From Bible School To Congregation...
In his 1880 report on Gracehill, Rev. James Turner wrote: "Br. Jacobs had charge of our school of Cana, having been appointed as teacher and assistant in Spring Gardens. Br. Horton, who had been educated at Mico Institute and has since laboured for five years under a Scotch minister in Demerara, has succeeded him as a teacher at Cana and assistant to minister at Gracehill." It is worthy of note that at that time the churches played a significant part in education in Antigua, and the Moravians were dominant in this regard. The same report made reference to the facet that: "A Bible class commenced at Cana by Br. Jacobs has been continued by Br. Horton." I am therefore inclined to assume that the creation of this Bible class was the Genesis of the establishment of a congregation at Cana, and that the first minister in charge there was Rev. James Turner who remained at Gracehill and Cana until 1888. He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Howard. From early on regular visits were paid to the school to give religious instruction to the students and there was sufficient level of interest shown by the parents to ensure a viable congregation in that community.

We were unable to locate any report for 1883 which could have confirmed the birth of the Cana congregation, but it is clear that Gracehill staff continued to minister to the needs of Cana, because in 1884 it was recorded that funds raised by that congregation were used for "enlargement of the schoolroom at Swetes." (Cana of course).

A Growing Congregation...
No other reference was found in the records relating to Cana until 1896. This states that "The work at Cana has been carried on as usual. During the year a new roof was put on to the chapel at cost of fifty pounds (L50.00) of which fifteen pounds (L15.00) was given by the Executive board. The balance was raised locally. Great credit is due to Br. E George, the assistant, for his energetic and faithful labours at this out-station. ------------Not only at CANA but also at Gracehill , Br. George rendered valuable services during the year." Br. Emanuel George was the head teacher at Cana where he continued to give faithful and wiling assistance to the minister Rev.J .Weiss who was incharge of the Gracehill and Cana Congregations in 1899. Under Bro. George, there was much growth, Spiritual as well as Material. The work of the church was centered around him. Harvest Cantata was attended by persons from all walks of life as well as from various denominations. The choir was formed by him even though there was no musical instrument ,save a tuning fork. As head teacher, he took responsibility for the all-round development of the children under his care. He was responsible for the recruitment of the teaching staff.

Although Holy Communion was celebrated monthly at the school building, Baptism, reception, confirmation and wedding ceremonies for the members of Cana continued to be performed at Gracehill for a long time after the congregation was established. Baptism and confirmation were eventually performed from 1948, but wedding ceremonies had to await the dedication of the new church building in 1959. Construction of the building started in 1958 under the watchful eye of Rev. Allan Osborne and was completed in April 1959.

Once fully established, Cana continued to show clear signs of growth, and developed into a vibrant church with the many organizations within it. From a Bible class to a small congregation as an out-station of Gracehill, then to a much larger unit in is own right, with its Sunday School , Women's Fellowship, Men's Fellowship, Cana Young People's Association, two groups of King's Daughters and Sons and recently Girls Guide and Brownie Troupes. It has taken much time to nurture these various groups because for much of the time the serving minister lived away form the community. The cord that seemed to bind Gracehill with Cana for over half a century was eventually broken in 1952 and Cana was served by ministers as far away as Greenbay or Cedar Hall. It was once again associated with Gracehill from 1966 until 1993 when it finally enjoyed the exclusive services of one minister in the person of the Rt. Rev. Neville Brown. He was succeeded by Rev. Ezra Parris in 2000, and we have now been blessed with the services of Rev. Adrian Smith form 2002.

For much of the early and middle years Cana relied heavily on the services of Lay Pastors such as Br. Emanuel George, Br. Albert Peters, Br. Charles Williams, Br. Ernest Williams, Br. Reginald Samuel and the ever present Br. Joseph Charles who, though still an active member of Cana is now on the Antigua Conference staff and provides valuable assistance to the minister for the Lebanon and Newfield congregations.

As stated earlier, the congregation grew out of the Bible class that was formed at the school which was under the charge of the Moravian church in the early years; and even though responsibility for education was taken over by the government of the day, Cana has continued to do its bit in this regard. To this end we can now boast the presence of a very vibrant Pre-school serving the community of Swetes and surrounding areas.

Cana Today...
Recent years have experience significant growth in membership as well as in the number of groups. Rev. Morman was responsible for initial phase of the Christian Education Building; The Rt. Rev. Neville Brown saw the establishment of a Recorder Group, and Rev. Ezra Parris witnessed the start of the Brass Band, and the expansion of the Christian Education Building. But the greatest evidence of the level of growth at Cana over the years is the fact that currently there are fours sons and one daughter of Cana serving as ministers in the East West Indies Province. These are Rev. Dr. Cortroy Jarvis, Rev. Eulencine Richards Christopher, Rev. Rowan Simmons, Rev. Algernon Lewis and Rev. Nigel Daniel. There are two others who did not enter the ministry from Cana but have strong roots in this congregation. Further, there currently is another outstanding applicant for this field of work. Hitherto has the Lord brought us - ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY YEARS OF GROWTH AND MOVING FORWARD IN CHRIST!