Montreal’s church celebrates 33 years since Nelson Mandela’s visit – Montreal | 24CA News
One of Montreal’s most storied spiritual establishments marked two essential anniversaries right this moment at a spirited celebration in a Little Burgundy park.
Union United Church is Canada’s oldest black congregation.
The church celebrated its 116th birthday, and the thirty third anniversary of when none apart from former South African president Nelson Mandela walked by means of the doorways.
A vibrant procession left Union United Sunday morning, taking part in drums because it marched to Vinet Park, displaying the neighborhood this was no bizarre day.
“It’s all about the long walk to freedom. We’re still taking that long walk to freedom,” mentioned Rev. Glenn Daniel Gray of the Imani Family and Full Gospel Church.
At the park, a whole lot of church members and pillars of the Black neighborhood got here collectively for a transferring musical celebration of their beloved church and the day Mandela visited in 1990, simply months following his launch from a South African jail after 27 years.
“I sang in the choir that day. Oh, it was fabulous,” mentioned Union United Church member Gail Millington Grant.
“You couldn’t see Delisle Street because of the swarms of people. Just to be in the choir and to see him and his wife come, it was beautiful.”
Union United has all the time been a hub for the civil rights motion. Its management was a key a part of Canada’s opposition to South Africa’s apartheid regime, advocating strongly for Mandela.
“I think he came to say thank you to Union for being part of his release,” mentioned Erene Anthony, former chair of the board at Union United.
Former Justice Minister Irwin Cotler performed a serious function in getting Mandela to the church that day.
“It’s exhilarating every time I think back. And also painful to remember that this is a person who endured 27 years in a South African prison but was able to emerge, preside over the dismantling of apartheid,” mentioned Cotler.
“I saw Mandela then and see him now as really being a hero of humanity, as the embodiment of the struggle for freedom.”
The neighborhood round Union United takes nice pleasure of their church’s involvement in so many fights for justice and equality in its lengthy historical past.
“This church has always been a beacon of hope for all of the congregation,” mentioned Millington Grant.
Its historical past goes hand in hand with Montreal’s and Canada’s Black historical past, and Little Burgundy’s wealthy musical custom.
Jazz legend Dr. Oliver Jones was available on the celebration.
“Oliver Jones, Daisy Sweeney, Oscar Peterson, they all came here,” mentioned Millington Grant.
With Mandela as an inspiration, the very important neighborhood guarantees to be on the forefront of justice and religion in Montreal for a few years to return.
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