Next Sunday, December 27, the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of National Hero George William Gordon with a service on the day which also marks the 200th anniversary of his first baptism.

Gordon was born 1815 to Ann Rattray, an enslaved mulatto, and to a wealthy Scottish planter, Joseph Gordon.

He was elected to the House of Assembly to serve the parish of St Thomas in the Vale in 1844 and remained a member until 1848 with the support of the planter class.

In 1863, Gordon returned to the House of Assembly, representing St Thomas in the East. This time he won with the help of the Native Baptists.

Gordon was once an Anglican, then a Presbyterian, and in 1861 was baptised by English Baptist missionary James Phillippo. He became a Native Baptist and established Native Baptist churches with the help of fellow national hero Paul Bogle. He was also said to be one of the richest men of that era

The public is invited to attend the service, which begins at 9 a.m. at 2 Washington Boulevard, and closes with the singing of the hymn The Right Hand of God.