The Parish of St. Luke
St. John's, Antigua
(pronounced Ann Tee' Gah)
Summer 1991

In the spring of 1989 I read in "The Living Church" of an opportunity for American clergy to do long-term supply in the Caribbean. In the tradition of John Wesly "my heart was stangely warmed". It seemed to be an interesting way to design part of a sabbatical leave. After a variety of what turned out to be normal Caribbean ineficiencies Debby and I took off for Antigua on July 16th of 1991.

We were to live in the rectory of St. Boniface Church, part of St. Luke's parish formed out of the Cathedral parish which originally had 15 outlying congregations.

We also served St. Luke's, Bendals (3 miles away) and St. Lucy, Potters, also about 3 miles away.The Sunday attendance in the three congregations totaled about 300-400 on a Sunday.

We had the use of the rectory and two, count 'em, cars. One was a very nice Toyota. The other one was a Suzuki little red wagon about which the less said the better. I was to sing the masses and preach in each congregation for 6 weeks.

Anglicans were easy to identify on the way to church: they had the biggest library with, prayer book, bible, and at least three hymnals. With three High Masses each week, the presider would sing over 250 verses of one thing or another by the end of the day. It was summer; it was hot.

Happily St. Lucy's was the last church to visit each week. Its new church perches on top of a hill which catches the trade winds. After sweltering at 7:30 and 9:30, the 11:30 was literally a breeze.

Aside from one funeral which required very fast foot-and-mouth work on my part, the interim was to maintain worship and visit all 365 beaches. My dermatologist tells me I should not have done the second part.