| Rev.
William Gordon
was an Anglican missionary sent to The Bahamas in 1790. He
was stationed in Exuma, but by an act of Parliament was also
required to visit Long Island and Cat Island 3 times a year.
Gordon was paid £100 a year and given £30 for
"travelling expenses" which he used to purchase
a small boat.
When
he first arrived, Rev. Gordon had frequent attacks of fever.
When he regained his health, he took his boat to Long Island.
He travelled the length of the island, preaching and baptizing.
He also travelled to Cat Island. However, he needed more priests
to help him spread the gospel properly.
The
people on the island were mostly Loyalists and their slaves.
Gordon was concerned about the living conditions. The people
were poor and had no education. Gordon wanted to start schools
and get missionary school-masters to educate the people and
their slaves.
After
four years Gordon planned to leave, but two priests died in
Eleuthera so he was transferred to Harbour Island and Eleuthera.
At Eleuthera he was made Justice of the Peace.
In
1799 Gordon left because of a disagreement over his role as
Justice of the Peace. However before he left, the Government
had started to build churches and schools in the islands,
which had been Gordon's goal since 1790.
The
William Gordon Primary School is named in his honour. |
