Anglican Bishop Golding Makes First Official Visit to Cayman Islands

The Diocesan Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Right Rev. Leon Paul Golding, made his first official visit to the Cayman Islands this week since his elevation to the episcopacy.

Bishop Golding presided over and preached at the October 25, service at the St. George’s Anglican Church.

“My first visit provides a valuable opportunity to reacquaint myself with the work and ministry of the Church here, and to engage personally with its clergy and people,” Bishop Golding said. “As Bishop, I believe it is important to remain closely connected with those whom I am called to serve, to listen to their experiences, understand their needs, and offer encouragement and support as we continue together in faith and service to God and His people.”

The rector of St. George’s, Father Jerome Small, welcomed the Bishop’s visit.

“We are delighted to welcome Bishop Golding on his first official visit to St. George’s and, by extension, the Cayman Islands, as Diocesan Bishop,” Father Small said. “His presence here is a meaningful expression of the bond between the Bishop and the people entrusted to his pastoral care.

“We look forward to sharing with him the life, work and ministry of our Church, as well as the joys, challenges and aspirations of our congregation. We trust that his visit will be a source of spiritual renewal, encouragement and inspiration as we continue to strengthen our Christian witness and fulfil our mission of serving God and the wider Cayman community.”

Bishop Golding began his ordained ministry as curate at St. Andrew Parish Church, where he served from 1984 to 1988 under the guidance of the late Bishop Herman Spence, who was then rector of the parish.

He subsequently served as rector of four parishes across Jamaica, gaining extensive experience in pastoral care, parish administration and church leadership.

His first appointment as rector was in the Port Maria Cure in St. Mary, where he served from 1988 to 1990. He then served in the Stony Hill Cure in St. Andrew from 1990 to 2000, before becoming rector of Kingston Parish Church from 2002 to 2008.

He later became rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Westgate, Montego Bay, St. James, where he served until his election as Suffragan Bishop of Montego Bay in 2012.

After more than a decade of episcopal leadership in western Jamaica, Bishop Golding was elected the 15th Diocesan Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on March 24, 2025, at a Special Synod held at St. Luke’s Church Hall in Cross Roads, Kingston.