Bishop Gregory admits Rev. Graham as Rector
The Rev. Mary Graham became the first priest from the Cayman Islands and the first woman to be installed as Rector of St. George’s Church, in Grand Cayman at a special service held on Sunday, December 14. Rev. Graham, who served as Priest-in-Charge for one and a half years, is the church’s fifth Rector.
Diocesan Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Howard Gregory, was the Chief Celebrant, and Archdeacon of Kingston, the Venerable Patrick Cunningham, was the Presiding Archdeacon.
Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Thompson, preached the sermon to a congregation which included Premier of the Cayman Islands, the Hon. Alden McLaughlin, and Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. McKeeva Bush, among other dignitaries.
In his sermon, Bishop Thompson said that Rev. Graham was the right person in the right place at the right time, to provide the kind of transformative ministry which is needed at St. George’s. He advised the new Rector to remain humble, compassionate and spiritually discerning.
Other clergy visiting from Jamaica who participated in the service were the Rev. Canon Georgia Jervis, the Very Rev. Franklyn Jackson and the Rev. Ula Ruddock.
Rev. Graham (née Small) is a native of Barbados, and has been resident in the Cayman Islands since 1978, with her husband, Desmond, and adult sons, Nicholas and Andrew. In 2012, she was awarded the Medal of Honour – Officer Class by the Cayman Islands Government to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
She was educated in Barbados at Queen’s College, Erdiston Teacher Training College, and the University of the West Indies Cave Hill; in Jamaica, at the United Theological College of the West Indies, and the University of the West Indies, Mona; and in the United States, at North Atlanta Tri-Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education Centre, Georgia.
Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Thompson, delivers the Sermon
Rev. Graham listens attentively during the Sermon
Cayman Islands Premier, The Hon. Alden McLaughlin (front row – left); Opposition Leader, the Hon. McKeeva Bush (third left); and Mrs. Charmaine Gregory (second right) in the congregation