Smith Memorial Congregational Church will commemorate its 168th anniversary

Smith Memorial Congregational Church will commemorate its 168th anniversary next Sunday with a Thanksgiving Service in the church building at Brickdam, Stabroek.According to a press release from Rev Oslen Small on behalf of the Diaconate and members, the church was built as a tribute to the memory of the late Rev John Smith, a missionary of the London Missionary Society, which was formed in 1795 to send the gospel abroad to non-believers. Smith was renowned as the ‘Demerara Martyr’ after he was arrested, tried and convicted by court martial for allegedly inciting and supporting the East Coast slave insurrection of 1823. He subsequently died in prison. The foundation stone of the church was laid on November 24, 1843 and the church was declared open for public worship in 1844 under Rev E A Wallbridge, credited with writing the book Demerara Martyr.  The site on which Smith’s Memorial is located was earlier this year recognized as a heritage site and a heritage marker has been installed by the National Trust of Guyana.