Anglicans in the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago have joined in planning a series of events to raise funds which are desperately needed to restore Hayes Court, the residence of the Bishop of the Diocese.
The first function- a Brunch - takes place on Sunday November 24, 2002, on the grounds of Hayes Court from 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m, with good food, parang, steel pan, D.J, and Dutch Auction which includes a Jackie Hinkson drawing of Hayes Court. Secure parking will be available on the Queen's Royal College grounds. Tickets can be had from Anne Granderson, secretary to the Bishop, at 622-7387; The Diocesan Office 622-2863; Lenville Marshall 628-2951; Percy "Bertie" Farrell 637-4348; Dr Alan Patrick 628-4127; David Nurse 645-2921; Robert Henry 632-6486; Joyce Henderson 624-1812 or any Anglican Church Office in the Diocese.
Hayes Court was built between 1909/1910. The plan to erect this building now included as one of the Magnificent Seven on the Queen's Park Savannah, was conceived in 1904 by a Mr Protheroe. In 1908, two gentlemen made an anonymous gift of the site to the Diocese to enable Hayes Court to be built. The building was completed by Messrs Taylor & Gillies Company at a cost of 15,700 pounds in 1910.
Although built during the time that Bishop John Francis Welsh was Bishop of the Diocese (1904 - circa 1916), the residence was named after his predecessor, Bishop Thomas Hayes, who had served from 1889 to circa1904. One school of thought from a very learned Anglican is that "it was probably called Hayes Court because of Bishop Hayes' reputation as a preacher who had played a major part in laying the foundations of Anglicanism in the Diocese. The people of the Diocese felt that Bishop Hayes made the biggest contribution in furthering of the Diocese through his strength of leadership."
Interestingly, the next and longest serving Bishop, Arthur Henry Anstey (1918 - 1945), a bachelor, did not live at Hayes Court. He chose to rent the building, it is believed, to an Embassy, in order to pay the teachers at the High School for young girls which he founded in 1921, and which remains to this day a cornerstone of secondary education in this country - Bishop Anstey High School. The Bishop lived at the Anglican teachers hostel on Park Street.
Bishops who have lived at the residence include Bishop Fabian Jackson from1946, Bishop Douglas Wilson 1950 to 1956, Bishop Noel Chamberlain 1956 to 1961; Bishop James Hughes 1961 to1970; Bishop Clive Abdulah, the first local who incidentally served as Bishop of the Diocese for the second longest peiod of time, 1970 to 1993; and Bishop Rawle Douglin 1993 to 2001.
The incumbent, Bishop Calvin Bess, was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor on December 21, 2000. He automatically assumed duties when Bishop Douglin retired on January 17, 2001, and was enthroned on April 21, 2001.