Cathedrals and Beaches

We caught an early bus into Bridgetown this morning with the intent to attend a few different church services and talk to some people. The St. James Street Methodist Church is a beautiful building near the bus stop that we had seen yesterday and we were delighted to see the doors open and a few people filing inside as we got off the bus. The chapel itself is beautiful, I included a picture of the interior here:

The Superintendent Minister, Derick A. Richards, gave a beautiful sermon about the grace that Christ offers each of us and our ability to become pure through his mercy and love. The cute old lady next to us on the pew gave us a spare hymnal and helped us find the pages so we could sing with them. After the message was over, many of the people from the congregation came over to welcome us. They were very kind and many of them let me take their pictures. We got to talk to Superintendent Richards and he answered many of my questions about the building and his life as a minister. He was sweet and patient and loving and even let me take several portraits of him (one of which is included below)! I was very grateful for his time, he is a very busy man with the responsibility of overseeing 10 different church buildings and their services in the area. I loved this picture of him because of the light in his eyes. He genuinely cares about all of the people who walk through the doors and listen to his teachings. I imagine that Christ would have a similar look in his eyes when he talks to each of us.

After we talked with Superintendent Richards, several of the elderly ladies who were with us at the sermon invited us to have refreshments with them. Oh my goodness they were all so cute! Many of them were well over 70 and had been going to that same chapel their entire lives. We heard stories of their christenings, baptisms, and weddings while we dined on tea sandwiches and apple juice. The two women in the picture below are some of these aforementioned sweeties, and the one in the turquoise shirt is also one of the local ministers who occasionally gives a sermon or two!

After saying our goodbyes to our loving new friends of the St. James Street Methodist Church, we wandered back to the Cathedral of St. Michael and All Angels in order to catch twelve o'clock mass.  This cathedral is breathtaking on the inside and outside as well: 

We were graciously given a tour of the building by a woman named Cynthia, she also helped us meet the Dean after he finished his teaching and meeting with some of the members of the congregation. I think they were very used to tourists taking pictures in the area, but as soon as I asked Cynthia, the Dean if I could take their portraits, we got a surge of enthusiasm from a few other staff members and devotees  and were able to take a bunch of beautiful photos that capture the bright faith that so many of the people here exude. After promising to email them the pictures, we said goodbye and found our way back through the markets to the bus stop. 

Who can resist the perfect beaches? Not us, that's for sure:) After our work for the day was done, we scurried down to the beach for some fun in the sun (with our bottles of sunscreen of course).