Hundreds of Spiritual Baptists filled the streets of Kingstown on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in a vibrant procession marking the very first observance of Spiritual Baptist (Freedom) Day — a newly declared public holiday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Dressed in white, ankle-length garments and traditional head ties, the faithful moved from the Peace Memorial Hall to Victoria Park, singing and dancing to the rhythm of the Royal SVG Police Band. The celebration, held under the theme “Weeping may endure for the night; JOY cometh in the morning!”, was rich in culture, pride, and praise.
The event drew Spiritual Baptists from across the Caribbean, North America, and beyond, including delegates from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, the USA, and Canada. At Victoria Park, the atmosphere was electric as worshippers joyfully embraced the significance of the day — singing, chanting, and dancing in an uninhibited expression of faith.
During the celebration, Canon Brian Turtin delivered a passionate sermon focusing on the importance of traditional man-woman relationships. Using symbolic language, he stressed the spiritual and biological roles of men and women in God’s design, a message that stirred strong reactions and loud cheers from the congregation.
Archbishop Melford Pompey, head of the Spiritual Baptist Church, shared his personal testimony, saying he was feeling unwell before the event but found strength through prayer. Reflecting on the journey of his faith community, Pompey said: “We were once looked down on, but now we are attracting doctors, lawyers, politicians, nurses, civil servants — everyone. Now, we must hold our heads high.”
Also in attendance were several government and opposition officials, including Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Minister of Tourism and Culture Carlos James, Minister of National Reconciliation Curtis King, and MP St. Clair Leacock, who represented Opposition Leader Dr. Godwin Friday.
Prime Minister Gonsalves acknowledged the decades of discrimination faced by the Spiritual Baptists, citing the Shakerism Prohibition Ordinance of 1912, which outlawed their religious practices under colonial rule. That law was repealed in 1965 by the government of E.T. Joshua, but the effects of that injustice lingered for years.
The date May 21 holds special significance to Spiritual Baptists, as it commemorates their 1951 court victory championed by national hero and former Prime Minister Hon. Robert Milton Cato. In August 2024, the Vincentian Parliament finally passed legislation to officially recognize Spiritual Baptist (Freedom) Day as a national holiday.
With this bold step, St. Vincent and the Grenadines becomes only the second country in the world — after Trinidad and Tobago — to honor the Spiritual Baptist faith with a public holiday.
As the day’s celebrations drew to a close, the message was clear: after decades of marginalization, the Spiritual Baptist community now marches forward with dignity, faith, and a renewed sense of national recognition.
