The warm, vibrant sounds of West Africa and the Caribbean filled St. James Cathedral on Feb. 23 as the diocese celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first diocesan Black heritage service, held at the cathedral in 1996.
The St. Paul’s L’Amoreaux Steel Band serenaded the congregation before the service, taking people’s minds off the chilly weather outside. The procession up the main aisle included the joyous Ghanian Anglican Church Choir & Drummers. The Diocesan Dancers, choreographed by Constance Kendall, ODT, added grace and beauty to the proceedings.
Standing on the chancel steps, Bishop Andrew Asbil welcomed the congregation and those watching the livestream at home. He said the service in 1996, also held in February, gave birth to many Black heritage celebrations in parishes across the diocese “as we celebrate the contributions, leadership and giftedness of the Black community.”
He said the 30th anniversary service was a chance “to celebrate where we have come from, but also to be reminded of the road ahead of us, and to deepen that call to diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. We have a road to go to blot out anti-Black racism and bias. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, God has placed us here as coworkers and agents of transfiguration. We work with God to transfigure injustice into justice. This is our call as a diocese, and we are so deeply moved that you are here today.”
After the bishop’s welcome, the congregation sang the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” The first and second readings and the gospel reading, Luke 4:16-21, spoke of deliverance, inclusion and liberation.
In his homily, the Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Fields, vicar and sub-dean of the cathedral, fondly recalled the 1996 service, which he helped to organize. “Thirty years ago, we gathered in this cathedral to celebrate what was a watershed moment in the life of our diocese,” he said. “We came together to worship, celebrate and affirm our place as Black people in the Anglican Church – our Church. It was an evening that I will never forget.”
He spoke of the “energy, colour and vitality” that filled the cathedral on that occasion, and the size of the overflowing congregation. “I will not forget that we had to close the doors of the cathedral lest we violated the fire code. I will not forget the dancers who danced then and who danced today, 30 years later, one with her daughter.”
He asked those in the congregation who had attended the 1996 service to stand up, and about 25 people did, receiving a warm round of applause.
He said he would never forget the sermon given by the Rev. Canon Dr. Kortright Davis, professor of theology at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. “He reminded us that Black people know how to suffer; that we know what it means to serve, to share, to struggle and, despite all of this, that we know how to sing, for our forebears ‘had to sing to put strength and meaning in their lives.’”
He commended the work of individuals and Black Anglicans of Canada, a national group, but said much work remains. “For many of us, and those who care to admit it, the journey has been a struggle, indeed a challenge. There have been moments of progress and moments of resistance, times of hope and times of frustration. Yet, through it all, we have remained steadfast, knowing that our work is not in vain.”
To keep lifting up Black voices and celebrating Black culture and community, Black Anglicans must continue to speak truth to power and to speak about power, he said. Allies of the Black community must listen, learn and act, he said. “The Church must be willing to hear the truth, confront its history and embrace the work of reconciliation, and to show that it is not a reflection of the world’s divisions but a true sign of the reign of God.”
He urged the congregation to advocate for Black leadership, to celebrate Black spirituality and progress, and to educate through “learning, unlearning and fostering meaningful dialogue that equips all members of the Church to engage in the work of justice and reconciliation.”
The service ended with a rousing version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
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