A packed Bethel Methodist Church was the venue for an Appreciation Service on Sunday, August 22, in honour of Circuit Superintendent, Rev. Dr. H. Clifton Niles, Rev. Careen White and Minister-in-Training, Brother Damien Hughes.
Rev. Dr. Niles will be officially retiring from the Ministry on August 31 after 42 years of service, the last four of which he served in Anguilla.

Members of the Bethel Choir

She has been transferred to Nevis as Circuit Minister, replacing another female Minister there, Rev. Rosemary Julius, who has family ties in Anguilla and will be the new Circuit Minister here.
Brother Damien Hughes, known for his effective communication skills, has been a Circuit Steward and Local Preacher in Anguilla. He will leave Anguilla this weekend for Jamaica where he will spend a Pre-Collegiate Year in ministry at Savannah La Mar Circuit, following which he will enter the United Theological College to commence his ministerial studies.

Up to the time of his departure, he served as Director of Franchise Operations at Caribbean Cable Communications in Anguilla. He holds a BA degree in Political Science from Morehouse University in Atlanta and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies from York University in Canada.
The Appreciation Service was conducted by Circuit Stewards, Janice Hodge and Erville Hughes, and Minister-in-Training, Candis Niles. The homily was delivered by Rev. Dr. S. Wilfred Hodge. Words of Appreciation were given by Congregational Stewards Eudine Romney of Maranatha; Allison Hughes of Bethel; Clifton James, a representative of Trinity; Bernard Brooks of Zion; Sanford Richardson of Ebenezer; Rev. Menes Hodge, Assistant Anglican Priest, on behalf of the Anguilla Christian Council; Navine Fleming for the Youth Commission and Circuit Steward, Erville Hughes.

Responding, Damien Hughes expressed gratitude to all five congregations of the Methodist Church for the fellowship he enjoyed and to those, including Rev. Brodie, Rev. Lindsay Richardson and the Circuit Stewards, who encouraged him in the Ministry; and to his newly-married wife, Maria, for her support over the years.

Members of the Local Preachers' Association

Rev. White thanked, in particular, the three congregations for which she was assigned responsibility for their cooperation and assistance as well as the other three with whom she interacted on occasions. She was pleased for the opportunity to have served in Anguilla and was committed to her call to the ministry of the Church in Nevis.
Rev. Dr. Niles offered ministerial candidate, Damien Hughes, and Rev. White, his best wishes as they began a new chapter in their lives and charged them to remain steadfast to their calling and responsibility. He reflected on his own ministry, saying he believed in change, not by revolution but by innovation, and hoped that his work in Anguilla had been of much benefit to the Church over the past four years.
He made this point: “While I superannuate, I have no intention to sit and ‘rustigate’”, thus emphasing his commitment to service. He went on: “I will endeavour to make my contribution to the development of the Circuit and the island as best as I can. Thanks, to all of you for the support, encouragement, challenges and the opportunity for me to grow in the Ministry

Members of the Local Preachers' Association

L-R: Brother Damien Hughes and wife, Maria, Rev. Niles and wife, Ruth and Rev. White

The Appreciation Service was conducted by Circuit Stewards, Janice Hodge and Erville Hughes, and Minister-in-Training, Candis Niles. The homily was delivered by Rev. Dr. S. Wilfred Hodge. Words of Appreciation were given by Congregational Stewards Eudine Romney of Maranatha; Allison Hughes of Bethel; Clifton James, a representative of Trinity; Bernard Brooks of Zion; Sanford Richardson of Ebenezer; Rev. Menes Hodge, Assistant Anglican Priest, on behalf of the Anguilla Christian Council; Navine Fleming for the Youth Commission and Circuit Steward, Erville Hughes.

Responding, Damien Hughes expressed gratitude to all five congregations of the Methodist Church for the fellowship he enjoyed and to those, including Rev. Brodie, Rev. Lindsay Richardson and the Circuit Stewards, who encouraged him in the Ministry; and to his newly-married wife, Maria, for her support over the years.

Rev. White thanked, in particular, the three congregations for which she was assigned responsibility for their cooperation and assistance as well as the other three with whom she interacted on occasions. She was pleased for the opportunity to have served in Anguilla and was committed to her call to the ministry of the Church in Nevis.

Members of the congregation

Rev. Dr. Niles offered ministerial candidate, Damien Hughes, and Rev. White, his best wishes as they began a new chapter in their lives and charged them to remain steadfast to their calling and responsibility. He reflected on his own ministry, saying he believed in change, not by revolution but by innovation, and hoped that his work in Anguilla had been of much benefit to the Church over the past four years.
He made this point: “While I superannuate, I have no intention to sit and ‘rustigate’”, thus emphasing his commitment to service. He went on: “I will endeavour to make my contribution to the development of the Circuit and the island as best as I can. Thanks, to all of you for the support, encouragement, challenges and the opportunity for me to grow in the Ministry and as a person.”>

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