Bishop Noel Clarke receives grand send off
Persistent showers throughout most of the funeral service at the Layou Playing Field could not dampen the joyous mood and the grand send off given to Bishop Noel Clarke, who was buried at the Kingstown Cemetery yesterday, February 13, 2025. Worshipful music, and glowing tributes rose above the sound of the raindrops on the three tents that housed the hundreds who turned out to pay their last respects to the long-standing pastor of the Layou Miracle Church. Giving tribute, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves told the assembly of friends, family members, well-wishers, and the curious that he who is five years older than the late Bishop, had known him for a very long time, and in many capacities. The late Bishop Clarke who to many persons achieved legendary status due to his community work and strict disciplinary focus, was a member of the Prerogative Committee of Mercy, and once served as Acting Governor-General’s Deputy.
The Prime Minister said he and Bishop Clarke were friends, to the extent that “he confided in me- a very romantic side of him”, and among many things “not only of the love of GOD, but the love of a magnificent woman.”
The Prime Minister told the gathering that “Pastor Clarke was called to GOD in this very mysterious way” and he told me the way he built this church, and the way he told me, building the Argyle International Airport is joke. He was a leader of men and women, and he had the capacity to not only put in …not only to inspire, but also to draw out.”
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir Louis Straker also paying tribute, spoke of Bishop Clarke’s entrance into Layou. His initial support group of six persons, the renting of a building from Miss Maxwell to begin his church, the purchasing of a piece of land from Miss St. Hill, and the “modifying of the church as the years went by.”
“And he has made it into one of the largest places of worship in Layou, and one of the largest attending congregation at any meeting.”
Sir Louis described Bishop Clarke as “a man of great humility…well disciplined…well focused, with a determined will to do what he had set out to do…and in order to further his work he came and put down his tent and dwelt amongst us”.
Comments
