Ecumenical Service to Comemorate 475th Anniversary of Spanish Town

An ecumenical service, in recognition of the 475th anniversary of the founding of Spanish Town, will be held on Sunday, June 28 at Emancipation Square, in the heart of the historic town.
The event, scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. is being hosted by the St. Catherine Parish Council in collaboration with the Spanish Town Ministers Fraternal.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen and Mayor of Spanish Town, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, have been invited to bring greetings. Bishop and Pastor of the Worship Centre, Bishop Roy Johnson will deliver the sermon.
Bishop Johnson, who is also Chairman of the Spanish Town Ministers Fraternal, told JIS News that the event was being organised to highlight the contributions made by churches to the development of the town.
He said the occasion would also serve as a time for “thanksgiving and praise” for all that have been achieved over the years. “We will be recognising the five longest established churches in Spanish Town and we will also be honouring some of the ministers, who have served in Spanish Town for a long period of time,” he said.
He informed that some 70 churches as well as several church choirs have been invited to participate in the event. “We are expecting quite a significant response,” he told JIS News.
A special offering made during the service will go towards the purchasing of a solar water heater for the inmates of the Spanish Town Infirmary.
Spanish Town will be observing 475 years of existence in July 2009. Celebrations began earlier this year with a parliamentary-style debate competition, hosted by the St. Catherine Parish Council, which involved all high schools in the parish.
Some 25 high schools from five zones in the parish, participated in the preliminary round of the competition, which was held from January 26 to 30.