Veteran Minister of the Anglican Church and former senior civil servant, Reverend Vanier Menes Hodge, celebrated his official Retirement Mass in front of a packed St. Mary’s in the Valley on his 70th birthday, Sunday August 30. The occasion was a joint service, combining the congregations of the three Anglican Churches along with a large cross-section of the Anguillian community.

Rev. Menes Hodge

Bishop of the Diocese of the North-East Caribbean and Aruba, the Right Reverend L. Errol Brooks, also took part in the Joint Service that was carried live by Radio Anguilla and Upbeat Radio.

Reverend Hodge commented that it was a joy to see the church “literally packed on Sunday.” He stated that he was not accustomed to seeing it “so full” and when he entered to begin the service he was “pleasantly impressed” with the number of persons. He joked that it was an interesting coincidence that he had selected the hymn “How Good it is to see the Brethren Assembled Together.” The experienced Priest said the crowd lifted his spirits. “It was a joy to me to be able to conduct that special service, and what was…satisfying to me was that I have heard very many favourable comments about the service. Many persons, as far as Canada, heard it on internet as well as radio,” he continued. He was quick to add that he takes no credit but “to God be the glory.”

According to Reverend Hodge, his retirement follows Diocesan Regulations where, at 70 years old, a Priest leaves the staff of the Anglican Church. In keeping with the Bishop’s request, he will continue service to the church until the end of this year.

Reverend Hodge was ordained as an Anglican Deacon in 1993. He retired from the Government Civil Service in 1994 and attended the Church’s Codrington College in Barbados. He spent two years there then, in 1996, he returned to the Diocese of the North-East Caribbean and Aruba and was ordained to the Priesthood on St. Benedict’s Day, July 11, 1996. That same year he took the position of ‘Priest in Charge’ of two Parishes in St. Kitts: St. Ann’s in Sandy Point and St. Thomas in Middle Island.

Reverend Hodge returned to Anguilla on January 1, 2000, then left to become Priest in Charge of the Parish in Saba and St. Eustatius. He spent two years in Saba then returned to Anguilla to assist the Bishop in Anguilla.

Reverend Hodge began his Ministry in the Anglican Church, in his late teens, as a Lay Reader. Prior to his retirement from Government Service at age 55, he was Principal Assistant Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office with responsibility for Tourism. Before that, he held the post of Director Information and Broadcasting. During that time, he was also Radio Licensing Officer and the Consultant that devised the present vehicle registration process.

When he left Secondary School, Reverend Hodge worked at Public Works as a Carpenter and later in the Agricultural and Customs Department. But he always had a calling to pursue the ordained Ministry.

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