St Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church is inviting members of the community to share in its activities to celebrate 150 years of ministry on Virgin Gorda. Photo: Provided

St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church was built in 1875, and over time served the Virgin Gorda community, mainly in the area of education. Photo: Facebook

To commemorate this milestone, the church is hosting a series of events throughout the month, beginning with its 10 o’clock service on Sunday, August 3, 2025, when it will celebrate the 102^nd birthday of its matriarch, Sister Iris Harrigan.

Praise, worship, and reflections began at 9:00 AM and the service will be followed by a reception in the church hall. 

Month of activities

According to a press release from St Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church, the celebrations continue on Friday, August 8, 2025 with a Procession/Parade through the streets of the Valley, Virgin Gorda, moving off from the Valley Methodist Church at 6.30 PM and ending with a “Night under the Stars” at the St Mary’s Recreational Park.

On Friday, August 15, at 7:00 PM, historian Dr Angel Smith will be our guest speaker for an Evening of Songs, Worship and Reflections at the church. Other activities during the month include an anniversary reception for the congregation on Sunday, August 17, and a movie night in the parish hall on Friday, August 22 beginning at 6.30 PM.

St Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church was built in 1875, and over time served the Virgin Gorda community, mainly in the area of education. The former St Mary’s School still stands out in the minds of many residents as it was the main educational institution on Virgin Gorda up until the 1980’s, when the Bregado Flax institution opened its doors. 

Clergy-in-charge, The Rev’d Deacon Dana Lewis-Ambrose, in praising the work of the planning committee, says the schedule of celebrations honours God’s faithfulness to the community and is an example of “what can happen when we put God at the forefront of our engagement, as we allow ourselves to be guided by God’s hand.”

The members of the 150 Years of Ministry Committee are: Elton Sprauve; Ingrid Waters; Sharlita Millington; Deiah Shepherd; Bernadette Stevens Thomas; Karl Flax; Denise Reovan; Arianna Bassue; Carolyn ‘Lannie’ Lake Smith; and Trevor Bridgewater Jr.