Bishop Boyd Installs Two New Canons at Christ Church Cathedral During Patronal Feast

The Anglican Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands marked a moment of profound spiritual and historical significance on Tuesday evening with the installation of two new Canons into the Chapter of Christ Church Cathedral.

During a Solemn Pontifical Concelebrated Eucharist held on 24th June—coinciding with the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Patron of the Diocese—the Rt. Rev’d Laish Z. Boyd officially installed the Rev’d Fr. John Kabiga into the Stall of St. Augustine of Hippo and the Rev’d Fr. Andrew Toppin into the Stall of St. Patrick. These stalls were previously held by Canons Sebastian Campbell and Peter Scott, respectively.

“This is a glorious diocese with a goodly heritage, vibrant life and a wonderful future,” Bishop Boyd said in his sermon. “As we keep the feast and celebrate, we take the opportunity to install our well-beloved in Christ, John Kabuu Kabiga and Andrew Frank Alexander Toppin as canons in this historic cathedral. Congratulations Canon John and Canon Andrew.”

Addressing the honourees directly, Bishop Boyd praised their integrity and longstanding service: “You are two humble, sincere, hard-working and well-loved individuals. You each have written your own résumé… to the extent that there is no one who can say that you do not deserve this honour… and to the extent that there is a resounding groundswell reaction that says that this is right, just and appropriate. To God be the glory!”

The Bishop’s message extended beyond the celebration of new appointments, offering a rich theological reflection on the roots and relevance of the Church’s identity, with particular emphasis on the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed. “A creed is a summary of what we believe—a formal declaration of our faith,” he explained. “It reminds us that the church is far larger than any one of us, than any time, season or circumstance.”

He underscored the historical role of the Nicene Creed in unifying Christian doctrine: “What the Nicene Creed gave us was a monument—an enduring symbol of Christianity itself… It has remained in place and used regularly for seventeen centuries. What a monument!”

The Bishop also challenged those present to see the creed not only as a historical document but as a personal call to action: “The creed is not just a formulation that reminds us where we have come from. No! It is a statement of where we are with God—and a reminder that what I believe and what we believe is central to our identity.”

Referencing the controversy of the 4th-century priest Arius, Bishop Boyd reaffirmed the Church’s belief in the eternal divinity of Christ and the Holy Trinity: “It was already established that God was Trinity—three persons yet one God, equal in majesty, undivided in splendour… Arius denied the existence of the Holy Trinity. This was a defining moment for the Church.”

Returning to the celebration at hand, Bishop Boyd encouraged the congregation to reflect on God’s faithfulness throughout the generations: “God works through these monuments to tell us of His goodness and to inspire us to serve Him more. What is your response to God today?”

The evening was marked by heartfelt music, vibrant liturgy, and the gathered prayers of clergy, laity, family, and friends. It was, in every sense, a moment of thanksgiving and rededication for the Diocese.

The Diocese extends its warmest congratulations to Canon John Kabiga and Canon Andrew Toppin, and asks for the continued prayers of the faithful as they serve Christ and His Church in this new capacity.