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With
faithful service to her God, Mrs. Princess Butler was honoured
over the weekend for her dedicated service to the building up of
so many young lives at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church School.
As
early as age fourteen, under the tutelage of Ms. Nellie
Thompson, Princess Butler began her faithful and long ministry
in teaching the young. Fond memories of her early days in
St. Matthew’s Church paint a picture of many great church
workers. She highlighted great men and women under whom
she had the privilege of growing. She named the late
Bishop Donald Knowles and Canon Addington Johnson who were once
the rectors of St. Matthew’s Parish and others like Bertie
Thompson and Milo Strachan, former Sunday School principals.
She remembered Sunday School teachers of her childhood such as
Kathleen Johnson, Dorothy Johnson, Monica Johnson, Halson
Butler, Elizabeth Strachan, and Agnes Archer. Mrs.
Butler stated that she could not forget the expatriate priests
and nuns such as Fr. Donald Lambert, Fr. Phillip Bevan, Sister
Mary Margaret, and Sister Frideswide who made a great
contribution to St. Matthew’s Church and youth. George
Kerr, she recalls, was the organist at the time who brought
along the talented Vivienne Francis and also encouraged her to
play. She also recalled the times when Bishop
Micheal Eldon and Fr. Murillo Bonaby once served in St.
Matthew’s leading up to the times of what she calls the
younger priests such as Canon Kirkley Sands, Fr. Howard Hanna,
Fr. James Palacious, and the current Rev. Dr. James Moultrie.
Under
her guiding hands Mrs. Butler remembered persons coming under
her training such as Malcolm Adderley, Stephen Mitchell
(deceased), as well as Sharon Ferguson, Kathryn Campbell, and
Ethnee Nottage from the younger generation, whose children now
attend the Church School. Of particular note she
remembered those who today have joined the priesthood like Fr.
Scott Brennen and Fr. Jonathan Archer who would have passed
through her hands. Mrs. Butler pointed out that she could
not name everyone because they were too numerous to name.
Outside
her role as Superintendent of the Church School, Mrs. Butler’s
50 plus years in service also led her to participate in many
other ministries of the parish. Today she still stands as an
active member of the Senior Choir, a Lay Reader, and Chalice
Bearer. Mrs. Butler is also an Associate Church Organist, a
member of the Anglican Church Women (ACW), and a long-standing
Vestry member. Mrs. Butler’s active role in the work and
life of St. Matthew’s Church has provided the opportunity for
her to share this love of Christ to scores of young persons
within the Anglican community. The Church School sought it then
fitting to celebrate her as the ‘Woman with a Golden Heart’.
During
the special Mother’s Day celebration at the Church School, the
Church School youth began with a special prayer for Mrs.
Butler’s ministry, led by Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Don L.
Haynes. Mrs. Butler was then given a musical treat by trombone
player, Lorenzo Newbold, a member of Ebenezer Church School and
was blessed with a solo by Kervinique Ferguson of St.
Matthew’s Church School. Frantz Campbell presented a
bouquet of flowers on behalf of the Church School. Shavel
Darling read a poem written for Mrs. Butler by the 13 years and
over class of students. Ms. Sonia Thompson, an associate
teacher at the Parish School, presented Mrs. Butler with a
plaque for her unwavering service and dedication to the Church
School as a mother to all whom she leads.
Following
the presentations, there was much to eat. Desiree
Thompson, another former student of Mrs. Butler, catered the
event. Of course the celebration would not have been
complete without the sharing of a beautiful cake from the Church
School. Mrs. Butler thoroughly enjoyed herself and
continuously thanked the Church School youth and teachers for
the recognition.
In
looking to the future of the Church School, Mrs. Butler praised
the efforts of the parish to build the Foundation of Faith
complex and made an invitation to all who have passed through
the Church School to lend their energies to the further building
up of God's Kingdom. She noted, “I would like to see all those
many persons who have passed through the Church School, lend
their many talents to the current student body, if it is only a
word of encouragement to the many young persons who attend the
school every Saturday.” In addition, Mrs. Butler said, “I
would also love to see the children study music. This would
allow greater use of the instruments during the services and
also in this we would see the parish band move in great strides
of worship,” she noted.
Mrs.
Butler also welcomes the talent of more teachers to join
the Church School and lend their efforts to the building of
children’s lives within the church. Mrs. Butler noted that she
also welcomes greater fellowship throughout parish Church
Schools and hopes to see much more activity within this area of
the Diocese.
Looking
to her family, Mrs. Butler, married to the late Joseph Butler,
has given birth to four children: Joan Butler-Higgs (deceased),
Jerome, Jonathan, and Dr. Faith Butler. She is the proud
grandmother to 4 grandchildren: Kristophor, Rhyn, and Bently
Higgs, active members of St. Matthew’s Church and Church
School, and a grand-daughter Danielle Butler, who resides in the
Cayman Islands. As she named her family she noted that her words
to them as she shares to all children of the Bahamas are, “I
want you all to grow up decent! And stay close to GOD!” she
repeated.
In
her words of wisdom to the scores of parents across The Bahamas
Mrs. Butler noted, “Take care of your children, serve God, and
live simply. And be honest in all your dealings.” She also
noted that it is important for all parents to make certain that
their children are given a sure educational foundation and to
follow-up with their children in their schoolwork. She also
encouraged parents to make sure that their children are given a
sure Christian foundation, “Send your children to Church
School as God is the head of everything we do.”
Poem
written to Mrs. Butler by the 13+ class of students
To
Mrs. Butler
You
must really be an angel,
Or
a guardian in disguise,
To
have blessed us all so greatly,
With
the knowledge in your eyes.
A
strong support system,
Always
ready to assist and reform,
You
are a wonderful, beautiful woman,
Our
mother away from home.
On
this glorious day,
We’d
like to wish you
A
Happy
Mother’s
Day.
We
Love You!
Photos
by: Carvel Francis /St. Matthew's Communications
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