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Anglicans across The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands are being called together in a grand celebration of faith as the Diocese celebrates its St. Patronal Festival and Anglican Day 2026 on Sunday, 28 June 2026. This year’s observance carries special significance as the Diocese commemorates the 165th Anniversary of its formation.
The Patronal Festival, being the feast of John the Baptist and the Anglican Day celebration, will be observed with a solemn diocesan service at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, Nassau, beginning at 4:00 p.m. The liturgy will be Solemn Evensong with Sermon, Indoor Procession, and Benediction, followed by a reception in the Cathedral Hall. The reception is being organized by the Anglican Church Women (ACW) and the Anglican Church Men (ACM), and all members of the Diocese are warmly invited to attend.
All parish ministries and organizations are encouraged to be present for this diocesan observance, with a particular invitation extended to Acolytes and Lay Readers to vest and participate. The Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist remains a defining moment in the diocesan calendar, as Anglicans give thanks for their Patron Saint and for the ongoing life and work of the Church across the archipelago.
Anglican Day 2026 will again serve as Diocesan Gift Day, with a special focus on supporting ministry and mission in the Family Islands. Each Anglican, together with friends and well-wishers of the Church, is being asked to make a sacrificial offering towards the work of parishes beyond the main population centers. Many of these Family Island congregations do not have all of the resources they need, while parishes in city areas are often better supported because the majority of members live there. This year’s Diocesan Gift offers a concrete opportunity to “give back” in love to these beloved parishes.
In 2025, the Diocesan Gift Day yielded $35,000. Of that amount, $25,000 was directed to Cat Island, where much-needed repairs and upgrades were completed at the rectory in Arthur’s Town. That tangible impact is a model for how Anglican Day giving continues to strengthen diocesan life in very practical ways.
Special Anglican Day / St. John the Baptist Gift Day envelopes have been distributed to parishes throughout the Diocese. Members are asked to clearly write their name, parish, and the amount of their gift on the envelope, then return it to their parish in advance or bring it to Christ Church Cathedral on the afternoon of Sunday, 28 June. Contributions from individuals, families, parish organizations, and supporters near and far will collectively form the Diocesan Gift 2026.
“We love the Lord, and we love our Anglican Church. We are proud Anglicans, and we celebrate the birth of our Patron Saint, John the Baptist.” This spirit of gratitude and identity is at the heart of this year’s celebration, as the Diocese gathers to worship, to give thanks, and to support one another.
The 2026 observance takes place under the Diocesan Theme, “FAMILY MATTERS TOO,” which will be visibly affirmed in this Patronal Festival and Anglican Day gathering. As the Diocese marks 165 years of organized life and ministry, the call is for Anglicans to come together in a grand way, embodying the unity, generosity, and shared responsibility that define the diocesan family.
The Rt. Rev’d & Rt. Hon. Laish Z. Boyd, Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands, extends this invitation to all members and friends of the Diocese to join him at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, 28 June 2026, as together they honour St. John the Baptist, celebrate 165 years of diocesan life, and offer a generous Diocesan Gift for the strengthening of the Family Islands.
