Wesley Methodist Church
Matthew Town, Inagua

The Methodist Church at Inagua was built during the service of Reverend Joseph Brinkley. Matthew Town, Inagua, was a seaport where men came from Nassau, the island, and Turks and Caicos, to be stevedores on ship and contact workers to South America. Also, there was a salt industry in Inagua, therefore the church was vibrant. However, after the shipping stopped and people began to leave this island, the church was closed for many years.

The Seventh Day Adventist used the building during the 40’s. It was also used for recreation 1950-53. The Erickson Salt Company recruited workers from the Turks and Caicos Islands, some of whom were Methodist. However, when they came to Inagua, the church was closed so they worshipped at the Anglican and Baptist churches.

It was the month of December 1952 that Rev. Edwin Taylor working the Windward Mission, was making a visit to Binnacle Hill on the mail-boat “Air Pheasant”. The weather was so bad that the boat could not stop at Landrail Point. On the way to Inagua, the mate, Bert Ewing, told Rev. Taylor about the church building and the Methodist people in Inagua. When the boat arrived in Inagua, Mr. Ewing carried Rev. Taylor and Mrs. Ed Hanhell, who in turn took him to commissioner J. V. Brown and Mr. Joseph Hinson, who were local preachers.

At the synod in January, 1953, a report was made about the building and the Methodist from the Turks and Caicos. Shortly after Synod, Rev. William Makepeace came to Inagua. We held an open-air service that night, then a meeting at the residency, where Society Stewards, Local Preacher, class leaders and other officers were named.

Brother Richard Ellis, due to illness, was in Nassau at this time, but was appointed an officer and later on became caption of the 3rd company of the boys Brigade, Society Stewards, Local Preacher, and is the longest serving officer of the church up to date.