Jamestown Chapel Re-opened!!

AT LAST!!
It was a hectic day, with a lot of last minute things to organise.  e.g. I had organised a bunch of silk flowers (fresh flowers are almost unavailable on St Helena) but needed someone to arrange them.  Edyta arrived an hour early to attend to this task.  Charles Thomas needed to be collected from Cape Villa. Our pets had to be secured in the manse (they like to follow us)

The chapel looked clean and fresh and inviting.  The school room next door was ready with tables laden with eats and many cups waiting for tea to be poured.  People started arriving and filling the newly mended pews. A large number of people from the other denominations came to celebrate with us. Teddy rang the bell (a sound I love to hear, especially since church bell ringing has been banned in S Africa)

I usually end up baby sitting Hannah in church.  I took her up onto the balcony, thinking that she would not disturb people from there (silly me!)   I ended up trying to hear what I could from the school room, while also trying to keep her relatively quiet.

One highlight of the service was hearing a recorded message of greeting from Nick Clevely, who was the pastor at the time of the rockfall, and who was very involved in raising funds for the restoration.

All in all, a wonderful celebration of God's provision and faithfulness.

                                                            Chapel door open again

                                                             Graeme at the chapel door

                                                                   New roof and ceiling

                                                                    Front platform

                                                                    Congregation

                                                            View from the gallery stairs

Ringing the bell

Hannah going to chapel

                           Hymn singing                                            Steve at the organ

                                                                     Bible reading

Edyta, who arranged the flowers

                                                       Hazel and Jean in the school room

                                                        A long row of people, eating

                                                Anglican and Salvation Army guests chatting

                                                          Graeme and Bishop Richard

                                                                  Plenty of refreshments

                                             Mama Lizzie (94 yrs) and 2 of her children

                                                                      Blue eyed doll

Anticipating the BIG DAY

The painter was supposed to have finished painting the chapel by the 7th of this month.  Of course, it never happened.  The walls were only finished on Saturday.  We had to decide whether to stick to the planned date for the re-opening of the chapel, or postpone it.  We decided to stick to the chosen date.  The painter arrived early on Saturday morning to finish applying his last few swipes of paint before a work party arrived to start on the floors.  They worked from 10am to 1 pm.  Much sweeping, wiping, dust, and sweat.  Polish was spread on the wooden floors; and Graeme learnt to drive a temperamental, borrowed, industrial polisher.  The chapel was beginning to glow.
Teddy Thomas has spent nearly every day this week working on repairing the damaged church pews.  Today, Trevor Stevens was there helping him.  They are almost finished.
The carpet on the front platform has been laid, and just the runner carpet down the aisle has to be positioned.
The windows will get their final wash and shine over the next few days.

We WILL make it for the grand reopening and dedication of the Jamestown Chapel on Sunday 3pm (by the skins of our teeth).

Over 70,000 pounds raised or donated from 14th August 2008 to 28th April 2013 to repair the damage that was done by tons of rock that fell onto the chapel, the work yard, the school room, and the manse, on 14th August 2008.

Praise be to our amazing God!