On December 12 1982 the people of North Hill held a service at the newly built Zion Methodist Church. Twenty five years later the congregation celebrated with a Christmas Bazaar on December 8, a Candle light Service on December 9 and a Gala Celebration Dinner on December 12.

The Awardees

The service was conducted by Rev Clifton Niles and Rev Careen White. Gifts were brought for distribution to the needy and candles were lit at the end of the service.

At the service, plaques of recognition were given to the late Ellis Oliver Brooks who assisted in building the church and to the Carty family who gave the land.
A congratulatory booklet includes messages from the District President, Franklyn Manners, the Superintendent Minister, Rev Clifton Niles, the Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and Rev Careen White, Zion Minister. Congratulatory messages from each of the five Methodist churches on the island, and from supernumerary ministers living in Anguilla Rev John Gumbs, Rev Franklin Roberts, Rev Cecil Weekes, Rev Joseph Lloyd and Rev Serchal Hodge, are included. Past ministers Rev Brodie, Rolle and Richardson also sent messages of congratulations.

The Gala Dinner was held at Masara Resort and, following an introduction by Rev White and prayers by Rev Niles, the event was chaired by David Carty, a member of the Zion congregation. The delicious dinner was accompanied with music by Keith Gumbs on his saxophone and keyboard. Following the dinner, Silver Anniversary awards were presented to members of the congregation who have served the church over the years. The awardees included Rose Proctor, Sarah Pemberton, Rowena Carty, Hubert Gumbs, Eunice Gumbs, Marjorie Gumbs, Ilene Perkins, Clarice Brooks, Brenda Carty, Percival Romney, Alma Richardson, Terry Brennan and Herbert Richardson.

Christmas baskets to the aged and needy in the North Hill community are to be delivered by members of the congregation as part of the celebrations.

The Zion Church was built with assistance from the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church of the USA who sent four work teams from North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Texas, to assist at different times. Some members of the teams still keep in touch and visit the island regularly. This assistance, together with contributions of land, money and free labour made it possible to build the church at that time. Prior to the building of the church at North Hill, villagers had to travel to Bethel Methodist Church, some on foot for a distance of nearly two miles, to attend services.

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