St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Dec 15-17

The hills of St. Vincent

Kingstown Bay, St. Vincent

And again.....

And again.....

And again.....

Some of the sights at the magnificent Botanical Gardens, Kingstown - founded 1765

Servers and clergy lining up before the Ordination Service

Bishop Friday with the new Deacon Richard Kellman

St. George's Cathedral, Kingstown, St. Vincent -

the mother church of the Diocese of the Windward Islands

On Tuesday morning I flew with six others from Holy Trinity to the Eastern Caribbean Island of St. Vincent - Barbados' nearest neighbour (160 miles way) and main island in SVG - St. Vincent and the Grenadines - which group includes the iconic Mustique.

We flew via St. Lucia where we had a delay and so we did not get to St. Vincent until about 1pm - two hours later than planned. There were more hiccups over accommodation but as I am the late comer and gatecrasher to this party I am not going to be complaining! Tuesday afternoon we took a minibus into the main centre - Kingstown - and had a wander around this very small capital. Not much of interest here but we did find the Anglican Cathedral where the ordination is to be held on Wednesday night - a wonderful Georgian building straight out of the Empire. We took an interesting minibus journey back to the hotel - my Bajan friends being more fazed by the dangerous driving than I was. We had a quiet evening.

Wednesday morning we came back into Kingstown and I set off to walk the 30 minutes or so up the steep hill to the south of the bay where Fort Charlotte stands. It was a perfect day - not a cloud to be seen - and it was hot walking but good too and the views from the top were outstanding. I came back down and found my way to the Botanical Gardens which were quite impressive. Both tourist attractions were busy with middle aged pasty Brits who were in Kingstown for the day from "the boat" - a huge P&O cruise ship that dominated the harbour. All locals assumed that I was one of them and I was glad not to be!

I took a minibus part way back to Indian Bay where I got out to swim. As the driver was being handed cups of rum to drink by a female passenger I was very glad to be leaving! St. Vincent is not known for its beaches and Indian Bay is not much to look at but the sea was perfect.

I got back to the hotel about 3 and showered and changed for the Ordination that was taking place at St. George's Cathedral at 5pm. Richard Kellman, who was ordained deacon, is a member of Holy Trinity in Barbados where I am linked during my stay and hence my presence here for this event. The Bishop of the Windward Islands - C. Leopold Friday - had already met us at the airport and made me completely welcome in the vestry prior to the service. There was a good crowd of clergy present and a good congregation. Bishop Friday presided with great dignity and solemnity and it was hard to believe what he later confessed - that this had been his first ordination since his consecration over three years ago -a sign of the state of things in the Church in the West Indies. It was a very traditional service - again very reminiscent of the Church in Wales - nothing dull or tired about it and very well done: it lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes! And of course it included the full works - all smells and bells! After the service we are went up the hill to Bishopscourt to a reception. The rum flowed and I had some good conversation. It was a very happy evening and I was thrilled to be there.

Today - Thursday - I have had a quiet morning in the hotel writing my sermon for tomorrow morning at Codrington College - and have just popped into town to catch up on emails. We fly back to Barbados about 6pm this evening.