Worshippers marched through St. George's as preparations continue for the 400th anniversary of Christianity in Bermuda.

Anglicans walked from the Deliverance replica on Ordnance Island to St. Peter's Church for an Evensong service to officially launch a mission which will commemorate the first communion service held in Bermuda in 1609.

Under the Faith Venture 2009 initiative, planned by the Anglican Church on the Island, the Archbishop of York, the Rt. Rev. John Sentamu, will be guest speaker at a special week of services.

Rev. Nick Dill, pastor at St. John's, Pembroke, who is helping lead Faith Venture, is also on the Imagine Bermuda 2009 team, which is attempting to prepare the Island as a whole for the anniversary of the wreck of the Sea Venture.

The Deliverance was built from the hulk of the Sea Venture and the Patience from Bermuda cedar to take the survivors onward to Virginia in 1610.

Records show there was an Anglican priest on the ship and that the first communion in Bermuda took place in October 2009. Rev. Dill said yesterday's procession was to thank God for the first settlers' deliverance to Bermuda.

Rev. Dill said the focus of the next two years would be reconciliation with God and each other.

In the coming months, there will be a series of public discussions on issues including: the effects of colonialism, slavery and racism on the church and society; and how the church can play a healing role in the community.