PART III : THE THIRD PERIOD (1906 - 1951)
The third period of the History of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is cast in the mould of slow but steady progress under the leadership of a number of Canadian Missionaries, outstanding Catechists and Lay-men. The forty - five year period under review saw a total of at least twenty missionaries and twelve catechists serving in the Princes Town field in rapid succession.
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Many of the Missionaries served only in the capacity of Interim Ministers, and this is especially true during the period of the two world wars, when there was a shortage of both personnel and funds from Canada.
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The Missionaries who served during this era were, first of all, Rev. S. A. Fraser (1905 - 1906, 1917 - 1918, and 1929 - 1931). The Missionary to follow Rev. Fraser in 1906 was Dr. W. J. Jamieson. His first appointment in Trinidad was in the princes Town field, and in which he served faithfully for nine years. but his career was suddenly terminated by an unexpected tragedy.
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The dawn of the twentieth century saw the arrival of the age of mechanization, and by 1915 its influence was already being felt in Trinidad. The Rev. W. J. Jamieson, in search of a more comfortable and faster means of travel than the traditional horse, purchased himself a motor cycle. But his love for a swifter means of mobility led him to a swifter death, when on 20th November 1915, he was killed while riding his motor bike on Edward Street, Princes Town, just a quarter mile away from the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
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Following rev. Jamieson, were a number of Interim Ministers. These included Rev. O. C. Cumming - 1916, Dr. Coffin - 1916, Dr. W. A . Wilson - 1918, Rev. C. S. Miller - 1919, Rev. Bell - 1920, Rev. Green - 1920.
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It was in 1920 that the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church was blessed with a young and vibrant Missionary in the person of the Rev. J. C. McDonald. Having been sent by the Canadian Church in 1914 to be the Principal of Naparima College, Rev. McDonald served in that capacity for a period of five years. He then decided to enter into the Church's pastoral work, and was appointed in 1920 to the Princes Town field. Rev. McDonald served for nine years in Princes Town, and that period was regarded by many as "The Golden Age of St. Andrew's." This was because of the period of prosperity and spiritual growth experience by the Church during those years.
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In 1961, Dr. J. C. McDonald returned to serve the St. Andrew's Church. At the time of this article, he was a much older man, and his services were terminated by the inevitable, when in 1966 he went to Grenada, where he passed away on 20th August of that year. He died at the age of seventy - five, after serving the Church faithfully for fifty - four years.
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During the years 1906 - 1951, a number of Catechists served the Princes Town area. Among them were Rev. Joseph Rampersad (1915 - 1918) and again in 1928 - 1930. Rev Colin Pragsingh - in the Fairfield district (1916 - 1918), Rev. J. A. Ramjit served from 1930 - 1932, and Rev. Stephen Raman Nair from 1932 - 1933. Rev. Laltoo served as Catechist from 1933 - 1936, Rev. Seesaran served from 1938 - 1942, and Rev. Joseph Babulal from 1942 - 1944.
Serving the Church in Princes Town field were a number of native Ministers, who were locally trained and ordained. Rev. Henry Ramcharan, who was ordained in 1915, served at St. Andrew's from 1937 - 1938, and Rev. Stephen Ramrekha served from 1928 - 1932, and 1948 - 1957.
Among the catechists to serve princes Town field during the period under review was Charles Clarence Soodeen, an early convert of Iere Village. He was a "first" in many ways in the history of the Presbyterian Church. C. C. Soodeen became in 1868, the first Indian School Teacher of the Church, at Iere Village. He was the first person to graduate as a Trained Teacher of the Presbyterian Church, and he, along with one Mr. LalBeharry Singh, were the first two ordained as Elders of the Canadian Mission at the Susamachar Church in 1875.
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Later, Mr. Soodeen became a Catechist, and although he was never ordained as a Minister, he toiled for many years in the Princes Town field. As a Catechist he provided very capable leadership in managing the Mission field in the absence of the Missionary, and was also, for a long time, Manager of the Schools in the Princes Town field.
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Another outstanding layman to serve the Princes Town field during this period was Mr. David Mahabir, who was born at Mt. Stewart Village, Palmyra on 20th September 1889. At the age of 88 he was still active in the work of the Iere Village congregation. When he was eighteen years old, Mr Mahabir was appointed as a Monitor Teacher to the Princes Town Mission School. After serving in that capacity for three years he entered the Naparima Teachers College. On his graduation he was again appointed to teach at Princes Town.
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In 1944, after serving in various schools, he was appointed to the position of headteacher of the Princes Town School. He served in that capacity till his retirement in 1949 at the age of 60.
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Mr Mahabir, still a very energetic man, submitted himself to two years of training at the St. Andrew's Theological College. He was then ordained a catechist and was appointed to serve in the Princes Town field. During this period (1951 - 1959) he served also as the Clerk of Session of St. Andrew's Church and assisted Rev. A. C. Dayfoot in the establishment of the New Century Church at Moruga Road.
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The period of history under review was badly stained when allegations of immorality were made against Rev. Stephen Ramrekha while he was serving as Minister in the Princes Town field between 1928 - 1932. A woman by the name of Mary Naggee, who was a teacher at the Presbyterian School in Princes Town, and who resided just at the back of the church reported to Rev. J. C. McDonald that Rev. Ramrekha was intimately associated with her. This was the beginning of a long and painful experience, for Rev. Ramrekha and the St. Andrew's Church.
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The matter was then taken to the district court in Princes Town by Miss Naggee, who during the proceeding of the Court produced a pair of pyjamas, claiming that they belonged to the person accused. The Court however did not find sufficient evidence to convict Rev. Ramrekha and the case was dismissed. But Rev. Ramrekha was asked to resign as Minister of the Church, which he did in 1932. He went on to work as a Sanitary Inspector, and seventeen years later, in 1948, he was re - appointed to work in the Princes Town field on a part - time basis. He served in this capacity for nine years, receiving only a travelling allowance of $30.00 a month. He was, in 1957, transferred to the Fyzabad charge.
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This brings to an end the third period of history of the St. Andrew's Church.
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