NTCG Brixton welcomes local community with Windrush 75 celebrations and civic service

The Brixton Community Church led by Bishop Eric Brown, welcomed the local community in honouring the Windrush Legacy, with a street party and civic service. Celebrations formerly commenced with Windrush Day proceedings, organized by the Brixton Project Team, with a procession and gathering at Windrush Square bringing the community together. Bishop Eric Brown was also in attendance among the community dignitaries who gave a speech on the day. The Brixton Church commenced its celebrations on Saturday 24th June, organized by the Street Party planning committee, led by Rev Sheila Thompson.

Bishop Eric Brown speaking at Windrush Square (Image credit:Takenya K. Holness)

Windrush 75 Street Party

The Brixton family church welcomed the community near and far on Lambert Road, with a welcome address from Bishop Eric Brown, Rev Millicent Brown and Councillor Sonia Winifred, a long-standing dignitary and friend of the Church. The community were treated to traditional food, Windrush interviews, a spectacular modelling contest celebrating the era, and a Windrush collection display, supplied by founder and curator Tony Fairweather. Additional artefact contributions were donated by NTCG members, adding to the Windrush Collection to create an exhibition feel in the Bell House. A live PA from Gospel artist Sister Moveta proved to be one of the many highlights of the day.

Brixton Church Street party goes viral on Tik Tok

Celebrations reached its peak on the streets as the community soaked in the atmosphere with singing and dancing as Sister Moveta unleashed her set backed by Thompson’s Media & Music, with a selection of old-school choruses, in line with the Windrush era. The crowd responded with flags waving and dancing, scenes shared on social media by Sister Moveta, orchestrator of the jubilant atmosphere have since accumulated over 100k views and rising on Tik Tok, social media platform.

“Our street party brought together a good mix of citizens from across Lambeth to celebrate the 
Windrush generation. With singing, dancing, eating, laughter and much more, we celebrated that 
great generation. We their descendants are in a better place, because of their suffering and sacrifice. Their fight for a just and equitable society is still ongoing, and we their children will continue the fight until victory is won”. – Bishop Eric Brown, NTCG Brixton

Windrush 75 Civic Service

The well-attended civic service following the street party came with tributes from community dignitaries Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor Sarbaz Barznji, Detective Chief Superintendent Sebstian Adjei-Addoh, and Labour MP Bell Riberio-Addy. Also present in the congregation was Councillor Sonia Winifred, Binki Taylor founding Partner of the Brixton Project and Dr David Muir professor at the University of Roehampton, among several other community public figures in attendance. A statement of purpose was read by Rev Millicent Brown, and a Drama Presentation by the young people of the Brixton Church was written and directed by Margaret Scott. A minute's silence was observed during the service in honour of the Windrush Legacy, with one of the near-original Windrush members Mother Leslie, sharing her experiences arriving in the UK. A video presentation by NTCG Administrative Bishop Claion Grandison of England & Wales was also shown to the congregation. Just before closing out a memorable weekend for the church, keynote speaker Delrose Earle Watkins gave an address weaving Windrush history and biblical truth, to seal a successful community event.

“We honour the brave individuals who embarked on that journey and celebrate the significant contribution made by the Windrush generation to our society”. - Councillor Sarbaz Barzniji

“When Empire Windrush docked it didn’t just bring hundreds of people from the Caribbean, it brought dance, art, writing, cuisine, music and transforming British culture”. - Labour MP Bell Riberio-Addy

“The 22nd June 1948 for me was the first major wave post-war, of black people coming into the country, which is particularly important not just for our Caribbean community, but also our African communities. The people that came off that ship that day are pioneers for us all.” - Detective Chief Superintendent Sebstian Adjei-Addoh