I WAS in Trinidad last week Thursday, March 16 – one week after Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. But, through a church steel band from Tobago, I got a little taste of what Carnival could be.
The steel band took part in the consecration and ordination of the Reverend Canon Claude Berkley, now Bishop Co-adulator of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.
The playing of the band was very touching and it brought a bit of fresh air to church music, which I enjoy very much. I could not help asking myself it was a spin-off from Carnival?
But it was not Carnival – it was a church service. You should have been there to hear the steel band playing certain parts during the service, especially The Lord’s Prayer and The Angus Desi – “Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.”
Indeed, the steel band did not take away anything from the service, but rather it added to the service. The Dean of the Cathedral, The Very Reverend Colin Sampson, and his team must be congratulated for having the steel band as part of the service because we who attended the service surely enjoyed ourselves.
It was a very historic occasion in more than one way, for it was the new Archbishop Dr?John Holder’s first consecration, which took place in Cathedral Church of Holy Trinity.
The new Bishop Co-adjutor is the first person from Tobago to be made a Bishop in the Anglican Church.
The service begun with a welcome by the Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago The?Right Reverend Calvin Bess, followed by another welcome by Tobago Speech Band in the form of speech and music – and it was great.
The sermon was preached by Bishop The?Right Reverend Philip Wright, Bishop of Belize. Bishop Berkley, age 53. He will be the twelfth Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago and will take over from Bishop Calvin Bess after his retirement in December. I wish Bishop Claude Berkley well in his new ministry.
