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LOCATION : Rose Hall District, Lawrence Tavern P.O., St. Andrew
PASTOR : Rev. George Lynch SERVICES : Sunday Morning Service - 11:00am - 1:30pm
TELEPHONE : (876) 846-3989 / (876) 942-6569 EMAIL : [email protected] |
Rev. George Lynch
Deacons' Council
Beryl Hector Naomi Lewis Jacqueline Lynch Maxine Lewis Patricia McLean Jasper Lewis Sidney Hector Joseph Terrelonge |
HISTORY OF ROSE HALL WESLEYAN HOLINESS CHURCH
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Situated in the cool, cool hills of West Rural St. Andrew, you will find a small community called Rose Hall. There you would find, a little church on a hill (painted blue and yellow, which can be seen by almost all in the community); a beacon, refuge and safe haven to all. It is the Rose Hall Wesleyan Holiness Church.
The Rose Hall church has been around for approximately ninety (90) years (since 1932). The late Rev. Azadiah Reynolds was the chief founder of this church. Rose Hall was the first church to be built in the Rose Hall community and so it became a home, safe haven and refuge to people both near and far. Children from neighboring communities could be seen attending our Sunday school and church services, with great enthusiasm. The church birthed a few pastors, including, Rev. Albert Edwin who has maintained a close relationship. Rose Hall have had four remodeling of its structure, due to the growing membership number of its congregation from inception to present. It went from a bamboo structure to concrete. We are blessed to have had three (3) of our local Pastors becoming District Superintendents, these are: Rev. Gersham Gray (pastored 1961 – 1968), Rev. Henry Ewan (pastored 1969 – 1997) and Rev. George Lynch (pastoring 1998 – present). In addition to these Pastors, other special workers and Pastors also served selflessly. Some of these men and women were: Rev. Ray W. Chamberlain, Pastor Cope, Pastor Crawford, Rev. Ena Kates, Rev. Matthew Oakley, Rev. Matilda Oakley-Dobney and Rev. Kenneth McFarlane. Renovation and remodeling of the church manse was a priority during the early part of 1999. This project who include a new bedroom, bathroom and washroom. This was completed in approximately seven (7) years. Of course with the limited financial resources available at the time it the mind of the members and non-members willingness to work that completed it. The primary workers for this remodeling were, Pastor Leon Aarons, Deacon Sidney Hector and Brother Stanford Reynolds. The manse was officially opened in 2006. Also, major work was done on the church, such as, re-roofing of the church, building a parameter concrete fence around the church and manse; building a church office and a Sunday school classroom; and replace the church gate. |
These projects took us another twelve years after the completion of the manse. We wish to thank all our members who sacrificially worked hard on these projects, both those abroad and in Jamaica. There were also many community people who gave a helping hand to have the projects completed. We take note also of our new altar rail, podium, pulpit and some benches which were donated by Mr. D. Bernard Lewis and many other items donated by members and friends of the church.
Some of the elderly non-members in the community were once Sunday school attendees and see the church as their own. Even some of them who are worshipping at other churches. Our church has seen, and continue to see and experience, exceptional outpouring of the the Holy Spirit in the lives of Believers. Of course, there were times when complacency was evident. However, we can say that if it had not been the Lord on our side where would we be. We have produced great leaders also at the local level, that is, Deacons, Deaconesses, auxiliary and department leaders. We have a bright future, and we trust God for greater things. This moment we can say, the day has dawned when we see a transitioning of leadership from the elderly members to young adult members. We pray for God’s continued leadership. Rose Hall continues to be a lighthouse on that little hill with a congregation of approximately sixty (60) members and is striving to always fulfill the great commandment. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. “ (Matthew 28: 19-20). Amen. DATE OF WRITING MAY 13, 2022. |
