Bedward August Town Heritage

This presentation is entitled Bedward, August Town and Heritage examines aspects of the life and ministry of Alexander Bedward through various tangible materials viz the Hope River aka the Healing Stream, his church, the Half-Way Tree courthouse and his burial site. Furthermore, the presentation examines how these sites have survived over the last hundred years.

Alexander Bedward (1848-1930) was a well-known preacher and healer from August Town in St Andrew. His ministry began in 1891 on the banks of the Hope River. His fame drew many followers from August Town and other parts of the country as well as Panama, Cuba and Costa Rica. On April 27, 1921 he attempted to march to Kingston with a band of his many followers all clad in white. He and his followers were arrested and taken to the Half-Way-Tree courthouse where they were sentenced for assorted matters. He was declared a lunatic and sentenced to the asylum in Kingston where he died in November 1930.

Duane Harris, the presenter, is the Public Education Officer of the Jamaican National Heritage Trust wore a white shirt in memory of the fact that as a rule Bedward’s congregants wore white at their church services,