About the Cathedral

The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Guyana and serves the Diocese of Guyana in its 42 parishes spanning the coastlands and interior of Guyana. The Cathedral is also a parish church with a medium to large and active congregation. The head of the Cathedral is the Rector.

Our Cathedral mission is to respond to God as a community and offers place of prayer and worship, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and acting upon it by:

• Becoming the people of God in this place as a Christian Congregation, together with fellow Christian Churches.
• Providing a focus of resource for the Bishop and Diocese of Guyana.
• Taking risks to witness to God’s love, peace and justice in the steps of George.
• Welcoming visitors and offering them a vision of hope.
• Enhancing and conserving the Cathedral as a holy place.

The Cathedral Chapter comprise six (6) non-residentiary Canons appointed by the Bishop who assist with the work of the Cathedral.

The management of the Cathedral is the responsibility of the Vestry chaired by the Dean and consists of two church Wardens, one elected by the cathedral congregation, the other appointed by the Rector, six lay people elected by the cathedral congregation, and three other lay people appointed by the Rector. The Vestry is supported by a Finance Committee, a Special Efforts Committee and a Buildings Committee.

The work of the Cathedral is further supported by various Organisations: Sanctuary Guild, Dorcas Society, Welfare and Advisory Council, Men’s Guild, Mother’s Union, Youth Group (Lancers), Servers Guild, Usher Guild, Liturgical Readers Guild.

There is an Annual General Meeting of the congregation normally held on the last Sunday in January, at which elections are held and the Rector gives a report of the activities of the Cathedral over the previous year.

The work of the Cathedral is further supported by four full time staff and dozens of volunteers. These volunteers work in a range of areas from youth work, acquisition and arranging of flowers, serving tea and coffee in the Undercroft Centre.

This Cathedral has been twinned with Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa Canada since 1995.

 

Composition of the Vestry

Dean - The Very Rev. Terry N. Davis

Deacon - Mr. Monsell Alves

Secretary to Vestry - Mr. Albert Marshall

Treasurer - Mr. Le Roy Philander-Garnett

Wardens - Ms. Joyce Sinclair, A.A.
Mr. Keith Williams

Members

Mr. John Worrell, A.A
Mr. Ralph Cameron
Mr. Albert Marshall
Mr. Winston Beckles
Mr. Lloyd Alleyne
Ms. Adonika Spellen
Mrs. Allison Aaron

 

Duties of Vestries and Parochial Officers

The duties of vestries

a. To have charge of all church buildings, lands and other properties belonging to the parish.
b. To effect the necessary repairs of all churches, parsonages, schools and other church buildings belonging to the parish.
c. To insure and keep insured against fire all churches, schools, parsonages and other buildings belonging to the parish.
d. To administer the finances of the parish in accordance with the Regulations and the requirements of the Bishop.

The duties of the churchwardens

To superintend all work sanctioned by the vestry, to assign sittings, to provide all things necessary for divine service, to assist in collecting offerings, to keep order in the congregation and to do such other things as are ordered by the Regulations or may be required from time to time by the Bishop.

The duties of the treasurer of the vestry

a. To receive all dues and to make all payments sanctioned by the vestry, and to keep separate accounts in such form as may be required by the Council of receipts and payments in respect of each church of mission church within the parish.
b. To make up to the thirty-first day of December in each year and present to the vestry all statements of accounts.
c. To lay before the annual meeting, when audited by one or more auditors appointed by the incumbent and church wardens, an abstract of the accounts, and in the month of January in each year to send the same to the Secretary.

The duties of the secretary

Shall include the keeping of a minute book in which he shall enter minutes of every meeting of the vestry and of the members present and the business transacted at each morning.