All Saints Presbyterian (Scots) Church launches activity for Bi centennial

Jul 30, 2019 News

All Saints ‘Presbyterian (Scots) which is located at the corner of Princess Elizabeth Road and Vryheid Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice will be celebrating 200 years of witness and ministry on April 19,2020.

The All Saints Presbyterian (Scots)Church in New Amsterdam

An anniversary committee has been put in place to plan for this historic achievement. The committee began planning this month and will continue to April 2020 when the grand occasion will be held.
The Church came to being after Governor Henry William Bentick was petitioned in 1818 by members of the community for the erection of a colony Church in which the Dutch and the English congregations would worship.
Funds were raised through private subscription and the church was completed by April 8, 1820. After the Dutch population started to decline, the Scots began using the church fully. The building was also used by the Anglicans, who later built their own building.
The Church which is one of the oldest structures in New Amsterdam has been designated as an historical landmark by the Government of Guyana.
A clock in the tower was donated by Wolfort Katz, a wealthy Berbice sugar planter.
The first minister of the Church was Rev. John Anderson in February 8, 1835. The last minister to come from Scotland was Reverend Gordon Dickson. The first Guyanese Minister was Reverend John A. Lord who took over in 1959.
The present Minister is the Rev. Dr. Selby Ross, who began her term of service on March 1, 2007.
At present the Church has a number of subsidiaries and outreach arms. There is an outreach ministry to the female inmates of the New Amsterdam Prisons, A Play Group & Day Care started in 2009, and The Developmental Centre (for training skills for Youth), supported by UNICEF.
The church has a youth group and participates in other activities including Leadership activities for clergy and lay personnel. They also contributes to the Presbyterian Women’s organization.
In 1973, a United Service for Maundy Thursday was established between All Saints, and Mission Chapel Congregational Church. According to the arrangements each Pastor would preach the Homily alternately every year.
The Presbyterian Church is also affiliated to the Caribbean through the “Caribbean And North American Council for Mission” CANACOM.
A request was received from the Guyana Government and granted for the use of the Manse, for the purpose of the High Court, during the Government of the late President Forbes Burnham. The Church Manse was rented for a fee of $375. per month.
The Manse continued to be used until the New Amsterdam High Court was opened opposite the Church.
The Church also received and granted a request from the New Amsterdam Prisons to use a portion of land behind the Manse, for the purpose of farming by the inmates.
Presbyterianism came to Guyana through the Church of Scotland. The laying of the cornerstone of St. Andrews Kirk was done on August 12, 1811.
In 1964 the Church’s connection with Scotland was severed. In 1967, the Presbytery received its independence from Scotland. The Church later became known as “The Presbyterian Church of Guyana”.