The Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks, one of Anguilla’s accomplished and well-respected sons, celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of his Consecration and Ordination as Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba with a special service at St. Mary’s Church on Tuesday evening, March 25. The large crowd, from all walks of life, which filled the church to capacity, was indicative of the high esteem in which he is held and the great appreciation the populace has for his ministry in Anguilla and in the twelve-member islands of the Diocese on a whole.

He is the twelfth Bishop of the Diocese and has the distinction of living in his homeland outside the much-revered and lofty Bishop’s Lodge at St. John’s Cathedral in Antigua. It was not just a break with tradition, but a strong indicator of his humility and love for service at the lower level, preferring to remain in Anguilla, among his own citizenry, serving as a regular priest and travelling to the other islands ever so frequently at his own risk in his capacity as Bishop of the Diocese. That is a matter for much commendation and one of the reasons for the love he enjoys from his parishioners in Anguilla and, in addition to his commitment to the ministry of the church in general, is part of the admiration he has attracted in the sub-region and further a-field. He is also widely regarded for his religious tolerance, appreciation and respect for other religious faiths.

As Bishop, he is at the zenith of a line of Anguillians who were ordained to the ministry over the years. It is his and their sacrificial and religious service, rather than the pursuit of economic gain in more lucrative fields of employment, that has earned him and them, much respect from their people whom they seek to lead in Christian living. Bishop Brooks is the product of an Anguillian parentage which instilled in him the values and qualities of life and love that are so absent in our society today and which, along with his own brand, he now shares with everyone. He is a fine example of what a young man can achieve through commitment, aspiration, wholesome living and a deep sense of humility.

In our developing and changing Anguilla, on all frontiers today, there is a crying need for leadership. With ten years in the high office of Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks is still young in his appointment but as a church leader he has a great burden and responsibility to fulfil. It is a daunting task when one looks at the falling away among the leadership and membership in some of our established churches everywhere, the upsurge of crime, other societal problems and the growing need for ministry among the needy, the elderly and those whose lives are shattered in one way or another. One can only imagine the strain and personal sacrifice it takes for such a Christian leader as Bishop Brooks to serve in the way he does admirably, but therein lies the call to ministry and the will and commitment it demands to fulfil that noble calling.

The Most Rev. Drexel Gomez, Archbishop of the West Indies, who preached the sermon on Tuesday, commented on the fact that he has been a Bishop for over thirty years, compared to Bishop Brooks’ ten. It is indeed a great divide to cross and must have been quite a rocky road to tread. It is a long and arduous journey for Bishop Brooks to follow. As the Archbishop said he needs the support and prayers of the people he ministers to in order to carry on and to achieve the desired goals of the ministry and those he has set for himself. Bishop Brooks himself, who thanked everyone for their assistance over the ten years, has also joined in that appeal. You can help him, the church and Anguilla by responding positively.

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