Ed Le Quesne

CONGREGATIONS across the Island donated last Sunday’s collections to the earthquake appeal in Haiti.

For many, the fundraising has brought the previously little thought-of island to the forefront of people’s minds. However, Jersey churches have a long history of ties with the Caribbean state, which was last week devastated by a catastrophic earthquake.

The latest estimates predict that the death toll will rise to 200,000 as buildings which have been reduced to rubble are cleared.

One clue to Jersey’s past links with Haiti can be found in Almorah cemetery, where the grave of Islander Mark Baker Bird can be found. His story was kindly sent to the JEP by Ed Le Quesne, of Jersey Christian Aid.

Mr Le Quesne called on all Islanders to support the relief effort for Haiti, saying that it was imperative that everyone helped to support such terribly poor nations.

The story of Mr Bird is a fascinating one. He was born in 1807 in London, but moved to Jersey, where his mother was born, when he was six following the death of his father.

In 1832 he was ordained a Methodist minister and spent four years working as a missionary in Jamaica. He returned to England and married Jersey girl Susan Guiton, and then travelled to Haiti in 1839.

In April 1842 he reported: ‘I am now almost ready to hope for good days at the Cape [Haiti].’ But on 7 May a huge earthquake destroyed the city of Port-au-Prince. Two-thirds of the inhabitants were killed, but Mr Bird, his wife and three children were unharmed.

In Haiti the years that followed were marked by political instability and religious intolerance. For example, in 1850 a new government promoted voodooism, leaving the Methodists in a difficult position.

However, Mr Bird stayed with the people of Haiti and in 1872 he oversaw the rebuilding of the church in Port-au-Prince at a time when finances were scarce. Records show that he gave up the manse and slept under a balcony at the church in a bid to save money.

When more prosperous times returned, Mr Bird secured money from the Haitian government to build and run schools. As a result of his work, a school and church were built and named in his honour.

It is not yet known whether they survived the earthquake last Tuesday. Mr Bird died in Jersey on 23 August 1880.