St._Andrew's_Kirk,_Georgetown

St. Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown

St. Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown

Church in Georgetown, Guyana

For the church in Australia, see St Andrew's Kirk, Launceston For the church in the Bahamas, see St. Andrews Presbyterian Kirk

St. Andrew's Kirk is one of the oldest buildings in Georgetown, Guyana that has been continually in use for religious purposes. The Dutch Reformed congregation laid its foundations in 1811. However, due to financial difficulties it was acquired by Scottish Presbyterians and was formally opened for service on 28 February 1818.[1][2]

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It was the first church in Guyana built by Europeans in which slaves were allowed to worship.[1] It is situated near the Parliament Building on the north eastern corner of Brickdam.[3] During its bicentennial in 2018, then President David A. Granger remarked that the church was a "social microscope", as a monument to the city's colonial Dutch and British heritage, the first church to open its doors to enslaved Africans, and also as barracks for the Provisional Battalion deployed for suppressing the Demerara rebellion of 1823. A historic service was held to mark Emancipation on 1 August 1838, which was attended by then Governor Sir Henry Light and many Afro-Guyanese. The church established a school in 1841 and hosted public concerts and recitals.[4]

Leadership

Rev. Oswald Allen Best was the first Guyanese minister serving from 1974 until his death in April, 2009.[3] In September 2011, Reverend Maureen Massiah, was appointed. Massiah is the first female Minister elevated to the full status of Ordained Minister.[3][5]

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St. Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown.
  1. [1]
    "From Dutch Reformed to Scots Presbyterian Church". Guyana Times International. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Historic Stabroek | National Trust of Guyana". 25 November 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Tracing the history of St Andrew's Kirk". Kaieteur News Online. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  4. [4]
    "'St. Andrew's Kirk is not a relic of the past but a social microscope' -President Granger – Office of the President". Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. [5]
    GTIMES (10 February 2018). "St Andrew's Kirk celebrates 200th Anniversary". Guyana Times. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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