Wed | Feb 25, 2026

UK Independence festivities start off with praise

Published:Wednesday | August 6, 2025 | 12:10 AMGeorge Ruddock/ - Gleaner Writer
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Jamaica’s High Commissioner Alexander Williams (second left) and his wife Carol Williams (second right) are with the Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg and Councillor Dawn Allen-Williamson, former Civic Mayor of Watford at the Praise
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Jamaica’s High Commissioner Alexander Williams (second left) and his wife Carol Williams (second right) are with the Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg and Councillor Dawn Allen-Williamson, former Civic Mayor of Watford at the Praise and Thanksgiving Service.
A section of the audience at the Praise and Thanksgiving Service, inside Westminster Chapel, London on Saturday August 2 to celebrate Jamaica’s 63rd Independence.
Contributed
A section of the audience at the Praise and Thanksgiving Service, inside Westminster Chapel, London on Saturday August 2 to celebrate Jamaica’s 63rd Independence.
Bishop Overseer Errol Vassell from the Assemblies of The First Born UK, gives the main sermon at the Praise and Thanksgiving Service to mark Jamaica’s 63rd anniversary of Independence.
Contributed
Bishop Overseer Errol Vassell from the Assemblies of The First Born UK, gives the main sermon at the Praise and Thanksgiving Service to mark Jamaica’s 63rd anniversary of Independence.
Dance of Praise performance, choreographed by David Blake, during the Jamaica Independence Thanksgiving Service.
Contributed
Dance of Praise performance, choreographed by David Blake, during the Jamaica Independence Thanksgiving Service.
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LONDON:

Jamaica’s 63rd Independence anniversary celebrations got under way in London last Saturday with the annual Praise and Thanksgiving Service hosted by the Jamaica High Commission inside the Westminster Chapel, Buckingham Gate SW1.

Hundreds of Jamaicans, and friends of Jamaica gathered under the theme ‘Be Proud, Be Bold, in the Black Green and Gold’ for a two-hour service which included a flurry of patriotic musical renditions associated with Jamaican folklore, Bible reading in Patois and a colourful Dance of Praise performance choreographed by Michael Blake.

The religious service, under the patronage of Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Williams, was attended by the Lord Mayor of Westminster Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, who participated with a reading, members of the Caribbean diplomatic corps and other dignitaries.

Bishop Overseer Errol Vassell from the Assemblies of The First Born UK, led the proceedings and also gave the main sermon.

A special Independence message to the diaspora community came from Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness via a video link and he used the opportunity to encourage Jamaicans to remain steadfast in “your commitment and service to our nation as you raise the black, green and gold flag in celebration of our anniversary. Together there is no limit to what we can aspire”, he said.

On this page, we feature some of the highlights from the Service.