About Us - Susamachar Presbyterian Church

Mission

The mission of Susamachar Presbyterian Church is to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the national community and make disciples for Christ, through the practice of servant leadership and the promotion of social justice for all.

Vision

To be a Dynamic, Spirit-filled and Praying Church that displays the Love of Christ for all people through Worship, Discipleship and Outreach.

Message from The Reverend Letra Jacob

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Message from The Chairman Vishnu Chackan

History – 1871 to Present

(Written by the Sammah Family)

It was a memorable day on 20^th February 1871 when Dr. Kenneth J. Grant started a school in a building known as the Old Theatre situated on Cipero Street, San Fernando. The spot was known as Tollgate and was well located for all the East Indian children in the town, and more so, at a point, which attracted a large number from the country district. Church services were conducted in this building and steady progress was made in attendance of both the day school and Church services. From this humble beginning, Susamachar Presbyterian Church and Grant Memorial Presbyterian School started.

First Susamachar Church Building

Rev. Dr. Grant recalls in his autobiography “My Missionary Memories” (pg. 97), the manner in which funds were raised for a church building. When a subscription list was drawn up, the sum of $2,060.00 (Two thousand and sixty dollars) was collected for the Church Building to accommodate 400 persons. It was a wooden structure 50’ x 45’ with a pitch pine floor. In front, on either side, was an imposing tower, capped by a dome. The Susamachar Presbyterian Church, the first church building and the Church of “Good News” was dedicated on the 7th July 1872 by Rev. Kenneth K. Grant, the founder and first Minister.

With unceasing prayers, hard work, loyalty and devotion, two institutions stand proudly side by side at the present time:-

• The Susamachar Presbyterian Church

• Grant Memorial Presbyterian School

As the work of the Church increased, a Board of five (5) Managers was organised in 1875 to assist in the business of the Church. A Session was later formed for the spiritual aspects of the work at Susamachar. In August 1875, Babu Lal Behari and Clarence Soodeen were ordained as the first two East Indian Elders of Susamachar. In 1882, Rev. Lal Behari was ordained as a Minister of the Presbyterian. He was closely associated with Rev. Grant for 35 years as “a pupil, assistant and teacher combined and a beloved colleague and trusted friend.”

The Second Church Building

Rev. Grant resigned in 1907 on the grounds of the failing health of Mrs. Grant and returned to Canada. Mrs. Grant died in 1912. The marble baptismal font placed near the Pulpit was presented by the Women of Susamachar in memory of Mrs. Grant. Rev. Angus Firth succeeded Rev. Grant. Unfortunately, he died of a tropical fever the same year.

By 1926, there was an urgent need for a new Church building as the first building was too small for the growing congregation. A Building Committee was set up to raise money for this new project.

The new Church Building was dedicated on the 27th May 1932 by Rev. J.A. Scrimgeour. The door of the building was opened by Miss Sylvin Grant, daughter of Rev. K.J. Grant. Rev. Victor B. Walls was the Preacher. Rev. James Clarke MacDonald was at the Minister at that time.

Some Historical Highlights:

• 27th April 1932: The Scottish Presbyterian Church of High Street, San Fernando merged with Susamachar Presbyterian Church. Evening service began in English while morning worship was conducted in Hindi.

• 8th January 1933: The stained glass window depicting St. Paul’s First Missionary Journey was unveiled and dedicated. This was a gift from the late Thomas Geddes Grant in memory of his father, Rev. K.J. Grant.

• 3rd May 1933: The Two-manual Pipe Organ was dedicated in memory of Rev. John Smith Wilson, the last serving Minister of the Scottish Presbyterian Church of High Street, San Fernando.

Other notable gifts from the Grant family include the Lectern, Pulpit, Communion Table, the Minister’s Chair, the Choir Stalls and the Electronic Chimes, which were dedicated on 17th July 1960. The Chimes Cabinet was donated by the Jagroop Family in memory of their parents and dedicated on the same day.

The history of Susamachar would not be complete without some reference to Rev. Dr. James C. MacDonald. The teacher, scholar and theologian still lives in the heart of many who worship at Susamachar. Susamachar’s growth owes much to his efforts and dedication to duty.

The first native Minister appointed to Susamachar was Rev. J.A. Ramjit in 1959. His ministry was fruitful and Susamachar lost a worthy son when he resigned in 1964 to take up an appointment in Canada. He served for five (5) years.

Rev. Albert Baldeo and Rev. Winston Gopaul were serving Ministers from 1964 to 1970 and 1971 to 1978 respectively. From 1978 to 1990 when Rev. Allison K. Nobbee was the Minister, there was a radical change in church attendance from 1978 with the congregation having outgrown the Church. The Susamachar that was built in 1932 to accommodate 350 persons had now grown to 2,540 persons in 1982. Rev. Nobbee revealed then that the original church plan for the 1932 building was drawn on silk. It was designed in England and the arches were identical to the arches of the Taj Mahal, encompassing Greek architecture.

With the rotation of Ministers, a 1989 policy of the Synod of the PCTT, Susamachar saw a change when the Rev. Cyril Paul was inducted as Minister in May 1990. He served for a seven-year period until April 1997. In May 1997, the Rev. Joy Abdul Abdul (unmarried at that time), was inducted as Minister of Susamachar. She was the first female Presbyterian Minister to be trained locally and also the first female Minister to be appointed to Susamachar after 126 years.

On 24th November 2002, Rev. Stephen A. Harripersad was inducted as Minister of the Susamachar Pastoral Region. Thus, Ministerial responsibility for the Church Extension Project in 2003 fell on his shoulders. On 11th January 2004, the Re-dedication Service of the renovated and enlarged Susamachar Church Building took place.

From 2007 to 2009, Rev. Dr. Daniel Teelucksingh spent a short time with the Susamachar congregation, as a retired Minister. During his time here, the bell tower showed signs of decay and a new one was erected and dedicated.

The Present Church Building

Rev. Dr. Randall Sammah, a direct descendant of Babu Lal Behari and only the second Minister to be produced by the Susamachar Presbyterian Church after Rev. James Sieunarine in the 1950’s, was appointed to serve his home congregation from 2010 to 2015. His journey to ministry tells a story of strong Christian upbringing and family loyalty to the Church, family worship and an active involvement in Sunday School, Scouts and Youth Group. During his five-year tenure, he was joined by Rev. Keron Khellawan and together, they formed a partnership ministry to attend to a growing congregation. Coincidentally, the offspring of these two Ministers were born on the same day (5th July), different years.

Other Ministers to serve at Susamachar in the last decade were Rev. Dr. Daniel Teelucksingh and the late Rev. Kendrick Sooknarine who passed away in August 2021. Rev Letra Jacob took up her duties at Susamachar in January 2020, the same year that the Covid-19 pandemic forced closure of churches for many months of the year.

To date, we can see the physical and material aspects of our efforts and labours. We are thankful for the progress we have made. Whatever our aspirations may be, let us take time to be holy. Let us be ever thankful to God for our founder and the men and women who laid such a firm foundation. Let us concern ourselves with the most important task ~ to spread the good news of the salvation of man as promised by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Resources:

“Renewing Our Faith” – Susamachar Presbyterian Church Extension Commemorative Magazine, 2003
“Presbyterian First” – Rev. Ken Kalloo, Archivist
“My Missionary Memories” – Rev. Dr. Kenneth James Grant

Past Ministers

Rev. K. J. Grant, B.A., D.D. (1872 – 1907)

Rev. J. O. Firth, B.A. (1907)

Rev. R. B. Layton, B.A., B.D. (1907 – 1911)

Rev. W. G. Firth, B.A. (1912)

Rev. C. T. Bailkie, B.A. (1913 – 1914)

Rev. J. C. Mac Donald, D.D. (1915 – 1919)

Rev. J. U. Bell, (1919 – 1924)

Rev. G. D. Mac Leod, B.A. (1925 – 1929)

Rev. J. C. Mac Donald, D.D. (1929 – 1955)

Rev. J. E. Newbery, B.A., B.D. (July 1955 – Aug 1956)

Rev. J. D. M.Wood, B.A., B.D. (Sept 1956 – Nov 1958)

Rev. J. A. Ramjit (1959-1964)

Rev. A. Baldeo, B.A., Dip.Th, (1964 – 1970)

Rev. W. B. Gopaul, B.D., S.T.M. (1971 – June 1978)

Rev. A. K. Nobbee, B.A. Hon. Theo. (Aug 1978 – 1990)

Rev. Cyril Paul LTh., MTh (May 1990 – April 1997)

Rev. Joy Abdul-Mohan LTh., M.A (May 1997 – July 2002)

Rev. Stephen Harripersad L.Th., (Associate Minister 1994 – 1995), (Sept 2002 – Aug 2007)

Rev. Daniel Teelucksingh B.D., S.T.M (Sept 2007 – Dec 2009)

Rev. Randall Sammah M.RE., LTh., D.Min (Jan 2010 – Dec 2014)

Rev. Keron Khellawan BA., LTh., M.Sc. (Jan 2011 – Dec 2015)

Rev. Kendrick Sooknarine BA. (Jan 2015 – Dec 2019)