Greyfriars Church of Scotland is affiliated with the Scottish Presbyterians and is a completely different body to the Presbyterian Church of T&T (PCTT) says Independent Senator Rev Joy Abdul Mohan. She was asked by reporters following yesterday’s Senate session about the effect of the Greyfriars’ issue on the Presbyterian Church in T&T.
Several senior members of the church have privately expressed concern that the controversy following the sale of Greyfriars to businessman Alfred Galy has negatively affected the entire Presbyterian fold in T&T, particularly since Greyfriars is largely described as “Presbyterian” with little detail on the separation between the Church of Scotland and the PCTT.
Abdul said: “Greyfriars is a completely different church. PCTT was started by Canadian missionaries but Greyfriars is Scottish Presbyterian. We have an amicable relationship with them where we share each other’s church but they have a completely different synodical and administrative body.
“At one time we were considering becoming partners but we never made a dent in that direction. We share in various church activities but as far as the decision to sell (Greyfriars) is concerned, it has absolutely nothing to do with PCTT.” Saying she was speaking on her own behalf and not the PCTT’s she added:
”I don’t know what everybody thinks it’s one body as it’s a completely different administration, that’s why we are not getting involved. We don’t know the actual decision on the issue which was made by that church.” She said she had been out of T&T and was uncertain that Presbyterian moderator Brenda Bullock had made any statement on the matter.
Abdul added: “I must say, however, I feel for the people who have a very interesting history there and those affiliated with the Church of Scotland. “It’s understandable when a church is being demolished that you will have some very deep-seated feelings. It’s historical and I understand the sincerity displayed but we don’t have the facts as to why the decision was made.
“So it will be unfair for me to comment about what happened but in terms of history, I appreciate those who fight to keep such a building and maintain its integrity. “At the same time though, I have to understand what the Church of Scotland went through in terms of maintaining the building and also whether it was going to survive in terms of membership.
“I know they had some challenges with membership at Greyfriars as most of the members transferred to St Ann’s Church of Scotland (on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain).”