ANOTHER significant page was written this past week in the history of Bermuda’s second oldest church, St. Anne’s Parish Church, on the south shore in Southampton. The church bears the traditional name of the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. It was built in 1616, and is second only to St. Peter’s Church in St. George’s, built in 1612 by the first settlers of Bermuda.

The event was the institution and induction of the Rev. Fr. Carl Wilbur Orville Williams, BA (Hons). Theol. Dip. Past. Stud. (Dist). Presiding was the Anglican Bishop of Bermuda, Rt. Rev. Ewen Ratteray. The latter himself made history in 1996 when he was consecrated and ordained not only as the first black bishop of the Anglican faith in the island, but also the first and only indigenous Bermudian bishop.

He employed many of the impressive protocols of the faith when he presided over what he called “the celebration of the new ministry” of Fr. Williams.

Only a fortnight ago Bishop Ratteray made headlines when he revealed he was taking early retirement and would leave Bermuda to live in the United Kingdom from whence his wife hails.

The Bishop coupled his announcement with a call for a truth and reconciliation commission for Bermuda to deal with country’s ecclesiastical, political and social problems, similar to the one instituted in South Africa by Nelson Mandela.

In welcoming the standing-room-only congregation at the service, Bishop Ratteray smiled and drew laughter when he said: “This new ministry that begins tonight will move on from the ministry over many years of Fr. Michael Davis.”

He took opportunity to thank Fr. Davis for the many things he had done, and he trusted that he and his wife Marjorie were enjoying their retirement.

Turning to Fr. Williams and his wife, Bishop Ratteray stated: “It has taken some doing to get me to this point of institution.”

That is something of an understatement, to say the least. There had been many trials and tribulations many had to endure for the past few months.

“We have survived them all. Here we are. You don’t know the half of it, and I am not going to tell you,” he chuckled.

He hoped the couple would “enjoy a happy time among the people of this parish. I am sure they are appreciative as I am of so many here tonight in prayerful support.”

Bishop Ratteray said he was “thankful to many persons who have brought us to this day under challenging circumstances.” He mentioned in particular Archdeacon Allan Doughty, the church wardens and Fr. Williams for their service during what he called the interregnum.

For Fr. Williams, it was the culmination of a 12-year journey that began at St. James Parish Church under sponsorship of the Ven. Archdeacon Emeritus Arnold Hollis.

The Diocesan Commission on Ministry approved him for candidacy for Bermuda. He was sent to Codrington Theological College in Barbados. After years of study there and upon graduation from the University of the West Indies, he returned to Bermuda.

In 1998 he and Rev. Nicholas Dill, now Rector of St. John’s Church, Pembroke, were ordained by Bishop Ratteray at the Cathedral in Hamilton. The following year Bishop Ratteray was the preacher at a service when Fr. Williams was consecrated and ordained a priest by the former Bishop of Trinidad and Tobago, Rt. Rev. Rawle Douglin in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Also in attendance was Archdeacon Hollis.

For most of the past decade Fr. Williams was not successful in his applications for vacancies at St. Peter’s, Holy Trinity, St. John’s, St. Paul’s, Paget and St. Marks, Smith’s.Pictured, from left, are the President of the Senate, Alf Oughton, who was a participant in the ceremony, among with Southampton West Central MP Jon Brunson, Minister of Immigration Derrick Burgess and Speaker of the House, Stanley Lowe. In second row, right, is the wife of Bishop Ratteray.

Father Williams takes over at St. Anne’s