Head of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Rowan Williams, has urged the members of the rebuilt St John's Church in Portland Cottage, Clarendon, to renew their commit-ment to the faith.

The original structure was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

The archbishop, who delivered the sermon at the service of dedication on May 10, said the reconstruction effort demonstrated that people were able to raise up from old foundations new centres of hope. He noted that the Portland Cottage community had experienced great suffering, but he assured the congregation that God was not remote in heaven, but was faithful to believers in their distress.

The archbishop stated that the new St John's was, in fact, "a sign of God's love that will never go away".

Referring to Jesus' promise in St John 14:15-21 that the Holy Spirit would always be with those who were faithful to His commandments, Williams said, "This church declares that God is here ... and He does not break His promise."

The archbishop told the capacity-filled church that Christians should make that promise real in their lives.