A group of prison inmates who spent four months refurbishing a church that has stood for more than a century were commended yesterday for their charitable community service.

Public Safety Minister Michael Dunkley joined church and Corrections Department officials at Grace Methodist Church to highlight the recent restoration work by Prison Farm inmates.

The 114-year old church has undergone extensive renovations, including the restoration of walls and pews, and a completely reconstructed hardwood floor.

“We recognise the fact that our Island has its share of challenges, but, we also recognise that we can cure our challenges by working together, and this community service project is one such example of coming together for a worthwhile cause,” Minister Dunkley, said.

“I am especially heartened because Grace Methodist Church is steeped in more than 100 years of history — and this is the type of community involvement that we feel that our inmates can benefit from.”

Commissioner of Corrections, Col Edward Lamb said this venture “represents another opportunity to give back to the community”.

“We have inmates, both men and women, who have tremendous talent and what you see today is a result of that hard work and talent,” he said. “Each of them brought different skills to this project and this is what can happen when we work together.”

The project began following a letter sent to the Commissioner last year by chairman of Grace Methodist Church’s Sanctuary, Parsonage and Grounds Committee, Dr Gerard Bean.

“Without the Department of Corrections’ assistance these manifestly, necessary and critical renovations would not have been possible,” said Dr Bean.

“We at Grace Methodist Church are aware that it was a ‘team’ that worked on the church and we are also conscious of the fact that this exercise was an integral part of rehabilitation programme for the inmates.

“I found out that the inmates were in charge of the project and they knew what equipment was required to do the job. “In effect, we have a new edifice as far as we are concerned. I would like to introduce the gentlemen of the church who worked with me, Claude James, Clinton Malory and Marvin Lawrence.”

Church Pastor, Rev Dwain Wales acknowledged “how God has blessed us to have the inmates to come in to do a marvellous refurbishment of the building”.

Col Lamb insisted “much of the credit really belongs to the inmates who performed all the work.”

“This is one such project that fits very nicely into the programme that we have for outreach like community service and charitable works throughout our community. And I’m very pleased to stand here, even though I had a very minuscule role in the whole process. I only gave my blessing to it,” said Col Lamb.

He also commended Assistant Commissioner Shannon Hollis, in addition to prison officers Reginald Gomes and his wife Sandra Gomes.

“They are the ones who really drove this project. That represents what we can do when we all work together as a community, as well as giving inmates an opportunity to give back to our community,” added Mr Dunkley who also thanked the project’s supervising officer Marvin Trott Jr.

Up to a dozen inmates worked at the site daily using skills in carpentry and masonry.

Faced with challenges like any other jurisdiction, the Minister concluded: “We get stronger, we cure our challenges by working together.

“I’m especially heartened by the fact that in this church you have such a deep history in the community — 114 years. And you have a very strong congregation who have put down roots in this community.

“It’s great to see that we continue to nourish those roots by helping you in a time of need. And there’s a lot to be learned from getting out in the community and participating in the work and taking the opportunity.

“While I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty, I’m not that good with my hands other than to play sports. Football and cricket I can handle that. I can lift and I can carry stuff, but I’m not that good, so congratulations and thank you to the church for reaching out to us.”