History of Highgate S.D.A. Church
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a solitary step and once that step has been made, don’t look back but look ahead”. Says a Chinese proverbs and this has been the experience of the leaders and member of the Highgate Seventh Day Adventist church.
It was in the year (1938) that Mrs. Maud Stewart a member of the Clermont S.D.A. Church in St. Mary was living in Harmony Hall. Sister Stewart wanted to share her faith with a family in Harmony Hall so she asked brother Campbell from the Clermont church to visit the family, the brother came but not knowing where sister Campbell lived he decided to conduct bible study in another home where there was a family of eight.
Around that time one Mr. Mead a member of the revival church got hold of a book entitled Bible FOOTLIGHT on reading it Mr. Mead was convinced of the Sabbath truth, he visited the same home where Brother Campbell had conducted the bible study and shared his experience with them.
The mother of the home and Mr. Mead decided to get in touch with Sister Stewart, the only Seventh Day Adventist member in Harmony Hall then, Sister Stewart invited these people to attend church with her the following Sabbath which they did. Shortly afterwards brother Hamilton from the Clermont church seeing the interest in Harmony Hall, came to the district and held a series of meeting under a shop piazza, Mr. Mead and others got baptized and a little group of believers was formed, these converts attended the Clermont church.
Subsequently Mr. E.C. Walton an employee of the public works department in Annotto Bay visited a series of meetings which were being held in that town, pastor G. Smith a Seventh Day Adventist Minister was the preacher, Mr. Walton was convinced of the Lord’s claim upon his life and started visiting the Clermont S.D.A. Church where he was baptized. Brother Walton was now living in Harmony Hall and so he and the little group of believers from the district, decided to find a spot in Harmony Hall where they could conduct their services, they soon identified a spot belonging to Mr. Legg, after getting Mr. Legg permission, the brethren erected a structure, put bags around it and daubed it with white lime. The people called it “The Bag Church “but many hearts were blessed as they worshiped together from time to time.
Pastor Smith was succeeded by Pastor J. Williams, seeing the need for a building, Pastor Williams and Brother Walton decided to search for a place on which they could build, they went to Islington to an outstanding woman called mother Nelson, She kindly gave them the spot, soon after a temporary structure was built, this became the place of worship.
Shortly afterwards a church building started by Pastor J. N. Williams and brother Walton, this building was completed and dedicated in 1942, brother Walton now local elder , along with other members full of enthusiasm launched out in missionary work, as a result two daughters were born to the Highgate church namely Hampstead and Richmond. Pastor Williams was sent as a missionary to Cuba, and Brother Walton to Grand Cayman, but the missionary spirit was kept alive by pastor A.C. Stockhausen and faithful leaders such as Bros. H.S. Moore, T. Chambers and A. Clarke respectfully.
Four more daughters were born to Highgate church these are Heywood Hall, Dean Pen, Bottom Albany, later transferred to Rosend and Islington. After a period brother Walton returned as an ordained minister and pastured the church for a while then transferred to Spanish Town, he was succeeded by Pastor J.N. Williams who after a short time retired, giving way to Pastor Newman.
It was Pastor Newman who in 1963 invited brother Planto to remove from the Pimento Hill Church to the Highgate Church, the church then had a membership of (63). Pastor Newman was succeeded by Pastor S.A. Hyatt and Palmer respectfully. The Pastor, leaders and members saw that the church had become dilapidated and too small for its membership. So under the leadership of Pastor Balfour A. Hurst and local elder G. Planto this building was started in 1974, their support and encouragement stimulated the members to forge ahead.
After putting us on a sure footing Pastor Hurst left and gave way to pastors L. Williams, V.Miller, and interns Johnson, Binns, and Bryan, followed by Pastors E. Williams, D. Dacosta , D. Dixon, J. Davis, I. Harry, A. Reid, D. Hosin, A. C. Mcleod, I. Grant, and presently A. Bernard, interns D. Williams, C. Hylton , D. Heath G. Marsh.
The church has come a long way and the road was not easy, the hand of the lord could be seen in every step of the way, He sent brother Mclntyre to Start the building, when brother Mclntyre became ill God sent brother grant to continue, brother Grant later migrated and a miracle happened, went through disaster and illness God spoke to one Mr. Robinson, an outstanding builder.
He gave his heart to the lord and was baptized and became a member of the church, Brother Robinson and his helpers together with earnest and willing church members took over and brought the building to its present stage. Funds have been provided by generous friends like Brother Vivian Maxwell, C. J. Eccles Bro and Sis. Ramkisson, and other faithful church members abroad. Besides, the brethren here planted and sold crops, bananas, they throw partners to realize ready cash. The brethren gave thanks to the conference for their gifts of three thousand ($3000) dollars, phase one of the building cost approximately three hundred and fifty five thousand dollars.
It is with heartfelt gratitude that we sing “Lead on o king eternal”, and now the Highgate Seventh Day Adventist Church stands on the threshold of another milestone in her colourful history, she triumphantly but humbly bows before her maker to say “ TO GOD BE THE GLORY” .
THE END
It was in the year (1938) that Mrs. Maud Stewart a member of the Clermont S.D.A. Church in St. Mary was living in Harmony Hall. Sister Stewart wanted to share her faith with a family in Harmony Hall so she asked brother Campbell from the Clermont church to visit the family, the brother came but not knowing where sister Campbell lived he decided to conduct bible study in another home where there was a family of eight.
Around that time one Mr. Mead a member of the revival church got hold of a book entitled Bible FOOTLIGHT on reading it Mr. Mead was convinced of the Sabbath truth, he visited the same home where Brother Campbell had conducted the bible study and shared his experience with them.
The mother of the home and Mr. Mead decided to get in touch with Sister Stewart, the only Seventh Day Adventist member in Harmony Hall then, Sister Stewart invited these people to attend church with her the following Sabbath which they did. Shortly afterwards brother Hamilton from the Clermont church seeing the interest in Harmony Hall, came to the district and held a series of meeting under a shop piazza, Mr. Mead and others got baptized and a little group of believers was formed, these converts attended the Clermont church.
Subsequently Mr. E.C. Walton an employee of the public works department in Annotto Bay visited a series of meetings which were being held in that town, pastor G. Smith a Seventh Day Adventist Minister was the preacher, Mr. Walton was convinced of the Lord’s claim upon his life and started visiting the Clermont S.D.A. Church where he was baptized. Brother Walton was now living in Harmony Hall and so he and the little group of believers from the district, decided to find a spot in Harmony Hall where they could conduct their services, they soon identified a spot belonging to Mr. Legg, after getting Mr. Legg permission, the brethren erected a structure, put bags around it and daubed it with white lime. The people called it “The Bag Church “but many hearts were blessed as they worshiped together from time to time.
Pastor Smith was succeeded by Pastor J. Williams, seeing the need for a building, Pastor Williams and Brother Walton decided to search for a place on which they could build, they went to Islington to an outstanding woman called mother Nelson, She kindly gave them the spot, soon after a temporary structure was built, this became the place of worship.
Shortly afterwards a church building started by Pastor J. N. Williams and brother Walton, this building was completed and dedicated in 1942, brother Walton now local elder , along with other members full of enthusiasm launched out in missionary work, as a result two daughters were born to the Highgate church namely Hampstead and Richmond. Pastor Williams was sent as a missionary to Cuba, and Brother Walton to Grand Cayman, but the missionary spirit was kept alive by pastor A.C. Stockhausen and faithful leaders such as Bros. H.S. Moore, T. Chambers and A. Clarke respectfully.
Four more daughters were born to Highgate church these are Heywood Hall, Dean Pen, Bottom Albany, later transferred to Rosend and Islington. After a period brother Walton returned as an ordained minister and pastured the church for a while then transferred to Spanish Town, he was succeeded by Pastor J.N. Williams who after a short time retired, giving way to Pastor Newman.
It was Pastor Newman who in 1963 invited brother Planto to remove from the Pimento Hill Church to the Highgate Church, the church then had a membership of (63). Pastor Newman was succeeded by Pastor S.A. Hyatt and Palmer respectfully. The Pastor, leaders and members saw that the church had become dilapidated and too small for its membership. So under the leadership of Pastor Balfour A. Hurst and local elder G. Planto this building was started in 1974, their support and encouragement stimulated the members to forge ahead.
After putting us on a sure footing Pastor Hurst left and gave way to pastors L. Williams, V.Miller, and interns Johnson, Binns, and Bryan, followed by Pastors E. Williams, D. Dacosta , D. Dixon, J. Davis, I. Harry, A. Reid, D. Hosin, A. C. Mcleod, I. Grant, and presently A. Bernard, interns D. Williams, C. Hylton , D. Heath G. Marsh.
The church has come a long way and the road was not easy, the hand of the lord could be seen in every step of the way, He sent brother Mclntyre to Start the building, when brother Mclntyre became ill God sent brother grant to continue, brother Grant later migrated and a miracle happened, went through disaster and illness God spoke to one Mr. Robinson, an outstanding builder.
He gave his heart to the lord and was baptized and became a member of the church, Brother Robinson and his helpers together with earnest and willing church members took over and brought the building to its present stage. Funds have been provided by generous friends like Brother Vivian Maxwell, C. J. Eccles Bro and Sis. Ramkisson, and other faithful church members abroad. Besides, the brethren here planted and sold crops, bananas, they throw partners to realize ready cash. The brethren gave thanks to the conference for their gifts of three thousand ($3000) dollars, phase one of the building cost approximately three hundred and fifty five thousand dollars.
It is with heartfelt gratitude that we sing “Lead on o king eternal”, and now the Highgate Seventh Day Adventist Church stands on the threshold of another milestone in her colourful history, she triumphantly but humbly bows before her maker to say “ TO GOD BE THE GLORY” .
THE END
