BISHOP ELTON GEORGE GRIFFITH- 

THE GRENADIAN WHO LED THE FIGHT FOR THE REPEAL OF THE

 ANTI-BAPTIST LAW IN TRINBAGO

C.Taylor

March 30, Spiritual Baptists' Day- is a National Holiday in the Republic of

Trinidad and Tobago.

Spiritual Baptists' Day celebrates the achievements of Spiritual Baptistry—

an African -inspired faith system; a  primary source of African cultural

nationalism and well-spring of resistance to colonial domination.

It is believed that the Spiritual Baptists, also known as Shouters or Shakers,

originated in the island of St Vincent.

Spiritual Baptists' Day is a wonderful moment to reflect on the life of Bishop

Elton George Griffin( 1913-1992) the Grenadian-born Baptist leader who was the

principal leader in T&T of the fight for the repeal of the SHOUTERS PROHIBITION

ORDINANCE, the law that forbade the practice of the Baptist faith.

The anti- Baptist ordinance which was passed in November of 1917, was repealed

on March 30,1951.

Many other Grenadians played important leadership roles in the struggle for the

repeal of the anti-Baptist law. The list includes: Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler( he

was a practising Baptist), McLean Pope, Magadden Kerensky "Caca Demo" Grant and

Philip Granger. Philip Granger hailed from St David's and was the father of

Geddes Granger (now Makandal Daaga) leader of the February 1970 Revolution in

Trinbago.

For more information about Bishop Elton George Griffith and the Grenadian posse

that chanted down the colonials, please read: 

Joy Comes in the Morning by C. M. Jacobs. -