ANGLICANS LAUNCH RESTORATION FUND FOR ST. PHILIP’S CHURCH
A service was held Sunday at the ruins of the St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Kingstown to re-launch the restoration fund and offer thanksgiving for the lives of those who made the church a viable community gathering place.
The service was attended by Bishop Theodore Daniels of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of the U.S and British Virgin Islands, Father David Henry of the local church, Leader of the Opposition Dr. the Honourable Orlando Smith, Member for the 7th District Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering and a number of parishioners.
“What we’re about here this afternoon is to give renewed effort in the restoration of St. Philip’s Anglican Church,” he told the Island Sun. “Over the years, given the climatic conditions, the building has been destroyed and we’re making an attempt now to begin the process by which we can restore this building as a historic building and also to serve the larger community.”
The church dates back to the 1830’s when recently emancipated slaves were given lands at Kingstown. In 1828, certificates of freedom were issued to the majority of Africans. However, due to hindrances in the conditions imposed by former owners, many practices, which would have led to self-sufficiency, were impeded. In 1831, to redress these problems, the government gave grants of land at Kingstown to a number of Africans. On this site, they created a settlement, assisted in a supervisory manner by Methodist Missionaries and the Collector of Customs.
The place became known as ‘the African Location’. The church was built for liberated Africans taken from ships after the abolition of the slave trade and placed in this freed reservation. St. Philip’s was the first church built for freed blacks in the Americas. The ruins are the only reminders of Kingstown’s past. Nothing remains of all the homes built in the area. The Masters’ House was destroyed in the 1916 hurricane.
The Anglican Church has held a service there once a year in early May since 1956. St. George’s School has also used the sire for visits and educational purposes over the years. After years of neglect, the Anglican Church has taken a few steps that may lead to restoration, under the theme “Restoring the BVI’s Rich Cultural Heritage”.
Bishop Daniels, who is based in St.
Thomas, said the church has already started to raise funds to
make the restoration a reality. Donations can be sent to St.
Philip’s Restoration Fund, Barclays Bank, Box 70, Road Town,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
St. Philip’s is part of the well-known St. Georges Church
in Road Town. This effort is a missionary outreach from St. George’s.
For additional information, contact St. George’s Episcopal
Church at telephone number 284-494-3894 or fax: 284-494-4574.
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