Long Island The Bahamas

Bishop Justin outside St John the Evangelist at Deadman's Cay

: The added side chapel at St John the Evangelist with its ‘rock roof’.

: Fr Robert and Bishop Justin inspect the Baldachino in St John the Evangelist

: The original Our Lady of Mt Carmel

: The newly constructed Our Lady of Mt Carmel Anglican Church

: St Paul’s Anglican Church.

: The altar in St Paul’s Long Island – very like OLMC Mullewa WA.

: Church of Sts Peter and Paul

: Rood Screen in Sts Peter and Paul

: View from Sts Peter and Paul

: Bishop Justin celebrating Mass on the 26th anniversary of being ordained a Bishop.

: Our host Deacon Patrick Darville

: Parishioners in Sts Peter and Paul

: Pilgrims Barb and Jenna with locals Martha and Barbara

: Bahamian hospitality – Long Island style.

: A Long Island postcard depicts the two churches designed by Hawes

Hawes' s work on Long Island occurred in two stages many years apart. His first visit was in 1910 in response to an invitation from his friend, the Anglican Bishop Hornsby, to administer to the Anglicans on the island and to assist with the the re-building of church buildings after a hurricane in 1908 had left a trail of destruction. He left in 1911 to become a Catholic.

Fra Jerome returned as a Catholic priest in 1939 at the request of the Bishop of Nassau, who asked him to assess the Catholic buildings on the island. He was welcomed by the many friends he had made during his time there earlier.

The Pilgrims first port of call was to St John the Evangelist Anglican Church which Hawes had almost completely rebuilt in 1909 and where he had tested his design of a 'rock roof', which he believed would withstand further hurricanes, on the newly added Lady Chapel. He also added a baldachino over the the High Altar. This church was still in use and in very good condition.

Another Anglican church that wasn't in such good condition when the Pilgrims visited was Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church in Hamilton which had not been designed by Hawes but to which he had contributed £200. It was built in 1938 and Hawes was pleased with what he saw on his return in 1939 and believed that the architect, Albert Lothian, had used his (Hawes's) ideas of stone roofs for the design of the church. The original church has been replaced by a new, modern church next door.

Hawes' main work for the Anglican church in 1909 on the island was the Church of St Paul in Clarence Town. The Pilgrims were indebted to their host on Long Island, Deacon Patrick Darville, for arranging for them to be able to visit St Paul's. They were struck by the resemblance of the altar to that in our Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Mullewa , Western Australia.

On his return to the Bahamas in 1939 Hawes wasn't posted to Long Island but had been asked to design a hurricane-proof Catholic church to seat 200 people in Clarence Town - close to his original Anglican Church of St Paul's. The Pilgrims were able to participate in a Mass in the Catholic Church of Sts Peter and Paul on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of Bishop Justin becoming a Bishop, and to see first hand the holy rood produced by Hawes that they had read about.

The local parishioners joined the group for Mass and then provided wonderful hospitality in the Parish Centre next to the church.

Back to 'In the Footsteps of John Cyril Hawes'