A pioneering church service blending reggae and Anglican liturgy will take place this weekend, as St Barnabas Church stages what organisers describe as the Caribbean’s first “Bob Marley Emancipation Mass”, positioning the reggae icon’s work as a vehicle for Christian reflection on justice, unity and liberation.
Promotional flyer highlighting the Bob Marley Emancipation Mass. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts)
Viewing the event — the first of its kind in the Caribbean — through a distinct theological lens, St Barnabas Church officials maintained that Marley’s body of work contains a profound, timeless message deeply aligned with Christian scripture.
Scheduled for Sunday at 5pm, the mass is being staged in collaboration with the government as part of the national observance of Emancipation season and July 26 as the Day of National Significance.
The service utilises a unique liturgy originally performed at St James’ Cathedral in Toronto. It was written by the Reverend Canon Dr Steven Fields, a Barbadian priest serving in Canada, who will return to his home soil to preach at this inaugural service.
At a press conference at the church in Chapel Gap, St Michael, the rector, Reverend Canon Dr Monrelle Williams, emphasised that the event is strictly an act of worship rather than a concert, intended to reframe how the faithful engage with secular art.
Reverend Canon Dr Monrelle Williams Presiding Priest, St. Barnabas Church. (Photo Credit: Ricardo Roberts)
“This service is built around the idea that there is a theology to be found in the body of work of the late Bob Marley,” Canon Williams explained. “There is a message that is there that is both timeless and quite relevant because Bob Marley’s music echoed the cries of the oppressed. It is a call to unity, and it speaks to a hope for liberation.”
According to Canon Williams, Marley’s music provides an analytical framework that forces the church to reflect on the realities of the marginalised. He noted that the lyrics challenge Christians to see God not as a distant, passive observer, but as an active, revolutionary force in the earthly struggle for justice. By resisting what Marley termed the “Babylon system”, believers are encouraged to embody a bold, inclusive and transformative love.
Integrating these themes into a traditional Anglican setting will alter the structure of the standard Sunday liturgy. In a conventional service, the progression of worship is marked by traditional hymns. For this mass, seven of Marley’s most spiritually resonant tracks will occupy those structural slots, including the introductory music, the collection and holy communion.
The musical line-up features global classics such as Could You Be Loved, War, Three Little Birds and One Love. A live band assembled by musician Roger Gittens will anchor the performance, supported by a lead vocalist and the St Barnabas Church choir, alongside parish organist Christopher Gibbs. The theological themes will be further illustrated through liturgical dance, with performers moving to Marley’s rhythms from the opening call of the service.
Addressing potential criticism regarding the fusion of Rastafarian culture with Anglican orthodoxy, Canon Williams sought to clarify Marley’s personal spiritual journey towards the end of his life:
“When Bob Marley died, Bob Marley died as a Christian. He was baptised into the Eastern Orthodox Church, so he’s Christian just like we as Anglicans are Christian. So the Rastafarians identify themselves with his music, but his music does not belong to them. It belongs to all of us.”
Church warden Stanley Alleyne supported this inclusive view, pointing to the universal Christian principles found in Marley’s most famous anthem. “Speaking of love, we’re talking about unconditional love, and that’s what human beings are supposed to represent as far as I’m concerned,” Alleyne said. “So that song, Bob Marley’s song One Love, is for me his signature song.”
The Diocese of Barbados has fully endorsed the unconventional service. Canon Williams confirmed he consulted the bishop, who serves as Anglicans’ chief liturgical authority here. “I shared the service with him, sought his permission to do it, and he was very receptive to the idea,” the rector said, adding that the bishop expressed immense excitement for the initiative despite being off the island over the weekend.
Church warden Junior Jordan emphasised the regional significance of Sunday’s mass:.
“It’s actually going to be history in the making, because it’s a first for the Caribbean, it’s a first for Barbados, and certainly it’s a first for St Barnabas Church. We are making full preparations for the large crowd that we expect to appear.”
To manage the anticipated influx of worshippers, the church is setting up an outdoor overflow tent. Arrangements have also been finalised with the nearby Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre to provide additional parking for the congregation.
Church leaders expressed the hope the mass will demonstrate how contemporary Caribbean culture can be viewed through a spiritual lens to inspire positive social change.
“What we are trying to do is to say, here is a body of music by an icon of music in the Caribbean that has within it some really positive lyrics,” Canon Williams said. “Here is an opportunity to see Bob Marley’s music and to hear Bob Marley’s music in a Christian context, bringing a positive message to people.”
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