee met and voted to turn the Welfare Centre into a church building. Those whose heart were in the welfare work were very disappointed, but the will of the majority carried  and what started out as a welfare building was dedicated in 1959 as the Grant’s Town  Seventh- day Adventist Church.

 

The old wooden building was used for the children’s division of the Sabbath School, Master Guide and Pathfinder Club meetings, and later as a meeting place for the Haitian segment of the church.

 

The Advent family believes in spreading the Gospel, they believe all should be witnesses unto “the uttermost part of the earth.” With the various programs of evangelism that were conducted by Pastors Leslie V. McMillan,  Roy M. Fernander, and S.G. Cole (1965- 1972) the Annex became overcrowd and it was necessary for an expansion once again. 

 

Early in 1972, the Conference Committee approved plans drawn by Brother Stanley A. Major. Brother Major was awarded the contract to construct the present building. The wooden structure was demolished and this present edifice was erected. Although this present structure was occupied since December 1972, It was dedicated on January 14 1979 six years later .    It is quite clear that the Grant’ Town Church has taken its mission aim seriously, “To proclaim the good news of Salvation to all and to garner in souls for the kingdom.” 

 

Our Church has served this community in many ways, For the young people we have an active Pathfinders Club, A soup kitchen where the Community Service ladies cook and feed the needy and clothe those who are in need. Presently a Community Centre is being constructed a few houses down from the church.

 

Over the years, Grant’s Town Church members have been very active in missionary work. In fact, many of them have become charter members in other churches. Brother and Sister Stanley Major, helped to established Johnson Park Church 1963, and the Ephesus Church in 1990. Later Alfred and Mary Brennen joined them. A short time later, Brother and Sister Alfred Brown left to assist in establishing the Good News Church. There were many others who have assisted in raising up other  sister churches, Dr. and Mrs. John Carey, Ednal Collie, Mavis Rolle, Brother Pedro Rolle and Brother Curtis Bryan.

 

Many of our members have served the church and the community with distinction locally and abroad. Some have served as missionaries at home and abroad. Sister Arimentha Colebrook, a Bible worker worked in many crusades. Others served as teachers, nurses, pastors, conference presidents, doctors, principals, district superintendents, lecturers etc.

 

 

Today, we give God the praise for His powerful leading of Grant’s Town Seventh day Adventist Church, whose motto is, “The Church that knows no barrier ……….  working together for a glorious tomorrow”