THE ONLY FEMALE NATIONAL HERO, The Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill was the “Defender of Methodism” often to great personal risk.
Methodism was brought to Barbados in 1788 by Dr Thomas Coke and part of the philosophy aimed to abolish slavery. Church members were seen as anti-slavery agitators by the plantocracy who used enslaved persons at the foundation of their businesses. These differences of opinion frequently led to violent attacks against church members.
It is in this tense atmosphere the twenty-eight year old, widowed and staunch Methodist, Sarah Ann Gill, leads her battle for religious and social freedom.
Sarah Ann was a “free coloured” of some financial means, yet she abandoned the status quo to follow her religious convictions. When the church building, which she helped to fund was destroyed by rioters, Ms Gill held “illegal” services at her home.
She was threatened at every turn but she remained steadfast in her beliefs and met adversity head on.
Sarah Ann Gill was portrayed by Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS) Information Officer, Shayla Murrell and the script was written by Assistant Information Officer, Jamal Weekes.
The production was filmed in the historical and beautiful grounds of Wildey House, the headquarters of the Barbados National Trust and the costumes were provided by the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.
This series is the brain child of the BGIS’ Social Media and Web Department which is loosely conceived from the Canadian series Titans.
This segment is produced by Esther Jones and Kathyann Husbands; directed by Esther Jones; filmed by Jamal Hall, Jamal Weekes and photography directed and edited by Mikul Elcock. The creative team of Glenn Brathwaite (Wardrobe Master) Helene Headley (Hair & Makeup) and Kim Ramsay-Moore (Assistant Hair & Makeup) make the characters jump off the pages of the history books.
The crew was made up of the BGIS Social Media Department which includes: Sheena Hamilton, Sharifa Medford, Ronny Yearwood, Sharon Nelson, Aisha Reid, Jamal Hall, Jamal Weekes, Esther Jones and managed by Kathyann Husbands. (BGIS)
