Community members recently came together with staff and inmates of Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service (HMCIPS) for the rededication of the chapel at Northward Prison.

On Sunday evening, 4 May 2014, some 70 persons gathered for a special service to mark the reopening of the chapel, which had closed more than a year previously due to a mould problem.

The programme for the evening included a message from Pastor Alson Ebanks who is the Chairman of Prison Fellowship Cayman Islands. Ms. Beulah McField, who offered the dedication prayer, has been a chaplaincy volunteer for 18 years and is the sister of the immediate past Chaplain, the late George McField.

To make the chapel habitable again, the Public Works Department carried out major renovations at a total cost of CI$52,189. This included changing the air conditioning system, Eighteen prisoners assisted with the project, as did Edie’s Décor.

Each night of the week prisoners attend services in the chapel to which various churches send volunteers. There are also services on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and Bible-study groups during weekdays. In addition Christian Video Ministries screens a Christian movie each month. With the re-opening of the chapel, it is hoped that additional programs will be introduced during the daytime.

Prison Chaplain Cathy Gomez says that the chapel is one of the most widely used facilities in the prison. She also notes that prisoners built the original structure and were keen to assist in the renovations.

“I pray that this sanctuary will be a place of healing and restoration for the prisoners as well as for the staff,” Ms Gomez adds.

The prison chapel is centrally located in the prison on the second floor above the laundry and kitchen facilities.

Captions

1. Prison Chaplain Cathy Gomez on the keyboards
2. The congregation raised their hands during the recent service to mark the rededication of the chapel at Northward Prison.