ABOUT THE NORTH STREET UNITED CHURCH

The congregation of North Street United Church, situated at 28 North Street (Corner of North and Princess Streets) in the Parish of Kingston, may be described as a diverse, vibrant and growing Church. This may be said despite the significant challenges that confront the very life identity and mission of the Congregation.

Situated in a difficult context with the challenges of rampant poverty, high unemployment. Domestic and other violence, child neglect and the abuse and the struggle of decent persons trying to make ends meet, North Street United is constrained to be creative, appropriately responsive and fully dependent on God.

The congregation enjoys good commitment from most of its members who by the grace of God have hung in there through thick and thin. The North Street Congregation is blessed with a distinguished musical tradition that is evidenced by the many Cantatas and musical presentations being offered several times each year.

By the grace of God, this congregation has distinguished itself particularly in the area of innovative and cutting edge outreach ministry and community development. Buttressed by a yard-by-yard, lane-by-lane, person-by-person community consultative process, a community forum in the churchyard in July 1995 at which over 300 persons were present, initiated an informed ministry response to the self-identified needs of the people.

The North Street United Church (formerly Congregational) was established in 1837 by Rev. Woolridge who was sent here as a missionary by the London Missionary Society.

Rev. William Gardner, one of our early ministers started the Kingston Benefit Society and the Freeman Chapel Provident Fund.

A number of full time workers and others were nurtured here and sent out into the world. In recent times, since 1994 we had 4 medical doctors graduating from the University of the West Indies. These persons are products of this church and some parents are still very active here. Others have been successful in all their examinations with one child being accepted by no less than 7 universities in the USA. I have not mentioned these things to boast as, it is because of their belief and walk with God why they have succeeded. I only wish to encourage others who live in this and other such areas not to let their living conditions prevent them from pursuing their dreams. One of the young persons mentioned before, grew up under adverse conditions, and is now a student at the university.

The logo of the United Church (see above) is very interesting and the elements represent the symbols, which are of significance to the doctrine and beliefs of the respective antecedent denominations of our union. They are (1) The Cross, representing Jesus Christ the head of the church, (2) The Open Bible, representing the centrality of the word of God, (3) The Chalice, representing Christ’s death and Resurrection, (4) The Burning Bush, representing The Perpetual Flame of the Gospel and (5) the Sea, representing The Church in two Nations not confined to the boundaries of the shores of the Caribbean.

It is interesting to note that one of the pictures in our logo “the burning bush” also represents the thought “burnt but not consumed” and there are children in these areas that are living out this thought daily. So, to everyone every where who may read this article I say, even though you may have only one bulb in your house, or too many persons live in one room or you hear guns “barking” instead of dogs, don’t give up. Trust god, link up with a church and study hard. Some of these churches provide facilities for doing homework and church members will allow you to spend time with them and study in their homes. We are doing this here at North Street and it has worked.

In addition to our worship we are also engaged in an Outreach ministry through which we minister to the other areas of people’s lives.

Our Outreach Centre, The Roy Edwards human Development Centre houses a Bakery for income generation and training, a Day Care/ Nursery, a Medical Clinic and a Computer training centre which will be opened to the public later in this year. We are also a part of the Youth. Now programme sponsored by the ministry of health where adolescents will be taught about their sexuality, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and other issues which affect our youth today. This programme will be on stream by the middle of this year.

Presently we are involved in the distribution of food provided by the United States Department of Agriculture via Food for the Poor. We are serving in excess of three hundred persons fortnightly and this is another avenue through which we can reach out to our brothers and sisters as some of them also need a listening ear and advice, etc.

Our Primary school is the North Street Primary School established in 1837 and where 280 children are currently enrolled. We do need to relocate the school to a larger area on North Street as the classes are bursting at the seams, but, funds are needed to purchase the property identified. This will allow us to put our other dream in place, that of establishing a Basic School. Our aim being to have the children under our influence from 3 months to 12 years old thereby creating an impact on society through our children.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US.

Elaine Christie

Asst. Administrator

FUTURE PROJECTIONS

LIBRARY

To Provide an opportunity for our children and young people to do home work; research work.
To provide internet access for furthering the studies of our youth.

COMPUTER CENTRE

This centre aims at providing the community with the necessary skills needed to keep abreast with the information age.
Training in software, hardware, exploring the Internet etc.

MEDICAL CLINIC

Providing paediatric preventative health care.
Community health, education and promotion.