The Anglican Diocese of Bermuda was at its ceremonial best last week for the Ordination of Graveney Gilmore Bannister to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate.

The 51-year-old Deacon was born in Barbados. Upon completing his highschooling there, he came to Bermuda in his late teens as a recruit for the Police Force. He served five years as a constable, before earning a degree in journalism, and later qualifying as a lawyer and serving as a Crown counsel, defence counsel and acting as a Magistrate.

It was not difficult fathoming the historic significance of his ordination at the Bermuda Cathedral in Hamilton because ordinations in the Anglican Diocese here, be they of priests or deacons, don't happen very often. The number of such events in the 400-year history of the Church of England in Bermuda and the Anglican Church of Bermuda can be counted on one's hands. And there have been only two consecrations and enthronements of Bermudian bishops, the first 14 years ago of Bishop the Rt. Rev. Ewen Ratteray, and last year of his successor, Bishop the Rt. Rev. Dr. Patrick White.

Rev. Bannister appeared to have the full support of Priests from throughout the Anglican Diocese. The Cathedral was packed and members of the diocese were joined by a cross-section from the wider community especially compatriots from Rev. Bannister's native Barbados and prominent figures from the broad West Indian community, the legal fraternity and some members of the judiciary.

The procession into the Cathedral singing of the hymn, Praise to the Holiest in the Height was exhilarating by itself. It comprised the amalgamated choirs of the Cathedral, Christ Church, St. Mary's and St. James; the young acolytes with their banners and implements; the Eucharistic ministers, ecumenical guests; visiting Anglican clergy from overseas; the Clergy of the Diocese; the Canons Emeritus, all in their distinctive robes and vestments. They preceded the Archdeacon of Bermuda, the Ven. Andrew Doughty, Bishop Ratteray and Bishop White.

The ordination had some of the characteristics of a marriage ceremony with Archdeacon Doughty, upon responding to the Bishop, formally presented Rev. Bannister in view of the fact the Ordinate was designated to serve in his parish Church of St. Mary's in Warwick.

The Bishop proceeded with the ceremony when there was no negative response from either the congregation in the Cathedral or from notices, not unlike publication of marriage banns, that had previously been posted in St.Mary's Church and at Christ Church, Devonshire, where the Ordinate had been a registered member, urging anyone who had any reason to state why he should not be ordained to come forward or otherwise hold their peace.

The Scriptures were then read by Rev. Bannister's cousin Joel Bannister, a Lay Reader in Barbados who came to Bermuda with other family for the ceremony; and by Canon (Lay) Anne Hines of Bermuda. Following singing by the choirs, and congregational singing, Bishop White charged Graveney directly and then the congregation, after which he laid hands on the lawyer.

His Bermudian wife, Deeanda Bannister, formerly of Sandys, a noted soprano in her own right beautifully sang Panis Angelicus.

The service culminated with the Bishop and the new Deacon serving communion. A reception followed in the Church Hall.

As noted earlier, Rev,. Bannister has had a varied career. After serving for five years in the Police, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta and in 1988, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications and International Relations from Upon returning to Bermuda he worked as a journalist at VSB Radio and the Bermuda Sun and later at The Royal Gazette.

He left Bermuda again in the mid-1990s to attend law school at Buckingham University in England and the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. He was admitted to the Bar in both Barbados and Bermuda after spending a year as a Crown counsel in the Department of Prosecutions. He later worked in the Attorney General's Chambers and in private practice.

In 2007 he returned to his native Barbados to undertake a two-year theological course at Codrington College, which has had a close connection with Bermuda clergy. Its principal at one time was a former Bishop of Bermuda the late Bishop Anselm Genders.

Upon his returned to Bermuda last summer Rev. Bannister joined the Smith and Co. Law Firm as a consultant and has served alternatively as a defense counsel in Magistrates' Court and periodically as an acting Magistrate and Coroner.