The late Right Rev’d Bishop Michael Eldon’s body travels along the streets of Nassau in a procession led by priests, acolytes, lay readers to St. Mary’s Church following a service of thanksgiving at Christ Church Cathedral. (BIS Photo/Patrick Hanna)
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Nassau, The Bahamas
– Bahamians gathered at Christ Church Cathedral Tuesday, February
15 to honour the life of the late Right Reverend Michael Hartley Eldon.
During a service of thanksgiving he was recognised as a loyal, forgiving,
outstanding educator, teacher and family man, and one who believed in
Bahamians.
Bishop Eldon, 79, served
the Anglican Diocese for some 50 years as a priest, of which 25 was
as a bishop. He was the first Bahamian Bishop of the Diocese, then known
as Nassau and The Bahamas including the Turks and Caicos Islands. He
also served as a teacher and assistant master at St. John’s College.
He died on February 7 after a long illness.
Among those attending
was Governor-General Sir Arthur Foulkes; Prime Minister the Rt. Hon.
Hubert Ingraham, members of the Cabinet, parliamentarians, clergy of
the Anglican faith and other denominations, senators, senior Government
officials, justices, students, teachers and administrators of Anglican
schools.
The service was officiated
by Rev’d Dr. the Hon. John Holder, Archbishop of the West Indies and
Bishop of the Diocese of Barbados; the Rt. Rev’d Laish Boyd Sr., Bishop
of the Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands; the
Most Rev’d Drexel W. Gomez, Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of the
Turks and Caicos Islands; the Rt. Rev’d Gilbert Thompson, Assistant
Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands
along with other bishops.
Pallbearers comprising reverend gentlemen of the Anglican Church lift the coffin bearing the body of the late Right Rev’d Michael Eldon. (BIS photo/Derek Smith)
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Tributes were given by
Sir Arthur Foulkes, T. Baswell Donaldson, chairman of the Council of
the College of The Bahamas; and Rev’d. John Holder. Music was provided
by the Diocesan Youth Ensemble led by Kaylen Jervis and a combined choir
directed by Adrian Archer. Organists were Dr. Sparkman Ferguson and
Fr. Fred Fleisher.
A colour party of officers
of the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces escorted the pallbearers
who lifted the wooden coffin on their shoulders bearing the Bishop’s
body into the Cathedral. The pallbearers comprised reverend gentlemen
of the Anglican Church.
The Governor-General
said Bishop Eldon’s passion for education involved considerably more
than preparing students to make a living, but inspiring them to make
“lives worth living”.
He said Bishop Eldon
dedicated himself to national service as a patriot and public voice
for human equality and social justice.
Bahamians watch as the procession for the late Right Rev’d Michael Eldon’s passes en route to St. Mary’s Church. (BIS Photo/Derek Smith)
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“Bishop Eldon understood
that education was fundamental for developing the people of a country
he loved,” said Sir Arthur. “He was a faith-filled shepherd and
a conscientious citizen who brought his values to the work of the church
and his partnership with the state in pursuit of common good.”
Bishop Boyd in his sermon
described Bishop Eldon as a “special” individual who loved people,
had many gifts and possessed an endearing personality.
He urged the congregation
to pursue things that make for peace and not to waste time with division
by failing to support others and not being a team player.
“Pursue your dreams
and stand by the things you believe in. Be governed by the principals
that you know to be sure and true,” said Bishop Boyd.
