History Long

Early History

The early settlers in Antigua had the services of a clergyman, the Reverend Gilbert Ramsay, as early as 1634.  There were no church buildings then.  In 1670 the Island’s Council and House of Assembly found it necessary to make special provision for the celebration of marriage on the island as there was no ordained priest in the island, and in the following year provision was made for the building of churches at Falmouth and St. John’s.

Five years later, Governor Stapleton reported; “There is but one Church and that at Falmouth which serves also for a Court House.  No registers of birth, death or marriages are kept, there being no minister and no churches. The first Parish Church in St. John’s was not built however until some twelve years later.

In 1677, as a result of a report made by the then Governor, Sir William Stapleton, the Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Henry Compton, licensed six Ministers for the Leeward Islands, and on the 1st November of the same year, they embarked on the Olive Branch arriving in Antigua early in 1678. The Bishop of London, had, under customary authority until 1824, ecclesiastic jurisdiction, but he never apparently actually directed the work of the Ministers licensed by him for the Church on this Island. At the end of the 18th Century, however, the Bishop of London showed remarkable activity in the care of the West Indian portion of his Diocese from which Church organization and development became possible by creation of separate West Indian Dioceses. One of these Ministers, the Reverend William Jones, became the Rector of St. John’s and held the curé until 1692 when he died. He was the donor of some handsome solid silver vessels for Holy Communion, to which reference will be made later.

The Reverend William Jones was succeeded by the Reverend James Field who is reported to have persecuted the Quakers, who for some years before his arrival had established a Meeting-House in Antigua with headquarters at Cassada Gardens Plantation under the leadership of Jonas Langford, Esquire, Merchant of Popeshead. And incidentally, there is in the South Transept of the Cathedral a very beautiful panel erected in 1919 by Vere Langford Oliver, a descendant of Jonas Langford who died in 1712. The Inscription of this panel reads:

Sacred to the memory of Richard Oliver Esquire Planter, Speaker of the House of Assembly 1704, Member of H.M. Council 1708, and Colonel of Militia 1715, Baptised at St. Nicholas Bristol 14th August 1664, he was here buried 29th May 1716.

also of

Richard Oliver Esquire, his grandson, an Alderman & M.P. for the City of London a strenuous Supporter of the Constitutional Rights of the American Colonies. Baptised in this Parish 7th January 1734-5. He died at sea off Nevis 16th April 1784.

also of

Jonas Langford Esquire Merchant of Popeshead and Cassada Garden Plantations (the first Quaker settler here in 1660) who died at an advanced age in 1712.

This panel is dedicated by Vere Langford Oliver in commemoration of his Ancestors and Kinsfolk who lie buried in the churchyard or in their plantation A.D. 1919.

It is also reported of the Reverend James Field that he played a very honourable part in the events leading up to the murder of Governor Parke in 1710, and that his treatment of his slaves was little less than barbarous. It is noteworthy that he left the island under cover of dark.

The Reverend James Field was buried in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, England and the following is the inscription over his remains:

“Infra depositae sunt reliquae Reverebdi Jacobi Field in Americanis ad occidentem in Comissarii Generalis et inter easdem Parochem St. Johannis Antegoensis Rector qui ex hoc vita decessit A.D. MDCCXXVIII Aetatis suae 51”

The First Church

On August 20, 1681, under Colonel Codrington’s government an Act of the House of Assembly was passed dividing the Island into five Parishes and making provision for the erection of a church in each Parish. Provision was also made for the support of the respective clergymen by the payment of 16,000 lbs of sugar and tobacco to them annually. St. John’s Parish as then created is the same today.

The first Parish Church of St. John’s was built in 1684-84 within the compound of the present Cathedral and Churchyard. The exact location in not known but it must have been somewhat south of the Cathedral itself. It was a simple, unpretentious wooden building, rectangular in shape, without a steeple and smaller than the building which subsequently replaced it.

This Church has been described by an old writer as being “totally destitute of beauty and comfort”. Nevertheless, this was the Church in which Sir Christopher Codrington and his friends, who were such devoted, enthusiastic and generous churchman, assembled for worship.

Perhaps it was in this building that he received the inspiration for the development and progress of the peoples in the West Indies to which he gave expression in his will and which has borne such abundant fruit. Perhaps, here he knelt in prayer asking for grace and strength to carry out his plans.

Within a matter of two decades or so, and during the rectorship of Reverend James Field, it became evident that this first structure was inadequate for the accommodation of all the members of the Church. Moreover the building itself was falling into disrepair and so in 1716, during the administration of General Walter Hamilton, the Island’s Legislature passed an Act granting provision for a new place of worship to be built and imposing a yearly tax for the purpose of keeping the Church in repair.

Mr Robert Cullen was the architect and at his suggestion its site was laid to the north of the old building.

The Second Church

The erection of the Second Church was begun sometime between 1721 and 1723, during the period that John Hart was administering the government of the Island, and was completed without a steeple in 1725.  In 1771 arrangements were made for the addition of a steeple to the Church, but it was not until 1788 that the steeple was completely finished.

A contemporary writer describes the Church in the following manner:

“The Church itself is of brick, washed with a light yellow, is cruciform in shape, the north and south vestibules forming the arms of the cross.  The extreme length from the inner west door to the altar piece is 130 feet, and the breadth, exclusive of the vestibules (or porches) is 50 feet.

“In the interior. 18 plain wooden pillars divide the nave from the north and south aisles; 16 lower one forming the support of the north and south galleries.  The roof of the nave is a semi-circular vault, painted to represent the heavens, with all their drapery of light and fleecy clouds, and when viewed from the west door had a pretty effect.

“The chancel roof is of the same pitch. but of a pyramidal form.  It is painted in the same manner as the nave and is supported by four square columns.

“The altar is beautifully devised.  In the centre are the tables of the Ten Commandments, gold lettered upon a black background.  On each side are full length paintings of Moses and of Aaron in ‘his holy garments’.  That of Aaron is very finely executed; the face is such as we can imagine that of the great ‘high priest’ to have been, the majestic but beautiful; and the ‘robes’, the ‘breastplate’ the ‘ephod’, the ‘curious girdle’ and the ‘golden censer’ are very correctly painted.

“The outer tables of ‘The Belief’ and ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ are handsomely gilded — the inscription being executed in letters of black; and over the Commandments, in the centre of the Altar, is a medallion painting of cherubs.  The several compartments are divided by gilded pilasters, the cornices, architraves and friezes are very pretty and tasteful.

“The Communion Table is covered with dark purple velvet, fringed deeply with gold; and on either side lie cushions to match.

“On each side of the table stand chairs for the accommodation of the Bishop and the Archdeacons, and have been used for that purpose since the dismantling of the ‘Bishop’s Pew’.

“The Pulpit and Desk are of dark oak, as also the railings to the stairs.  Formerly the pulpit, surmounted by a sounding board, stood further down the nave; but after being removed once or twice, the Desk has been separated from the Pulpit, and they are placed at the entrance to the chancel on each side of the aisle.

“About the centre of this Church is suspended a brass chandelier consisting of twelve branches, which have been fitted up with ground-glass burners.  It was bequeathed to the Church by Philip Darby, a former Curate of the Church who died on 2nd May 1740.

“At the entrance to the Church from the West stands a marble Font, of semi-spherical form and supported by a pedestal.  Previously it stood in the entrance of the north vestibule.

“The Church is lighted by fourteen windows, six in the north aisle, six in the south and two at each end of the building.  Formerly they were all fitted with jalousies, but later the eight nearest the Altar were re-glazed with ground glass in a Gothic pattern.  These windows are divided into six compartments and certainly add to the beauty of the edifice.  Several fine  monuments grace the walls of the building; but the oldest sepulchral inscription is upon a stone slab, in the chancel, to the memory of Mrs. Gilbert, the wife of Mr. Gilbert who introduced Methodism into Antigua and who died in 1747.

“The aisles of the Church are paved with a course species of marble laid down in alternate diamonds of black and white.  The chancel is raised by two steps and has a stone pavement.  The body of the Church contains 152 pews, but the assistance of the galleries, of which there are two, affords about 1800 seats.  The Royal Pew is also used by the Administrator and is neatly fitted up with crimson damask and contain green cushions.

“At west end of the nave rise two plain quadrangular towers surmounted by two octagonal cupolas.  The elevation at the apex of the cupola is 65 feet.  The first tower was not erected until 1789, that is more than forty years after the main edifice had been completed but from being constructed of the same materials, presents a uniform appearance.”

On November 20th, 1801, the Church was used by Lord Lavington, with the consent of the Rector and Vestry, for investing Lieutenant-Governor Trigg and Rear-Admiral Duckworth with the Insignia of the Order of the Bath.  The pews of the Church were taken down, and a throne erected in front of the Altar, and benches were put on both sides of the chancel for spectators.  Similar arrangements were made by Lord Lavington for the Investiture of Commodore Hood with the Insignia of the same Order in 1805.

In 1824, the Island became part of the newly created Diocese of Barbados and the Leeward Island under Bishop William Hart Coleridge, who appointed the Reverend Parry, Rector of St. Philip’s, to be Archdeacon of Antigua.  It should be noted that at this time all the financial support for the work of the Church and other expenses was supplied from England  There were also additional funds to promote the religious and moral education of the people.

In 1827, Robert Holberton was appointed Rector of St. John’s.  He was a man of vigour and energy, with a strong personality.  He had much sympathy for the poor members of his flock and he did all that lay within his power to alleviate their sufferings.  He organized a daily soup kitchen to provide nourishment for those who were in need.  His care for the sick and suffering finds a perpetual memorial in the Hospital in Antigua which is named after him on account of the interest which he showed in those who had need of medical assistance.  Without doubt he must have inspired and helped those who were responsible for the foundation of this Hospital.

He was still the Rector of the Parish when the momentous event of the Emancipation took place on 1st August 1834, and we would like to think that he played a large and important part in helping so many of the members of his flock to adjust themselves to the new conditions of their lives.  It was at this time that he founded the St. John’s Church Society, a Friendly Society, to provide its members with financial help in times of sickness and for their burial.  This society continues to flourish after one hundred and thirty-six years and proves a great boon to its members.  In 1970 it had over 4,400 members and its finances were in a health condition.

Upon the retirement of Bishop Coleridge in 1842 the Diocese of Antigua was created by Letters Patent, dated 21 August 1842, and the Venerable Daniel Gateward Davis was appointed its first Bishop.  It is reported that at that time the Diocese had “an enlightened and evangelical Clergy”  The creation of the new Diocese was intended to promote the moral and religious education of the people and development of the work of the Church.

The Members of the Vestry and the people of St. John’s were thrilled by the thought that the Church was to be elevated to the status of a Cathedral and began to make plans as to the most fitting way in which they could improve it to be worthy of that dignity, but all their desires and plans were shattered by the terrible earthquake which occurred on February 8th, 1843.

The following is an extract from the Minutes of the Vestry:

Memorandum of the Awful Earthquake

“On Wednesday, 8th February 1843, the very day after meeting of the Vestry, as before recorded, the Island was visited by a most terrific and destructive Earthquake.  At twenty minutes before 11 o’clock in the forenoon, while the bell was ringing for prayers and the Venerable Robert Holberton was in the Vestry awaiting the arrival of persons to have their Marriage solemnize before commencement of the morning Service, the whole edifice from one end to the other was suddenly and violently agitated.  Everyone within the Church after the first shock was compelled to escape for their lives.  The tower was rent from the top to the bottom, the north dial of the clock precipitated to the ground beneath with a dreadful crash, and the east parapet wall of the Tower thrown upon the roof of the Church.  Almost the whole of the north-west wall of the north gallery fell out in the mass.  The north east wall was protruded beyond the perpendicular.  The Altar piece, the public monument erected to the memory of Lord Lavington, and the private monuments bearing the names of Kelsick, Warner, Ottley and Atkison fell down piecemeal inside. A large portion of the top east wall was precipitated into the Church yard, carrying along with it two of the east iron windows, while the other six remained projecting from the wall in which they had been inserted originally.  A large pile of heavy cut stones and masses of brick fell down at the south and at the north doors.  Seven of the large front pipes of the organ were thrown out by the violence of the shocks, and many of the metal and wooden pipes within displaced; the massive basin of the font was torn from the pedestal on which it rested and pitched upon the pavement beneath uninjured.  Thus within the space of three minutes, the Church was reduced to a pile of crumbling ruins, the walls that were left standing being rent in every part, the main roof only remaining sound, being supported by the hardwood pillars.”

The Council and House of Assembly immediately allowed the sum of £500 for temporary repairs.  The newly appointed Bishop was in England.  Archdeacon Holberton in the Bishop’s absence at once petitioned the Governor, Member of Council and House of Assembly, explaining that the sum allowed, with congregation and private donations, had bee expended in shoring up the roof ad boarding up the sides, but it seemed that the Cathedral would have to be re-erected, and so he submitted the matter to their wisdom.  Eventually, the sum of £40,000 was allowed to build a new Cathedral from the loan of £100,000 made to Antigua by the Imperial Government.

 

The Cathedral

“Having been constituted a Cathedral Church and Episcopal See by the mandate of our Most Gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria, as announced in the official letter of His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, Sir C.A. Fitz Roy, dated 10th November 1842, it was the intention of the Members of the Vestry at their next meeting, proposed to be held on the 27th instant, to have entered into a contract for improving the Chancel and elevating the stone work of the Tower, completing the same with four minarets in a manner suitable for a Cathedral.  The said Vestry of St. John holding now their next meeting this 20th day of February, under a tent and beholding the destruction of the Cathedral and Parish Church by the late calamitous Earthquake (which indeed has either rent or laid waste all the stone buildings in the Island), at the same time gratefully acknowledging the interference of the  Most High in the remarkable (sparing) of human life, have agreed to have this record made of the appalling Earthquake on the 18th instant for their own instruction and that of future generations.

“‘Come behold the works of the Lord what desolation He hath made in the earth.
“Be still and know that I am God’ (Ps. 46,vv.8, 10).

-R. Holberton, Archdeacon of Antigua and Rector of St. Johns.
-T.F. Nibbbs
-J. Bradshaw, Churchwardens.”

 

The New Cathedral

On Sunday October 10th 1847, the Church under license from the Bishop was open for public worship, and on July 25th 1848 it was consecrated as a Cathedral and Parish Church of St. John and dedicated to the Service of Almighty God and the celebration of Divine Service according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England as by law established.

Situation Description

The Cathedral is built on a hill at the head of the town, settled in 1716 as church property,  From the windows over the west entrance a beautiful view of the harbors and the hills is obtained.

The building is of stone, the entire length of the building from east to west is one hundred and fifty (150) feet.  The transept is one hundred and forty (140) feet from north to south and the width forty-six (46) feet, the building being cruciform in shape.  The height of the ceiling is thirty (30) feet.  The Towers are seventy (70) feet high and the Cupolas, which crown the two Rowers are aluminium in colour.

The stone of the Cathedral is cement washed and the roof of heavy corrugated iron, painted a silver colour.  The interior is completely encased in pitch opine of a very superior quality.  This method of construction is intended to secure the building from ruin either by earthquake or hurricane.  It has been described as “a Church within a Church”.

The cornerstone of the new Cathedral was laid on October 9th 1845, by Sir Charles Agustus Fitz Roy, the Governor-in-Chief, and present at this ceremony were:

1. Names of Her Majesty’s Council

The Lord Bishop	Hugh Edwards
M.H. Daniel, President	William Byam
Paul Horsford	Bertie Entwistle Jarvis
William Lee	George Savage Martin
George Weatherill Ottley	Thomas Lane, Clerk

2. The Members of the House of Assembly

The Hon. John Shiell, Speaker	William Thibou
Thomas Coull	Oliver Nugent
Thomas F. Nibbs	William E. Ledeatt
Anthony Musgrave	Thomas Foote
Sir Robert Horsford	John Furlonge Jr.
James Scotland Jr.	John F, Smyth
John Gray	George Black
James Ha Baker	Peter P. Walter
Francis B. Ottley	Francis Watson
Burnthorn Musgrave	Alexander Duncombe
T. Shervinton	William Coull
Samuel A. Turner (absent)	Richard B. Eldridge (on leave)
Jas. W. Sherif (on Leave)

3. The Members of Vestry

Paul Horsford	Peter B. Walter
Hugh Edwards	Jas. L. Bindon
Anthony Musgrave, M.D.	T. Shervington
Jas. Martin	William Thibou
George Athill	Jas. W. Shreriff

The silver trowel used by the Governor which had been presented to him by the Bishop, bore the following inscription:

At the ceremony, Archdeacon Holberton read the inscription on the Roll of Parchment enclosed with current coins of the realm in the bottle lodged under the stone.

On Sunday October 19th 1847 the Cathedral, under license from the Bishop, was opened for Public Worship.  On July 25th 1848, the public building was consecrated as a Cathedral and Parish Church of St. John and dedicated to the Service of Almighty God, and the celebration of Divine Service according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England as by law established.

In addition to the amount loaned for the construction of the new Cathedral, and the private donations for the purpose, a further sum of £1,150 was loaned from the West India Bank to provide for the clock and complete the building for consecration.

When the building was in the process of erection it did not find favour with certain ecclesiastical architects, as it was described in an Ecclesiastical magazine of that time as being like “a pagan temple with two dumpty pepper-pot towers”.

Old prints of the Cathedral which can be seen in the Hall of the Governor’s Residence, in Barclays Bank, High Street and in the Public Library show that the original design included two large sweeping flights of steps at the east end of the building, but these were never completed and later the interior of the Cathedral was altered so as to render them impractical.

At the various entrances to the Churchyard are substantial iron gates which were erected by the Vestry in 1789 and have been in place ever since.

Originally the south gate was the main entrance to the Cathedral and on the top of the pillars are figures of Saint John the Divine and St. John the Baptist.  (For many years this entrance was popularly referred to as “the Adam and Eve Gate”.)  Vere Oliver in his History of Antigua states that metal images were taken from a French ship destined for Martinique, during the Seven Year’s War, and brought to Antigua by a British Man-of-war.  It is likely that these are the images to which he referred.

The foregoing accounts records the establishment of the churches in Antigua, the founding of the Diocese and the building of the present Cathedral.  The story of the Cathedral, however, is more than this, and includes the history of the people, both ordained and lay persons, whose needs it was designed to serve.——————————————————————————–