BRITAIN’S OLDEST black Pentecostal denomination, the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is gearing up for its 60th anniversary celebrations, taking place from August 24 to 27 at their headquarters in Luton, Bedfordshire.
Celebrations will feature live worship services, a concert, and contributions from special guests. Bishop Alvin Blake, head of COGIC, stated: “COGIC has a great cultural and spiritual heritage in Britain. For almost 60 years we’ve been proclaiming a gospel of hope and seen many people’s lives positively changed as a result.
“During this year of celebration we will be reflecting on our history and achievements as well as looking to the future.”
The first COGIC UK meeting was held in 1948, in the home of Jamaicans Bishop Oswald and Mary McLachlan, in Stoke Newington, north London.
The church became an official denomination in 1952, when Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, the founder of its American counterpart, formally inaugurated the organisation whilst in London.
Anniversary events will be held throughout 2012. The denomination will officially participate in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch on June 3, and have set up a COGIC Diamond Jubilee heritage page on Facebook to encourage past and present members to share memories of their experience of being part of COGIC.
Rev Clevere Fenty is the chair of COGIC’s Jubilee Organising Committee and has been a member of the Church since 1966. He said: “I have great memories of the church – of its lively services, the great singing and music and, more importantly, the various people whose lives the church has transformed through its gospel message.
“All these things and more will be looked on during our celebrations, but more importantly we will be celebrating our youth, looking to the future and looking at new ways to reach our broken communities.”