Diocese of Southwark Forms New link with Barbados – Keep The Faith ® The UK’s Black and multi-ethnic Christian magazine

The Bishop of Southwark and The Bishop of Croydon on behalf of the Diocese of Southwark have signed a covenant agreement with the Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of Barbados to form a new companion link between the two dioceses. The Anglican Diocese of Barbados serves 54 congregations across 11 parishes and over 200 communities. The Diocese of Southwark has long links with Barbados – now an island republic within the Commonwealth of Nations – including two Barbadian Bishops of Croydon and is home to large numbers of the Barbadian diaspora, including The Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon.

Over the next five years, both dioceses will work together to build a relationship of mutuality, building on the strong bonds of personal friendship that have already been established through the bishops, cathedrals, churches and other institutions over time.

The link agreement was formally signed by The Rt Revd Michael Maxwell, Bishop of Barbados and The Right Revd Christopher Chessun, Bishop of Southwark together with The Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon during a visit to coincide with the bicentennial celebrations of The Anglican Diocese of Barbados.

As members of the Anglican Communion and sharing in fellowship in the Body of Christ, the Dioceses of Barbados and Southwark will seek to work together, learn from one another, and to support one another in love, mission and service.

The covenant agreement is effective from 19 July 2024 for five years, subject to renewal.

Elements of the covenant include;

• A commitment to pray for one another
• Support for ministerial development, deployment and staffing
• Creating new parish links between the two dioceses
• Growing faith among children and young people
• Partnerships for theological education

Welcoming the covenant, Bishop Christopher said,

I am especially looking forward to working with Bishop Michael as our dioceses learn together and support one another over the next five years. Barbados will join other dioceses with which we already have close links – four dioceses in Zimbabwe, as well as the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem and under the Porvoo Agreement, the Diocese of Bergen in Norway – part of the Lutheran Church of Norway – and I am delighted that we have formed what would be the newest of our companion links with the Anglican Diocese of Barbados.

I am grateful for the already established link that St John The Divine, Kennington has with Codrington College, where for the past 12 years they have been supporting theological education and I look forward to this work flourishing among the many other elements of the covenant as we share in God’s love.

It has been a pleasure to spend my first ever visit to the Caribbean in the beautiful island of Barbados during what has been such a momentous occasion for the life of the Diocese.

On arrival in Barbados, Bishop Christopher and Bishop Rosemarie were welcomed by Bishop Michael. The trip also included a visit to the State House to meet Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, the President of Barbados and to Codrington College – the Caribbean Anglican theological college. Additionally, the Bishops visited various parish churches, and enjoyed dinner with senior clergy colleagues and local friends, as well as experiencing a tour of the island. To conclude the visit, Bishop Christopher and Bishop Rosemarie attended a Thanksgiving Service at The Garfield Sobers Gymnasium under the theme ‘Let’s Praise God for 200 years of Mission and Ministry of the Anglican Diocese of Barbados’.

Bishop Rosemarie who was born in Bridgetown, Barbados, said,

We are very grateful to my Anglican family in Barbados for the invitation to attend the celebrations and to strengthen the bonds between our dioceses. I give thanks that the Diocese of Southwark has established a companion link with a diocese in the Church in the Province of the West Indies which will gladden the hearts of those of Caribbean heritage in South London and East Surrey. It is a joy to be able to celebrate the gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, witness and action with Barbados.”

Bishop Michael said,

I am very glad that Bishop Christopher and Bishop Rosemarie have come to Barbados for the 200th anniversary of the Diocese and we have already started to discuss the exciting possibilities and opportunities of our new companion link. This will give a framework to the long existing friendship and partnership in the gospel between our dioceses.