The handful of slaves who began worshipping at the centuries-old Buff Bay Independent Baptist Church, Portland sanctuary, in 1824 — 10 years before Emancipation — could not then have foreseen that their descendants would be celebrating there, 200 years later in 2024.

Commemorating 200 years of Christian witness recently, the current congregation declared in triumph “For the Lord is Good; His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations” before a packed congregation.

Buff Bay today is a bustling town whose growth likely reflected the firm foundation laid by the not yet emancipated slaves who were converted through the preaching of the disciples of George Lisle, sometimes spelt Liele, himself an ex-slave from the United States.

According to the history as told to the 200th anniversary service by Deacon Cindy Allen, oldest living member of the church and wife of current Pastor Vernon Allen, Lisle came to Jamaica as a Baptist missionary and founded the very first Baptist church in Jamaica in 1783. The Baptist Missionary Society supported the Buff Bay Church – established as a member of the Baptist Union in 1849 – as they carried out evangelism among ex-slaves.

Served over its 200 years by 10 pastors, the Buff Bay church broke ranks from the Baptist Union to Independent Baptist in 1956, at a tie of great disagreements. Its best known pastor in recent times was the Rev Dr Aaron Dumas who served from 1980 to 1986.

Deacon Allen noted that the first church building was a wooden structure and the current stone building was completed in 1909, making it 115 years this year. In 1961, the church became part of the Jamaica Fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches and started the Bradford Academy, the only high school in western Portland that catered to students from low-income families. The Buff Bay church also started a basic school; Boy Scout unit; Girl Guide unit, Vacation Bible School and a Darcas ministry that assisted children with clothing.

Current Pastor Rev Vernon Allen assumed the leadership role in 1982, after his graduation from the Toronto Baptist Seminary, making him the second longest-serving pastor of the church with a tenure of 42 years.

Pastors who served with Pastor Allen are Horace Tyrell (assistant pastor), 1991 – 2007; Associate Pastor Rev Glendon Thompson, June to December 1994; Associate Pastor Leroy Gilmore, 2001 to present; Assistant Pastor John Anzardo, 2009 -2013; Pastor Damion Thomas, pastoral intern from 2016 to 2024 and assistant pastor since July 2024 and missionary Sister Eveline Bernier, serving since December 2020.

The church experienced much progress under Pastor Allen’s stewardship, marked by construction of six two-room boardrooms for needy Portland families in Buff Bay, Mount Vernon, Skibo, and Bybrook; annual medical clinics; weekly soup kitchens; football, baseball, and basketball tournaments; provision of tuition for college and high school students, and lights for basketball courts in Woodstock and Lynch Park housing schemes; and annual Christmas baskets to church and community members.

A key development has been the partnership with Urban Discovery Ministries to start the Globe (George Lyle Objective for Black Enterprise) Ministry in 1992. There have been two missions trip to Haiti, support for Cuban missions and the purchasing of two buses for the church.

The more modern building includes the construction of an upstairs building at the back of the church, refurbishing, re-roofing, and tiling of the church; installation of air-conditioning units, construction of two porches, retaining walls, and parking lot.

“As we look towards the future we’ll rekindle the spirit of evangelism, expand the children’s ministry, look towards expository preaching, recommitment to missions, building a new manse, ordination of Pastor Damion Thomas, with members growing to be effective witnesses for Christ,” Deacon Allen declared in closing.

Guest preacher, former Pastor Damion Thompson, pastor of the Jarvis Street Baptist Church, Toronto, challenged those present to “respond to the calling to be priestly ministers in Christ, walking in obedience to the calling of priestly service in the power of the spirit of Christ”.

Greetings came from Custos Rotulorum for Portland Lincoln Thaxter and Rev Dr Dumas, president of the Jamaica Fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches.

The current sanctuary of the Buff Bay Independent Baptist Church has been standing for 115 out of the 200 years of the church in Portland. (Photo: Delroy Reid)

Reverend Vernon Allen, current senior pastor of the Buff Bay Baptist Church, Portland, welcomes the congregation to the 200th anniversary service. (Photo: Delroy Reid)

Deacon Cindy Allen receives a gift from Delano Ellis on behalf of the Buff Bay Baptist Church, Portland. Allen, with 40 years under her belt, is the oldest living member of the church, which is marking its 200th anniversary. (Delroy Reid)

The 200th anniversary cake helps to mark the centuries-long existence of the Buff Bay Independent Baptist Church in Portland. (Delroy Reid)