| The fishing village of
Old Harbour Bay has truly been blessed as
it was a fish vendor travelling from Kingston
to Old Harbour Bay who passed on the news
of this gospel to a brother. Her words to
Br. Arthur Allwood were "If you want
to hear singing
, then go to East Queen
Street and Mark Lane.''
Without hesitating this brother journeyed
to Kingston. There he met Bishop Howard
L. Chase and witnessed the church in it's
glory. Never had he seen anything like this
before. So home he came but he never kept
the good news to himself
thus the
song 'Said I wasn't going to tell nobody,
but I couldn't keep it to myself'. Somehow,
being hungry to hear the true gospel, he
told Br. Hezekiah McCartney, and again,
both men headed for Kingston in search of
this great calling.
As the news spread, the men took their
families also to see this man of God. Shortly
afterwards, they were baptised for they
believed and accepted the gospel. So the
journey began from one Sabbath to another
by train from Old Habour to Kingston. When
they were not able to make the journey,
services would be kept at the home of Br.
Allwood who was ordained as Deacon to head
the flock in this part of the vineyard.
Along with the Allwoods, were the McCartney,
Clarkes, Ebanks being some of the foundation
names of Old Habour Bay. Despite the hardship
and the journey to and from Kingston, these
saints were zealous and determined to served
the Lord.
Later on, the then Elder Rodolph Watt was
sent down by Bishop Chase to be the pastor
for this flock, as the number increased.
Services were still kept at the Allwoods
house and the saints also went to have open
air meetings in the square of Old Harbour
Bay and in the town of Old Harbour in order
to draw more souls into the kingdom.
Through spiritual teaching, Bishop Chase
order that the Church be located three miles
from the sea, peradventure there was a disaster.
A place was then sought: and the first official
place of worship was located at 4 South
street, Old Harbour, (now occupied by the
Bank of Nova Scotia). They continued there
until 1951, when Hurricane Charlie came
and destroyed the building.
Truly, these saints were the descendants
of the children of Israel, as that did not
hinder them from serving God, for they were
on the road again in search of a place of
worship. The new place was on West Street,
it was however , not very accommodative
and they move to East Street.
Wise men it is said cometh from the East
and so the saints decided to settled on
East Street, where they purchased a piece
of land at 55 East Street. The church was
constructed and today 55 East Street still
boast Tabernacle # 5 Old Harbour. The saints
were now comfortable in their new place,
but the devil could not sit back and watch
this unity and effort. So he created havoc
and a decision was made to return to Old
Harbour Bay for worship until it was settled.
It was at this time that the late Elder
Eric Parchment was ordained as Elder and
then appointed pastor of the Old Harbour
Bay fellowship.
Not having a place of worship again, Elder
Parchment opened his doors to the saints.
God was definitely a part of this plan as
the saints were now comfortable in the Parchments'
living room. The time came and Elder Parchment
decided to make a garage to park his vehicles.
But God had it be so, for this garage was
never to be used for keeping cars but for
the saints to worship in. So on completion,
the saints migrated from the Parchments'
living room to their new edifice - the garage,
with enough comfort and space to prance
and march around. Who are we to question
the work of God
for the scripture
says he provides for the birds of the air,
the fishes of the sea, then what about the
saints? As if Elder Parchment had to first
complete this job to provide a place for
the saints of Old Harbour Bay, he began
to suffer in poor health and in 1980, he
succumbed to his illness and fell asleep.
It is said, "Beside every successful
man, there is a good woman." Yet in
this case, beside Elder Parchment was a
faithful daughter, Sister Elder Mantica
Parchment. She wept bitterly at his passing
and she must have asked God "Why?"
But like a good soldier, bold and brave,
she took up the banner and continued to
keep the light burning with a host of children
and just a couple of adults, for she realized
this to be the will of God. But as the numbers
increased, help was needed and Elder Michael
Johnson of Morant Bay was sent down to assist
her. He spent approximately five (5) years
with the saints in Old Harbour Bay before
he migrated. Sister Elder Parchment picked
up the full burden of pastoring a tabernacle
again because she believed God's work must
go on.
One can remember the Old Harbour Bay's
bus rolling in for the Passover each year
filled with children. There were days when
all the saints could not make it for the
seven days because the cost of sponsoring
the bus was too steep for the Sister Elder.
Nevertheless, she did her part in making
sure that Tabernacle #5 was represented
each day.
The Lord blessed Sister Elder with must
needed help in the person of Elder George
Whyte. He was later elevated to the office
of an Evangelist and appointed pastor of
the tabernacle.
Evangelist Whyte has worked very hard and
still continues to work hard. God has blessed
this tabernacle with a strong young man
fulfilling his words, "Young men, I
call upon you because you are strong."
Today Evangelist Whyte will undoubtly say
"I am from Old Harbour Bay's Tabernacle.
He has grown to love this little flock,
despite the ups and downs. He is assured
that the saints of this tabernacle will
support him to the end; as he continues
to stand up for the true doctrine of Christ
as brought by God's servant, Prophet William
Saunders Crowdy.
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