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History of the
Marquis Pentecostal Church
By Rev. Stephenson Worme
stephensonworme@hotmail.com
1-473-440-8613
Marquis
Pentecostal Church is the oldest Pentecostal church in the Grenada District.
This church actually started when a lady preacher called Sister Chase began to
preach the Word of God in Munich, Marquis, Walker and surrounding villages.
Sister Chase, who had returned from Trinidad in May 1927, preached her first
sermon in the open-air in Crochu, gradually moving from village. to village
until she reached Grenville, but it was in the village of Marquis she finally
settled.
By about November 1927, four of Sister Chase's converts were ready to be
baptized, but she felt that a man was more "appropriate" to officiate at the
baptism. In her search for someone to immerse them in water, someone suggested
to her to contact Elder Wallace to baptize them. She made contact with Elder
Wallace who was living in River Road at the time. These two early pioneers soon
met formally and Rev. Wallace baptized the converts. This marked the official
beginning of Elder Wallace's association with the work at Marquis. From that
time, Elder Wallace rode regularly from St. George's to Marquis to supervise the
new work. Unfortunately, there arose a disagreement between Sister Chase and
Elder Wallace, resulting in Sister Chase's separation from the work at Marquis.
The first church building was built with lumber from Barbados. Elder Wallace had
ordered and paid for the lumber himself. The lumber was lowered from the boat
into the sea and was taken ashore by some men of the church and some men from
the village. The church was constructed on lands donated by Sister Jane
Alexander, the mother of Brother Charles St.Cyr. The church was dedicated to the
service of the Lord in June 1929, making it the first Pentecostal church
building in Grenada.
Rev. Wallace, who was giving pastoral guidance to Marquis and River Road
simultaneously, soon set about spreading the gospel to St. Patrick, the
neighbouring parish. By 1931 a thriving church was established in River Sallee
and the work in Sauteurs followed. In fact, Evangel Tabernacle in Tuilleries,
Grenville Pentecostal Lighthouse and Sauteurs Pentecostal Church are daughters
of the Marquis Pentecostal Church.
Elder Wallace pastored the church until he died in 1945. In the difficult years
which ensued, Pastor Rawlings played a major role in bringing stability to the
church. When he departed Brother Christian Francis held the reins. He was well
assisted by the deacons. They held the church together until Rev. Frank Meyer
came in 1949. Rev. Meyer made negotiation for the church to be under the
auspices of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. When Rev. Meyer departed,
Reverends Samuel Bailey, Joseph A. Corbett and Stafford Kingston gave pastoral
leadership to the church. None of these pastors stayed very long at Marquis, but
their contribution to the work was outstanding.
Rev. John A Baisden, who was married to Irene Collier on September 28th 1962,
took up the pastorate at Marquis that same year at age 30. He was a well-loved
gentleman who worked very hard
during his stay at Marquis. He challenged the
brethren to be good
spiritual stewards in the kingdom of God. During
his tenure at Marquis, the church grew and the leadership arm of the
church matured admirably. Whenever Rev. Baisden was out, Brother Alpheus Baptiste gave
supervision to the church. Hi also acted as treasurer of the church for several
years. Brother Baptiste was one of the stalwarts of the work at Marquis. He was
a carpenter by trade and he often worked assiduously on the church building. He
also laboured extensively at Camp La Poterie and on other building projects in
the Grenada District. Brother Baptiste is now dead, but his labour of love will
be remembered by many. He died in September 2001.
By 1970, the membership of the church was 70, with an average attendance of 160
on Sunday mornings. The departments were functioning and were strong. The weekly
attendance in the Sunday school department was approximately 170 weekly. From
between 1972 to 1974, twenty-two persons were baptized in water. For a period in
1974, there were 20 persons in the new believers’ class. Between 1973 and 1974
some refurbishment was done on the church: tiling the floor, putting in windows
and build- 109 pews.
Rev. Matthew Henry's stay at Marquis spanned from 1972 to 1975. Pastor
Anthony Henry, who was pastoring the church in Grenville at the time, gave
supervision to the Marquis church between the departure of Rev. Mathew Henry and
the entrance of Rev. Emrol Ainsworth Sampson on 6th June 1976. By 1976, the
membership stood at 86. While at Marquis, Rev.
Sampson also gave
leadership to the church at Tuilleries. Rev. Sampson's daughter was born while
he was at Marquis. He resigned in 1978 and went Wallace Memorial to give
leadership to the church there.
In the few months that followed, Brother Frederick Belfon gave leadership to the
church until Rev. T. Samuel Niles took over in December 1979. Rev. Niles
resigned in 1982 and the District Executive appointed Pastor Matthew Jessemy to
the pastorate at Marquis. The appointment took effect from 9th January 1983.
Sister Jennifer Baptiste (now Mark) returned from Bible school on May 5th 1982,
after pursuing a two-year course in Christian Education. Pastor Jessemy remained
at Marquis until 1990. After his resignation, the Church Board, under the
supervision of Pastor Samuel Niles, gave supervision to the church.
In 1996, Rev. Oswald Codrington and Pastor David Downes (Barbados) applied for
the pastorate of the church. By this time, work was continuing on the building.
On 23rd February 1997, Rev. Codrington was officially installed as the pastor of
the church. The church thanked Rev. Niles for the tremendous service he gave to
this assembly, while giving official leadership the Grenville church. At the end
of 1997, the membership of the church stood at 84.
In September 1998, Sister Idis Mark responded to the call to be a missionary.
She resigned her job and went to Youth With A Mission Disciple Training School
in Barbados. Rev. Oswald Codrington resigned in 2002. Since Rev. Codrington's
resignation, Rev. E. Phillip Chase has been supervising the church. At present
work is in full swing on the new church building. Brother Graphlyn Charles is
spearheading this huge task.
Marquis Pentecostal has had an illustrious but difficult life. The light of the
Pentecostal movement started with this church, which has served our nation for
the past seventy-six years. The church has produced hundreds of members over the
years and these brethren are at the church and scattered to all parts of the
globe spreading the gospel and shining their Christian light. However, I do not
think that this church has been given the credence and respect it rightfully
deserves. It has gone extended periods with- out a resident pastor, but it has
survived. This church has tremendous potential, but it needs spirited, animated
godly leadership to
take
it forward. Rev. Chase is doing a fine job, but
a resident pastor is needed. Happy 76th Anniversary, Marquis
Pentecostal.
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