HISTORY OF EBENEZER
Longstanding member Drusilla Archer celebrates 100 years
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The inside of the sanctuary many years ago
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Mr. Raymond Higgs, Superintendent and Longstanding Ebenezer Member.
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Ebenezer Methodist Church began with open-air meetings, which were conducted by the Rev. William Turton (1761-1818) shortly after his arrival at Nassau in October, 1800. Although his ministry was met with much opposition, Rev. Turton laboured diligently in the work that God had called him.
He was resented because he preached to the slaves, and was ordered by the authorities not to hold services during the hours of service at the Anglican Church. He was also ordered by the powers that be to cease and desist from administering communion. The Rev. George Lester wrote the following of Mr. Turton.
If he knew nothing of the violence and brutality of infuriated mobs, such as the early Preachers in England had to encounter, yet slander, petty persecution and impertinent officials did their utmost to obstruct, annoy and harass the missionary – thus rendering the task which lay before him anything but easy.
In time his ministry in the eastern part of Nassau came to be appreciated by the inhabitants of Nassau. Due to the lack of financial support Rev. Turton, out of his private funds ($240.00), built a wooden “meeting place” in the eastern part of the Town of Nassau where his followers could meet. The wooden structure was known as “the East Chapel” and was constructed in 1802.
The wooden East Chapel was partially destroyed by a hurricane in 1813, but was re-built under the leadership of the Rev. William Dowson. As converts to Methodism were growing the re-built East Chapel was not able to accommodate all who wished to attend the services and consequently the foundation stone for the present Ebenezer Methodist Church was laid on the 29th March, 1839 when the Rev. John Corlett was minister of the church.
The “new” Ebenezer Methodist Church opened its doors for worship in 1841 and by 1851 boasted a membership of some 336 members. The “beautiful eighteenth century Meeting House” weathered the storm of 1866, which badly damaged many churches in New Providence. However, Ebenezer was practically destroyed by a hurricane in 1929, but with the benefit of the insurance coverage together with the generous gifts and hard work of its members and friends, Ebenezer was restored to its former glory.
Through the years various improvements have been made to the interior of the Church. In the mid 1950’s the Epworth Parsonage on the northern side of Shirley Street opposite Epworth Hall (Standard Services is now located on the site) was sold and a new furnished parsonage was purchased on Shirley Park Avenue.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Norman Pratt, the floor and the pews of the church were renewed, the choir stalls, pulpit and gallery were re-arranged and a central stairway installed. During the 1960’s the powers on the ground floor in Ebenezer were replaced with mahogany pews.
Also, during the 1960’s the Church building was altered with the addition of a new vestry, but with the passage of time this facility became inadequate and during the early 1990’s a new two-storey minister’s and choir vestries were completed.
The 1980’s also saw some renovations to the Church with regard to the re-arrangement of the choir stalls and the pulpit area. The Church was air-conditioned in the 1990’s and new windows were installed.
Ebenezer Methodist Church is alive and vibrant. Few churches in New Providence are more conscious of its call to “serve the present age” than Ebenezer. Its members are enthusiastic and hard working. There exists among its members, a strong spirit of fellowship and commitment, which motivates them to share the love of Christ with others.
Even in the midst of our celebrations, we pause to remind ourselves that while men may come and go, and buildings decay and crumble into dust, the work of God goes on. God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.
We give thanks to Almighty God for the sacrifice, devotion and faithful service of all who, in the past, have been the heralds of His love and good news at Ebenezer. We say to God be the glory for the inspiration of their work, witness and example.
From William Turton to this day, the honour and integrity of the Church has been maintained and sustained, and under God’s guidance and blessings, we the inheritors of their good works, will continue to make meaningful contributions to its strength and influence.
Ebenezer has always had a strong tradition of lay leadership, and we note in passing the contributions of these stalwarts of the Church. It is true that their names may not have always been inscribed on the ‘roll of fame’ but without their cheerful and faithful service, much that has been accomplished would have not been possible.
In 1870, a group of laymen from Ebenezer and Trinity met to discuss the feasibility of establishing an educational institution which would provide secondary education for their children, and these discussions eventually led to the establishment of what is today known as Queen’s College.
Also, in 1870 a group of lay persons from Ebenezer started a Sunday School in Fox Hill, which gave birth to Coke Memorial Methodist Church which was named after the Rev. Dr Thomas Coke.
Ebenezer, along with 34 other Churches in The Bahamas, signed the Deed of Union to form The Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church in April, 1992.
He was resented because he preached to the slaves, and was ordered by the authorities not to hold services during the hours of service at the Anglican Church. He was also ordered by the powers that be to cease and desist from administering communion. The Rev. George Lester wrote the following of Mr. Turton.
If he knew nothing of the violence and brutality of infuriated mobs, such as the early Preachers in England had to encounter, yet slander, petty persecution and impertinent officials did their utmost to obstruct, annoy and harass the missionary – thus rendering the task which lay before him anything but easy.
In time his ministry in the eastern part of Nassau came to be appreciated by the inhabitants of Nassau. Due to the lack of financial support Rev. Turton, out of his private funds ($240.00), built a wooden “meeting place” in the eastern part of the Town of Nassau where his followers could meet. The wooden structure was known as “the East Chapel” and was constructed in 1802.
The wooden East Chapel was partially destroyed by a hurricane in 1813, but was re-built under the leadership of the Rev. William Dowson. As converts to Methodism were growing the re-built East Chapel was not able to accommodate all who wished to attend the services and consequently the foundation stone for the present Ebenezer Methodist Church was laid on the 29th March, 1839 when the Rev. John Corlett was minister of the church.
The “new” Ebenezer Methodist Church opened its doors for worship in 1841 and by 1851 boasted a membership of some 336 members. The “beautiful eighteenth century Meeting House” weathered the storm of 1866, which badly damaged many churches in New Providence. However, Ebenezer was practically destroyed by a hurricane in 1929, but with the benefit of the insurance coverage together with the generous gifts and hard work of its members and friends, Ebenezer was restored to its former glory.
Through the years various improvements have been made to the interior of the Church. In the mid 1950’s the Epworth Parsonage on the northern side of Shirley Street opposite Epworth Hall (Standard Services is now located on the site) was sold and a new furnished parsonage was purchased on Shirley Park Avenue.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Norman Pratt, the floor and the pews of the church were renewed, the choir stalls, pulpit and gallery were re-arranged and a central stairway installed. During the 1960’s the powers on the ground floor in Ebenezer were replaced with mahogany pews.
Also, during the 1960’s the Church building was altered with the addition of a new vestry, but with the passage of time this facility became inadequate and during the early 1990’s a new two-storey minister’s and choir vestries were completed.
The 1980’s also saw some renovations to the Church with regard to the re-arrangement of the choir stalls and the pulpit area. The Church was air-conditioned in the 1990’s and new windows were installed.
Ebenezer Methodist Church is alive and vibrant. Few churches in New Providence are more conscious of its call to “serve the present age” than Ebenezer. Its members are enthusiastic and hard working. There exists among its members, a strong spirit of fellowship and commitment, which motivates them to share the love of Christ with others.
Even in the midst of our celebrations, we pause to remind ourselves that while men may come and go, and buildings decay and crumble into dust, the work of God goes on. God buries His workmen, but carries on His work.
We give thanks to Almighty God for the sacrifice, devotion and faithful service of all who, in the past, have been the heralds of His love and good news at Ebenezer. We say to God be the glory for the inspiration of their work, witness and example.
From William Turton to this day, the honour and integrity of the Church has been maintained and sustained, and under God’s guidance and blessings, we the inheritors of their good works, will continue to make meaningful contributions to its strength and influence.
Ebenezer has always had a strong tradition of lay leadership, and we note in passing the contributions of these stalwarts of the Church. It is true that their names may not have always been inscribed on the ‘roll of fame’ but without their cheerful and faithful service, much that has been accomplished would have not been possible.
In 1870, a group of laymen from Ebenezer and Trinity met to discuss the feasibility of establishing an educational institution which would provide secondary education for their children, and these discussions eventually led to the establishment of what is today known as Queen’s College.
Also, in 1870 a group of lay persons from Ebenezer started a Sunday School in Fox Hill, which gave birth to Coke Memorial Methodist Church which was named after the Rev. Dr Thomas Coke.
Ebenezer, along with 34 other Churches in The Bahamas, signed the Deed of Union to form The Bahamas Conference of The Methodist Church in April, 1992.
HISTORY OF EPWORTH HALL
Epworth Hall was built in 1880 during the pastorate of the Rev. Francis Moon. It was an imposing single- storey Colonial style building constructed out of lime stone blocks. Its ornate, gable-cut roof dominated the skyline at the time. All of its outside doors and windows were impressively trimmed with architectural ornaments. From its earliest times Epworth Hall has served Ebenezer Methodist Church as its fellowship hall and the home of its Church (Sunday) School and youth activities Epworth Hall also served as home for the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF), Girl’s Guides, Brownies and the 1st Bahamas Company of Sea Scouts.
In the mid 1950’s during the pastorate of the Rev. W. J. Harris the Hall was renovated. These renovations included the re-shingling of the roof and the replacement of the wooden floor with a concrete floor. Additional improvements were made to the Hall during the pastorate of the Rev. Harris, and in 1963 the original building was enlarged by the construction of the “Edith Cole Memorial Hall”. Ms. Edith Dot Cole was the Superintendent of the Primary Sunday School and the chief missionary fund raiser. This extension included the construction of an additional wing to the original building and a patio.
When the patio between the main hall was filled in with a flat roof, the Hall eventually fell into a general state of disrepair mainly because of the constant flooding of the classrooms when it rained. The flooding affected the original hall as well as the new wing and the enclosed patio. Spearheaded by the Sunday School and the minister the people at Ebenezer rallied around the words of the psalmist David “Unless the Lord builds the house, they that labour buildeth in vain” and purposed in their hearts to rise up and build.
In 1982, when the Church celebrated its 180th Anniversary, the old Hall was demolished and construction began on a new Hall. The construction of the new Hall began at the end of the pastorate of the Rev. Patterson A. Deane and at the beginning of the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. J. Emmette A. Weir. While the new Hall was under construction Sunday School was held on the campus of Queen’s College on Village Road, and students were bussed to and from Queen’s College on Sundays. A modern two storey structure now houses the Church office and the Sunday School with an auditorium having a seating capacity of approximately 500.
The new Epworth Hall was used to hold divine worship services while the Church was under renovations, and today stands as a testament to the hard work and fortitude of a committed congregation. As the late Mr. Jack Albury was known to say, “A lot of people fried a lot of conch fritters to build this hall.” The new Epworth Hall and Educational Centre was dedicated on the 25th November, 1984 by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Huggins, the then Chairman of the District. Of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA). Today, Epworth Hall houses a soup kitchen, the venue for most Church meetings, all youth activities, a Polling Division during General Elections and is the spiritual home for many meetings and activities that take place there.
In the mid 1950’s during the pastorate of the Rev. W. J. Harris the Hall was renovated. These renovations included the re-shingling of the roof and the replacement of the wooden floor with a concrete floor. Additional improvements were made to the Hall during the pastorate of the Rev. Harris, and in 1963 the original building was enlarged by the construction of the “Edith Cole Memorial Hall”. Ms. Edith Dot Cole was the Superintendent of the Primary Sunday School and the chief missionary fund raiser. This extension included the construction of an additional wing to the original building and a patio.
When the patio between the main hall was filled in with a flat roof, the Hall eventually fell into a general state of disrepair mainly because of the constant flooding of the classrooms when it rained. The flooding affected the original hall as well as the new wing and the enclosed patio. Spearheaded by the Sunday School and the minister the people at Ebenezer rallied around the words of the psalmist David “Unless the Lord builds the house, they that labour buildeth in vain” and purposed in their hearts to rise up and build.
In 1982, when the Church celebrated its 180th Anniversary, the old Hall was demolished and construction began on a new Hall. The construction of the new Hall began at the end of the pastorate of the Rev. Patterson A. Deane and at the beginning of the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. J. Emmette A. Weir. While the new Hall was under construction Sunday School was held on the campus of Queen’s College on Village Road, and students were bussed to and from Queen’s College on Sundays. A modern two storey structure now houses the Church office and the Sunday School with an auditorium having a seating capacity of approximately 500.
The new Epworth Hall was used to hold divine worship services while the Church was under renovations, and today stands as a testament to the hard work and fortitude of a committed congregation. As the late Mr. Jack Albury was known to say, “A lot of people fried a lot of conch fritters to build this hall.” The new Epworth Hall and Educational Centre was dedicated on the 25th November, 1984 by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Huggins, the then Chairman of the District. Of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (MCCA). Today, Epworth Hall houses a soup kitchen, the venue for most Church meetings, all youth activities, a Polling Division during General Elections and is the spiritual home for many meetings and activities that take place there.