The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

WHEN Anglicans celebrate the church’s Patronal Festival there is often singing, dynamic preaching and an old time procession. These times in the life of the church are times of great excitement for Anglican believers.

In Long Island and Rum Cay, the Anglican community celebrated the traditional Patronal Festival and Eucharist with the customary display.

Father Chester Burton, Rector of the Anglican Churches in Long Island, is also serving as the rector at St Christopher’s Anglican Church in Port Nelson, the main settlement in Rum Cay. The church has no sitting rector, so Father Burton shoulders the responsibility every month.

For the past three consecutive years, he has made the tranquil, tropical island his second-home, arriving every third Sunday of the month from Stella Maris, Long Island.

“The Eucharistic celebration began promptly at 9:00 am with the singing of the familiar hymn, ‘How bright these glorious spirits shine’. There was standing room only in this palatial edifice erected to the memory of St Christopher’s martyr many years ago,” said Father Burton.

Sharing the story of Christopher, Father Burton said: “The life story is saturated with the theme of human service and Christopher wanting to serve God in a better and deeper way. Christopher was a Canaanite who was very tall in stature about 7ft 5-inches tall. He wanted to serve the “greatest king there was at that particular time in history”. So he went to serve the king of Canaan, however this king crossed himself at the mention of the devil’s name.”

“He further came across a band of marauders, one of which declared himself the devil. However, the devil feared a wayside cross and he stated that he feared Christ. Christopher inquired who was Christ. He met a hermit who instructed in the Christian faith. The hermit suggested because of Christopher’s size and strength he help people cross a dangerous river. The hermit promised Christopher that his service would be pleasing to God,” said Father Burton.

He said after Christopher had performed this service for some time, a little child asked him to take him across the river. During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child seemed so heavy that Christopher could hardly carry him. Christopher found himself in great difficulty.

“When he finally reached the other side, he said to the child: “You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my shoulders as you were.” The child replied: “You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but him who made it. I am Christ your King, whom you are serving by this work.” The child then vanished. Christopher was later beheaded by the king of Lycia,” said Father Burton.

Father Burton told the congregation at the patronal festival that they may not be like those first century Christians who experience the calamities expressed by Jesus, but it will come in a different fashion or form, reminding them that they should be ready to make a good profession and confession of their faith and leave the rest to God, who is the ultimate judge of all people.

He said: “If we suffer with Jesus will also reign with Him.”

After the Eucharistic celebration, members processed down the main causeway and back to the church.