Special Commemorative Stamp Launched for Diocese of Jamaica

The Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands marked a significant milestone on July 24, 2024, with the launch of a special commemorative stamp, in partnership with Jamaica Post.

This event, held at St. Luke’s Church Hall in Cross Roads, Kingston, marked the 200th anniversary of the Diocese, which was officially established on July 24, 1824, by Letters Patent issued by King George IV of England.

Postmaster-General of the Post and Telecommunications Department, Lincoln Allen, while congratulating the Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands on this momentous achievement, said that Jamaica Post is grateful for this partnership and to share in this historic event through the production of this special set of stamps.

“This initiative helps to etch this occasion into history, while enhancing awareness both locally and internationally,” Mr. Allen. said.

Meanwhile, Suffragan Bishop of Kingston and Chair of the Diocese’s 200th Anniversary Planning Committee, The Rt. Rev. Garth Minott, in explaining the importance of the launch date, said it was exactly 200 years ago that the Diocese was established, and Dr. Christopher Lipscomb was appointed Bishop of the ‘See of Jamaica, the Bahama Islands and the Settlements in the Bay of Honduras and their respective dependencies’.

According to The Rt. Rev. Garth Minott, the creation of the Diocese of Jamaica was a pivotal moment in the history of the Anglican Church in Jamaica.

“Before this, the Church was overseen by the Bishop of London, based 5,000 miles away. This distance led to governance issues and a disconnect from local realities, including the administration of enslaved persons. The push for a resident bishop came from anti-slavery groups in England and the rising influence of other local churches working with the enslaved population,” the Suffragan Bishop explained.

The commemorative stamp, issued in denominations of $60.00 and $100.00, is available in various collectible formats, including souvenir sheets, first-day covers, framed stamps, key rings, and paperweights.

The Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands will continue to celebrate its 200th Anniversary throughout the year, under the theme ‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow; Celebrating Service, Guarding Justice, Affirming Hope’. The year-long ceebration will conclude on February 16, 2025.