RETIRED?ANGLICAN?BISHOP Rufus Brome was Wednesday honoured at a service of celebration and thanksgiving at the St Peter’s Parish Church to mark his 50th anniversary of ordination to the diaconate.
A number of priests participated in the service attended by acting Governor General Elliott Belgrave and his wife along with well-wishers drawn from a wide cross section of the community, including many people from different religious faiths.
Anglican lay reader, Joel Bannister, spoke of their relationship over the years. He noted music captures the attention of the former Anglican head.
“Bishop Brome loves music, and I mean proper music performed to a high standard, and it was no surprise that he played a major role in the development of music during his incumbency here at St Peter.
However, to my mind one of the major achievements was in July 1990, when the St Peter choir did what was thought highly improbable, if not impossible for a country church, that is, perform at the Frank Collymore Hall.
“This man of God has endeared himself to the members of St James during the last seven years, as he has brought with him the vast experience of over 40 years as an ordained minister, as well as his involvement in community and national life.
“This is manifested in his punctuality and accessibility, wise counsel, pastoral care, biblical knowledge and teaching, planning and conduct of services, especially how he fits hymns to liturgy, and his concern that all things, especially those related to the worship of God, should be done decently and in order, among other attributes.”
He also praised Bishop Brome, the second native Bishop of Barbados, for the quality of his sermons, which he said were always in demand and led to the publication of the book, Preaching in Season and Out of Season – Volume 1 (ES)
