The spirit of the old hymn, My Father's Church, My Mother's Church, resonated more profoundly than ever on Sunday at Grace Methodist Church on North Shore, Pembroke.

The occasion was the culmination of a week-long celebration of the 108th anniversary of the church. And it provided opportunity to highlight a new season of growth and expansion, particularly in the Sunday school and youth departments.

The history read at the service detailed how in the closing years of the 1800s a village, North Village, was spreading near the Pembroke-Devonshire boundary.

A few devoted Christians established a Sunday school under the inspiration of Mrs. Lavinia Stowe. She taught there Sundays and regular school during the week. The assembly grew. Land was donated; the cornerstone of the church was laid on September 1, 1899 and the edifice built and dedicated on April 26, 1900.

Direct descendants of those early pioneers, some named, others not, continue to be the backbone of Grace Methodist. Its spiritual consultant, the Rev. Allen Walker, Sr., noted how Grace Methodist has stood as a spiritual beacon in Pembroke over the 108 years.

"There were times when our faith has been tested and our patience strained to the limit but, we made it through with great pride and faith in God," he said.

Reference was made to dogged attempts to hijack both the pulpit and parsonage during the years since 82 per cent of Grace Methodist, in a referendum conducted by the Bermuda Synod (to which Grace was attached), decided to come out of the United Church of Canada in 1993 because of the latter's ordination of homosexuals. Subsequently, Grace gave one year's notice it would be relinquishing all ties with the Bermuda Methodist Synod.

In March 1998 a case between Grace Methodist and the Synod of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in affiliation with the United Church of Canada opened in the Supreme Court. After weeks of legal wrangling, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Grace Methodist, a decision which was upheld when the Synod took the case to the Appeals Court.

One of the highlights of the anniversary service on Sunday was the presentation of citations to two stalwarts, Erskine (Triss) Robinson and June Brangman, whose parents ensured they got a good start in life as youngsters at Grace Church.

And there was the unveiling of a plaque containing the names of church pioneers. Two new names were added on Sunday, citing Sisters Helen Burchall and Henrietta Jackson Ingham. Members of their respective families read tributes, citing contributions they had made to church and community.

Our pictures show the congregation at the celebration (bottom) of the 108th anniversary of Grace Methodist Church. Top centre: Guest preacher at the service was the Rev. Ronald Keith Smith, a scion of early Grace stalwarts, and former pastor, with his mother Mrs. Richmond Smith (left) and his wife and children. Below right are the Burchall family honouring their mother Sis. Helen Burchall whose name was added to the plaque of honour. On the left is retired Bermuda Regiment Major Larry Burchall with his wife Patricia and daughter Sassy on the right; and brother Roderick (Roddy) Burchall with daughter Zulema. Sis. June Brangman (middle left) was given a plaque for her devotion to the village church. Her daughter Grace (centre), Head Librarian at the Bermuda Library, read a moving tribute to Sis. June, written by the latter's son Gino.

On the right is Mrs. Esther Bean, a member of the celebration committee. Top left: Mrs. Hope Jackson Bassett (centre) is with daughter Sheryl and niece Edna Simmons. They honoured Mrs. Bassett's sister Henrietta Jackson Ingham, a stalwart youth leader whose name was added to the honour plaque.

Middle centre: Erskine (Triss) Robinson, a member of the Grace choir, is with Melvina, his wife of 48 years, and their daughter Eugenia