St. Barth is a predominately Catholic and yet Gustavia, the capital, only has one church which holds services the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.  Well, that did not exactly coincide with Easter (being the 3rd Sunday this year).  So, I was off to find a church, preferably in English to celebrate this Easter Sunday.  Right off the main docks is an Anglican Church called St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church and it looks super cute, has service at 9am, and is in English.  Sweet, done!

I arrive a little after 830a to ensure I get a seat in side (it is really a small church that holds about 150 people and is elegant in its simplicity.)  It has 3 large swinging double doors that are over 20′ tall on each side of the church (making it indoors/outdoors), and they have no full time priest.  They fly priests in from all over the world to provide service (they stay 4-5 weeks at a time).  So, I am on a French island, with a Priest visiting from Ontario, we sing a Peruvian version of “Glory”, and I am surrounded by 98% Caucasian, well to do, upper class, well dressed parishioners.  The Brazilian next to me came with a “small part of his family”, but still managed to fill 3 pews.  There are well over 200+ people here that are spilled out on the lawn, outside the double doors, and adjacent the church, it is packed.

Just as the priest began his sermon, a small bird began chirping and then flew in from one of the large double doors on right side of the church and out the left side of the church.  It so made me think of my mom.  The choir, dressed in all white, singing from iPads rather than choir hymnals, began to sing “Amazing Grace” – always brings tears to my eyes.  It was a beautiful celebration where people got out of their pews to shake hands to wish “peace” to others.  Hope you all had a lovely Easter celebration as well!