Anglican Bishop of Jamaica, Howard Gregory, honoured in New York
Published:Friday | December 6, 2024 | 12:09 AMLester Hinds/Gleaner Writer
The Anglican Bishop of Jamaica and Archbishop of the West Indies, Howard Gregory, received a prestigious honour in New York last weekend with a formal seating at the Cathedral of St John the Divine.
The ceremony, hosted by the Diocese of New York, took place at the iconic Manhattan cathedral. The act of seating, which involves assigning a bishop a chair, symbolises the teaching, governing, and sanctifying authority of a bishop within the diocese.
Bishop Gregory is only the fourth individual to be granted this honour by the New York Diocese in its current term.
“I was invited by the Bishop of New York for a seating, a gesture that confers honorary status in recognition of contributions to the Church,” Bishop Gregory told The Gleaner.
He noted that this recognition reflects the significant role Caribbean people have played in the Anglican faith globally and at the Cathedral of St John the Divine in particular.
Bishop Gregory also highlighted how the Jamaican Anglican Church’s active participation in the global Anglican community has facilitated access to critical resources for advancing its mission, particularly in education.
“We oversee more than 200 schools in Jamaica, spanning early childhood and primary education. Recently, we received a donation of US$14,000, which will be used to enhance math and reading programmes,” he said.
He added that the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica also benefits from international support for projects such as a solar energy initiative at the Church’s camp facility.
“These partnerships exemplify the ongoing relationship between the Diocese of Jamaica and the worldwide Anglican community,” Bishop Gregory said.
During his visit, Bishop Gregory conducted two services at St Luke’s Church in the Bronx, which is home to one of the largest Jamaican congregations in New York City.
He returned to Jamaica on Monday.