Theatre boycott legend Kingsley Tweed may have been the highlight, but the 104th anniversary of the Grace Methodist Church in Pembroke was significant in its own right.

The church, with its high wooden ceilings inside and brilliant green walls outside, was designated an historical site by Government at its 100th anniversary in 2000.

Building began in the late 1800s when Methodists, "ever alert in those days", noticed the population exploding near the Pembroke-Devonshire boundary of the North Village district. The cornerstone was laid on September 1, 1899, and the church was opened on April 26, 1900.

On Sunday the church was packed almost to the ceiling, with folding chairs set out in the aisles and a large TV screen set up in the church hall to broadcast the service to those who could not fit inside.

Members of the congregation greeted one another as family. Former Premier Jennifer Smith, Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield, and former Attorney General and PLP legend Dame Lois Browne Evans were among those who gathered.

The service, lasting for more than three hours, showcased some of the wealth of musical talent Bermuda has to offer, with everything from bell choirs, to a Bermudian-written and performed duet, to perfectly toned voices in the congregation rising over others during the hymns.

The theme was "Building better communities for a brighter tomorrow with God our helper". Though the church has seen its share of adversity, the programme stated, "Grace Methodist Church has come this far by faith".