The historic Mission Chapel Congregational Church at Chapel Street, New Amsterdam was recently designated a National Heritage Site during a simple ceremony on its forecourt. The 182-year-old edifice has been identified as a Heritage Site in Guyana under the Caribbean Heritage Tourism Project funded by the Organisation of American States (OAS).

In 1813 the Rev John Wray, an Englishman, was invited to Guyana to establish a mission among slaves in Berbice. Shortly after his arrival he established the Orange Chapel at Sandvoort, West Canje. And in February 1819 the first Mission Chapel Church building was completed in the heart of New Amsterdam, providing a place to worship.

Prior to this, services were conducted by Rev Wray under a tamarind tree at Lot 12, Chapel Street. A school was also built next to the church around the time that the church building was extended to accommodate the growing number of converts in 1821.

However, in 1823 both buildings were destroyed by arsonists but the church was rebuilt by June 12, 1825. In 1841 the cornerstone for the present building was laid since the old building had become too small for the increasing membership.

In 1976 the Mission Chapel Congregational Church with its unique architecture was designated a historic building by the then government. Between 1988 and 1990 the building benefited from extensive repairs and was repainted.

Over recent times the 55-ft wide building has suffered deterioration and attacks by termites, warranting urgent large-scale rehabilitation. According to resident pastor, Rev Leander Warren the church's 300 members cannot undertake such a major project even though they have made a significant contribution so far. The project, he said, was expected to cost in the vicinity of $6 million. "As a result we decided to approach the government and a number of agencies and organisations for help, including UNESCO, commercial banks and insurance companies."

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Sonia Roopnauth, described the chapel as "a commemoration of the spirit of a people." The building, she said, is a part of the Caribbean heritage tourism product and the national tourism product, and "it is phenomenal to have survived for so many years."

The ministry, she promised, will continue to assist the church in looking for funding for its rehabilitation.

Guyana became a participant in the project one year ago together with Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts/Nevis and St Lucia. The project will involve the identification of ten heritage sites in Guyana by the National Trust to be funded by the OAS. The project has since been extended by the OAS and will now conclude in June 2002, according to Director of Tourism, Tessa Fraser. According to Norman Semple, a senior member of the church, the congregation was divided over the fate of the historic building. "Some," he said "were in favour of breaking down the building and constructing a smaller concrete building which would be easier to maintain. Others, who were considered the traditionalists, however, were in favour of restoring the existing building." In the end the traditionalists won the support of the previously dissenting congregation members.