Jamaica’s history with the Christian church is not divorced from its past with slavery and colonialism. In fact, it was the latter which gave rise to the establishment of various denominations here, starting with the Spanish and Catholicism, then later protestant denominations, chief of which was Anglicanism brought by the English.

Architecturally, most churches in Jamaica reflect a confluence of colonial and island influences. According to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), they are “a curious combination of Jamaica Georgian and Classic Gothic elements” which, when combined, “produces a hybrid that is easily identifiable as Jamaican”.

We highlight a few of them here:

St Peter’s Church, Alley, Clarendon

…was founded between 1671 and 1675 as the parish church of the former Vere, and is among the oldest in the island. The present brick structure was constructed circa 1715 on the same grounds as the ealier building.

Hanover Parish Church, Lucea

…was built in 1725 — two years after the parish of Hanover was created — on the foundations of an older Catholic church erected by the Spaniards. At the time, it was the only one in the island with a steeple which was, however, badly damaged in the 1957 earthquake and was subsequently removed. The church, which has since been declared a National Monument by the JNHT, had its first baptism in 1725, its first burial in 1727, and its first marriage in 1749.

Mizpah Moravian Church, near Walderston, Manchester

…seen here in 1969, stands as a classic example of Moravian architecture.

The Moravian Church, a popular name for the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Unitas Fratrum, or United Brethren, originated in Bohemia in 1457, and later spread to Moravia, Poland and Saxony. It came to Jamaica sometime later, but was restricted from expanding prior to 1838 as a result of its anti-slavery beliefs. Mizpah was built in 1866.

Jewish Synagogue, Duke Street, Kingston

…or the United Congregation of Israelites, is said to be the only Jewish place of the worship in the island. Also known as Shaangare Shalom or Gates of Peace, it was built in 1912, replacing an 1881 building that was destroyed in the earthquake of 1907. The later construction was built with reinforced concrete but kept the style of the earlier synagogue, with roof, gallery and pillars belonging to the original model.

St Mark’s Anglican Church, Rio Bueno, Trelawny

…was consecrated as an Anglican Parish Church in 1833 after a petition for the establishment of a church by Rio Bueno inhabitants.

St James Parish Church, Montego Bay

…dedicated to St James, the Great-Patron Saint of Spain, this church was built between 1775 and 1782. The 1957 earthquake caused extensive damage to its structure, prompting a complete restoration. One of the numerous memorials inside the church is that for Rosa Palmer, the original owner of Rose Hall Great House, commonly mistaken for Annie Palmer, the White Witch of Rose Hall.

Portland Parish Church, Port Antonio

…is a three-storey brick and stone rectangular building which boasts a four-storey tower housing the belfry and clock. Also called Christ Church, it was built on land indentured on September 3, 1836 by John Dean and Jane Brown.

St Mary’s Parish Church, Port Maria

… was built in 1861 of limestone blocks on the edge of the bay and is one of the most picturesque structures anywhere on the island. The modest chapel is set against the dazzling turquoise harbour, framed by tall palm trees whose leaves rustle gently in the warm sea breezes.

Coke Methodist Church, downtown Kingston

Coke Methodist Church was named after Dr Thomas Coke, founder of the Methodist Missions in the West Indies. It was built in 1840 on the site of the first Methodist Chapel built in Jamaica.

This Church was severely damaged in the 1907 earthquake and the present building dates from that time. It was rebuilt in the basic neo-Gothic style of the original Church.

St Ann Parish Church, St Ann’s Bay

…was completed in September 1871 and was consecrated by His Lordship the Bishop of Kingston, Rt Reverend Reginald Courtenay on Wednesday, September 20, 1871 as the Church of ‘St Anne’. Its main walls are constructed of cut stone and along each elevation are a series of pointed arch windows. The apse of the Church is of a semi-octagonal shape with buttresses on the corner of each side, between which are pointed arch stained glass windows, the largest being at the east end of the building.

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kingston

…was destroyed by the earthquake on January 14, 1907. Under the commissioning of US Bishop John Collins, a group of Canadians undertook the rebuilding, which started the following year. It boats an 85-foot-high copper dome, ornate murals and decorative artwork on the inner walls,

The edifice was declared a National Heritage Site by the Jamaican Government in the year 2000.

(Photos courtesy National Library of Jamaica)