Swallowfield Chapel marks 40 years

IT PROVIDED a Christian community for Chinese migrants who found themselves living in the capital of Jamaica.

On Sunday at the Swallowfield Chapel, surrounded by significantly tamed streets in the peaceful Swallowfield community, the congregation gathered to celebrate the church's 40th anniversary of ministry.

"I took it on as my responsibility in the community of Swallow-field to invite all of the households to come to the church," said Advira 'Vie' Henry in an on-screen reflection for the church to see. When she added that she was asked, 'But nuh Chinee church?' persons in the congregation laughed.

"I told them, 'No, come and see. It's everybody's church'," Henry said.

Henry, who was happy to have a church "on (her) doorstep", was a vibrant member who took its ministry to the street through com-munity outreach.

She recalled inviting the girls who lived in her community into her home to learn how to cook and sew. However, her group approached her one evening with a grave concern.

"They needed my help. It was that one of the girls was planning to kill herself and I was able to talk that child through, meet with the parents and things changed.

"I watched them grow up, getting involved with things at Swallowfield," Henry said.

Swallowfield Chapel, affiliated with the Association of Christian Brethren, was established in 1970, sprouting from roots in the Chinese Christian Fellowship. It was named after its location on Swallowfield Road and adopted by residents in the Swallow-field community.

By 2004, services moved from the quaint chapel into the newly renovated building on the same street. The following expanded and what started off as a Chinese Christian fellowship for Chinese migrants in 1937 became a widely celebrated church with three Sunday services and a mixed following.

Governor General Sir Patrick Allen also attended and congratulated the church on its achievements so far.

"It is the ad-vocacy we do day by day, serving as ambassadors, mingling with people day by day, not moving away from them ... sympathising with them, conducting deeds of love and mercy," Allen said, noting that ministry is about sharing in these moments with persons.

"All of this is in the national interest and in the Kingdom's interest," he added.