Road Town Sda Church Dedicated
The rebuilt Road Town Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially dedicated following years of reconstruction after Hurricane Irma destroyed the building in 2017. Government leaders, church officials and private donors gathered to mark the church as a symbol of resilience, recovery and community service for the Virgin Islands.
Members of the Road Town Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church and invited guests celebrated the dedication and opening of their rebuilt church building during a ceremony on Sunday, marking the end of years of reconstruction following Hurricane Irma in 2017. The original two-storey structure lost its top floor in the storm and suffered extensive compromise to the remaining structure.
A groundbreaking for the new building took place on June 2, 2021, and the completed edifice now stands as a visible sign of recovery in the capital. James, President of the North Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, highlighted the spiritual significance of the project, calling the new building a demonstration of God’s enduring mercy and faithfulness through generations.
He said the structure silently testifies to those who pass by that God did not abandon His people, and that the community had been sustained, refined and brought to this moment. Archer Jr described the church as belonging not only to its members but to the wider community, calling it a reflection of commitment, hope and dedication and a symbol of the Virgin Islands’ broader recovery from storm damage.
Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) praised the new building as ‘‘a symbol of resilience, rebirth and hope,’’ noting that while Hurricane Irma delivered severe blows to the Territory, it did not defeat its people. Dr Wheatley congratulated Pastor Williams and the congregation for the vision to rebuild a facility that will serve as shelter during storms and support individuals facing personal crises, including plans to teach skills that help residents rebuild their lives.
District Four Representative and Junior Minister for Tourism and Culture Hon Luce D. Hogde-Smith called the project the fruit of eight years of unwavering resilience, perseverance and faith, and commended church leaders and members for their unity. Several monetary gifts were presented during the service.
The Vanterpool family and the MHV Group of Companies donated a combined $5,000, and the North Caribbean Conference provided a completion grant. Other SDA churches, friends and well-wishers also contributed. Premier Wheatley pledged government support and promised a financial contribution before the end of 2025, though he did not name an amount.
For Road Town residents, the new SDA building is more than a place of worship: it is a community landmark that signals recovery and offers practical support and shelter in future emergencies. The dedication underscores the ongoing rebuilding work across the Virgin Islands and the role of faith communities in that process.
Primary source: VINO