Historic year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands peak next week with a visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby and his wife Mrs. Caroline Welby.
The Archbishop’s visit from July 18-21, will culminate with a celebratory Service at the National Arena at which he will preach.
For the 80 million Anglicans in more than 165 countries around the world, the Archbishop of Canterbury is a focus of unity and one of the four instruments of the Anglican Communion which binds peoples of different races and cultures in a common expression of Christian faith, life and worship.
Full Itinerary
One of the highlights of the visit by Archbishop and Mrs. Welby will be a Cultural Evening, dubbed “Out of Many, One Song” at the University Chapel on Saturday, July 20. This event will feature some of Jamaica’s leading Choral Groups as well as the upcoming Philippians Steel Band from St. Phillip’s Church, Maxfield Avenue. Proceeds from this event will benefit the three Children’s Homes operated by the Diocese – The Wortley Home for Girls, in Constant Spring, St. Andrew; St. Monica’s Home in Chapelton, Clarendon; and the Clifton Boys’ Home in Darliston, Westmoreland.
Also on July 20, Archbishop Welby will be one of the presenters at a Webinar focusing on Slavery and Reparatory Justice.
His full schedule of activities will include Courtesy Calls to public officials, as well as visits to iconic Diocesan facilities.
Why Celebrate?
The Most Rev. Dr. The Hon. Howard Gregory, Archbishop of the West Indies and Diocesan Bishop says: “The visit by Archbishop Welby affirms the significant role of our Diocese which has established a rich legacy of service, and has also impacted the development of the Church in the Caribbean as we know it today.”
The Anglican Church came to Jamaica with the British in the 1660’s following the conquest of the island from the Spanish and was part of the state administration for more than 200 years. The Church was only structured as a Diocese 200 years ago when a resident Bishop, the Rt. Rev Christopher Lipscomb, was appointed from London to manage its affairs. Prior to this, it functioned under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London who was 5, 000 miles away. In fact, the Church was controlled by the local governing class of planters and owners of enslaved persons, including some corrupt members of the clergy.
During his tenure, Bishop Lipscomb regulated the work of the clergy, and paved the way for the creation of an independent and self-governing Church
The current Anniversary celebrations under the theme “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow; Celebrating Service, Guarding Justice Affirming Hope,” were launched on February 11 at a Service at the Spanish Town Cathedral. Other activities during the year will include the publication of newspaper Supplements highlighting the development and contribution of the Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to nation-building; evangelistic missions in several parishes and the ongoing initiative to plant trees across the Diocese, in keeping with one of the five Marks of Mission of the Church and the wider Anglican Communion to “safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” The programme closes on February 16, 2025 with another Service at the Cathedral.