Brooklyn’s Trinity Methodist Church honors 21 seniors
In an extraordinary and inaugural move, Brooklyn’s Trinity Methodist Church has honored 21 senior members who have worked “extremely hard” to support the ministry.
Some members were honored posthumously.
Among the 20 female and one male honoree, at the church at 1142-1148 Eastern Parkway, near Utica Avenue, were: Frances Pitt, Doris Bonadie, Sarah E.L. Payne Brown, Rublylyn Baker, Icilina Tucker, Mary Murray, Noreen Charles, Eulalee Fearon, Mavis Bramble, Alishia Raguette, Agnetta Pascol, Vivienne Barriffe, Jean Mason.
“Being a member of Trinity for many years, I have observed the members working extremely hard to support the ministry,” Elder Cecelia Beach, the Vincentian-born organizer of the ceremony, told Caribbean Life. “Some did so by doing what was called ‘coffee hour.’
“I observed how hard these folks worked,” she added. “I decided that it was time for the church to recognize those hard-working seniors, as well as the other seniors in the church.
“I felt very satisfied to see how much joy was on the faces of our seniors,” Beach continued. “They are all over 80 years. Congratulations to all of them.”
Pitt, who is Guyanese-born, said she was completely surprised by the honor.
“I feel so blessed to have been honored by my church community,” she said.
Bonadie, a former member of the church’s Trustee Board, said she was ecstatic about receiving the award.
“I have never experienced anything like this before in my life,” she said. “I am over the moon that my church even thought to honor me.”
Montserrat native Payne Brown was an active member of the Gospel Choir, Pastor’s Aide Auxiliary, Board of Stewards & Stewardesses, Building Committee and Trustee Board.
Baker, who was born in St. Vincent in the Grenadines, said Trinity Methodist Church, formerly Trinity Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church, has “truly become my home away from home — a place where my faith has grown stronger, and my heart feels at peace.
“I feel honored and overjoyed to be a part of this church family, and I pray that the Lord continues to bless and keep each of us,” she said.
Murray, another Vincentian native, said that being honored means more to her “than words can express.
“I am deeply grateful and thankful to God and to my church family for their love, support, and encouragement,” she said. “It is a blessing to serve.”
Vincentian Charles, 91, has been residing in Brooklyn for over 50 years.
Fearon thanked the officers and members of Trinity Methodist Church for honoring her.
“God gave them a sign of my hard work from back home; and so, they decided to honor me,” she said.
Bramble, who was born Nov. 10, 1938, said she joined Trinity Methodist Church in 1976 soon after migrating to Brooklyn.
“I am still an active member after being there for 50 years,” she said. “I felt proud that I was chosen to be honored. I really love worshipping at Trinity Methodist Church.”
Raguette said she was “so grateful to be honored as a senior member of the church.
“I did not expect it, but it only comes from a woman with a good heart who loves and cares for people, always looking out for the elderly and putting every one first,” she said. “That woman is Elder Beach.
“Elder Beach you are a God-fearing person and whatever you do will not go unpaid, not by man but by the love of God,” she added. “May the Lord Bless and keep you. May your breadbasket never be empty. May you live long in good all the days of your life.”
Pascol, who was born in Grenada in 1941, said she joined Trinity Methodist Church in the mid-1990s and was “happy to be honored by her church.”
Jamaican Barriffee said she has been a member of Trinity for over 25 years, serving on the women’s league, senior prayer group and Christian education committees.
She said she was “honored to be a part of the honorees at Trinity Methodist Church.”
Vincentian-born Mason said she finds “joy and fulfillment” in her faith, spending her days in worship and praise, and grounded in her love for God.
Her family said she continues to be “a shining light, graceful, compassionate mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who is deeply loved by all who encounter her.”
History of Trinity Methodist Church
Beach said Trinity Christian Methodist Episcopal Church had its beginning in August 1928 when a small group of people loyal to tradition, custom, and usages of Wesleyan Methodism met together at the homes of V.H. Williams, F. Maloney, Emily Rolle, Miraim George, Eary Swoen, Viola Maloney, William Wylie, Alicia Lewis, Francis Williams, Arthur King, Jonathan Greaves, M. Fraser, and Richard Samuels.
On the suggestion of one of the founding members, Beach said the name Trinity was proposed as a suitable title for the church.
In April 1940, the church purchased its first home at 1609 Pacific Street, Brooklyn.
After years of faithful service, Beach said Rev. Maloney was forced to resign due to ill-health.
She said Rev. Williams “ably served without an assistant” until the appointment of the young Rev. Robert Humphrey in 1968.
Beach said Rev. Humphrey served as pastor until his resignation in 1973. He was succeeded by the Rev. Grafton Forbes, with Rev. Hutson McAllister as assistant.
After Rev. Forbes’ resignation, Rev. McAllister succeeded him.
“His appointment to the pastorate brought a new wind of spirituality to Trinity,” Beach said. “His teachings of dedication and faith, tempered with love and service to God and his fellow men, instilled new life into the congregation. He and his wife, Sis. Vera, served for four years.
“Unfortunately, the ill-health of Rev. McAllister’s wife, the beloved Sis. Vera McAllister, forced the resignation of this hard-working servant of God,” she added. “He returned to Barbados with his wife.”
Beach said Rev. McAllister was succeeded by Rev. T.J. Francis.
She said other pastors “who have served ably” are Dr. Hugh Forde, Rev. Valentine Williams and Rev. Terrence Gilbert.
“We are now shepherded by Pastor Derwin Grant, an anointed and dynamic servant of God,” Beach said.
