We that the Lord that they were courageous enough to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ, for many were reached through their faithfulness in making Christ known.

Others were saved through the preaching of Mr. John Suckling from the Royal Naval Dockyard, who was stationed at Admiralty House. The first person saved in the assemblies, and led to the Lord by Bro. Suckling was Mrs. Mary Francis Butterfield. She was later baptized by him. Her husband, and their four children, along with Brother Suckling, had cottage meetings in their home which was on part of the property on which Dellwood Primary School now stands.

They were also part of a small group of believers who broke bread together. Bro. Suckling at some point went to France, and there made a record of Mrs. Butterfield being the first person to trust the Lord as Saviour in the assemblies of Bermuda.

During this period, Mr. & Mrs. Josephus Darrell, who were born again believers, were raising five sons Thomas, William, Granville, Charles, and Mallory. As the children grew, they were made aware of their need of the Saviour, which resulted in all accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Their parents died, but the gospel still lived on in the hearts of their sons.

As the years passed, Mallory Darrell (who was my Great, Great, Grandfather) became an entrepreneur, a parliamentarian, who also worshipped with the brethren. He and other believers desired a place of worship. They were meeting at the home of Mrs. Talbot in Tucker's Town, but the numbers of those fellowshipping grew and they moved to Mr. Harry North's cottage at Harrington Sound near the Post Office. This was more convenient as they were now being joined by believers from Crawl and Bailey's Bay areas who came across the Sound by boat.

As the numbers increased further they moved to a larger cottage at Devil's Hole. By now news of these new assemblies had reached England and it was while they were meeting in this building that a brother from "Echoes of Service" in Bath, England came to see what the Brethren was like since by now there were assemblies in various parts of the island. This should not surprise anyone, since believers from the Royal Navy in Dockyard and from the British Garrison in Prospect gave much help in ministry and open-air preaching.

Through the encouragement and help of a Bro. Boynton, money was borrowed for the building of a Hall. Land was graciously provided by Mallory Darrell and family. Work on the Harrington Sound Hall began in the year 1902. There were many "Work Rallies" and brethren came from all over the island.

During the construction period a schooner was shipwrecked off Bermuda in the North Shore area. The schooner was carrying lumber and due to a mishap, some of the lumber was loosened and damaged. Some of the brethren went out in a boat, and retrieved some of the damaged lumber and this was used for the flooring of the Gospel Hall which was completed in 1903, making it the oldest assembly building on the island.

The first service was held on Good Friday, April 10th 1903 and the Good Friday conference continued there for many years. Services would be from 11am to 4pm with several speakers. Food was provided at the Hall, and all the assemblies would be combined for this special occasion.

In those days transportation was bicycles, and horse drawn vehicles. Bro. Darrell owned a livery stable, and had drivers who operated a horse drawn bus which seated about 8 people. The bus was used to transport the elderly to the conference where they would be collected from the train station at the Aquarium. These buses were also for the picnics as well. Those who traveled by bus, when approaching a hill would have to get out and walk in order to ease up the horse.

Mallory Darrell married Katherine and the Lord blessed them with three children. He was the first Elder and the role of Superintendent was held by Bro. Edward Burgess.

The first missionary to visit our assembly was Bro. Boynton and his family. There were others as well, such a Bro. Dulton, The Knottige Brothers, and a Chinese lady who gave the brethren a gift of one hundred pounds for the Lord's work. All the missionaries stayed at Bro. Mallory Darrell's home.

The assembly by now had swelled to the size of about fifty believers. This was the only place of worship in the Smith's Parish with the exception of St. Marks' church. Services were held at: 11am Breaking of Bread, 3pm Sunday School, and 7:30pm Evangelistic Service.

The Sunday School held about 80 students, and they came from as far as Collectors Hill and Crawl Hill. Sunday School picnics were held at Devonshire Bay, Stephen's Field in Paget, and Tom Moore's in Bailey's Bay.

After the passing of Bro. Darrell, the role of Elder was that of my Great Grand father Mr. James Zuill. He too was known for the continuation of the Gospel in this part of the island. He was a godly brother who loved to study the Word of God and led others in the way. He had a love for the Lord's people and he and his wife Lorna for many fellowship gathering at their home at Devil's Hole, Shelly Bay, and later Knapton Hill.

The pianist was none other than my Aunt Katherine Wilkinson, the sister of Bro. Zuill's wife Lorna. They too brought up their children in the admonition of the Lord and as a result, today in our assemblies. Their offspring are still carrying on the work as elders in Harrington Sound and St. Georges. Names like Talbot, Darrell, Wilkinson, Tuzo, and Zuill from the early years are still family names connected with the assemblies today.

As we cast our minds back on the days gone by, let us also be reminded that the word of God was alive then and it still is now. Our forefathers have taught us the truth of God's word and we have proven it for ourselves, the same as they did in those days. Many of us who are gathered here today are actually descendants of those mentioned in our history. Let us be reminded, that we too, like they, have a responsibility to continue to teach our children the truth of God's Word, so that it will continue to live on forever.