St. James Parish, the Oldest Church in Barbados

16 April 201816 October 2024

On our cruise stop visit to Barbados, my friend Dave negotiated a great deal with the taxi driver and guide, to take us through the west side of the island. Gene, our chauffeur, suggested a stop at St. James Parish Church, the oldest church on the island. Upon arrival, the pastor happened to be outside and welcomed us to his parish. Handing us a brochure, the booklet outlined a tour of the highlights of the church.

Entering at the west end, close to the parking area, we passed the first set of pews and found ourselves standing at the cross-aisle. To our left and right were the north and south exits of the building, while straight ahead, was the nave and the altar. The thick pillars on each side of the room were made from coral.

Looking back towards the entrance, we noticed the mahogany pipe organ above. Beautifully carved, we learned it was approximately 130 years old. More mahogany features stood between the nave and the altar to include the screen, paneling, choir stalls, roof beams, the altar and pulpit.

The “Modern Stained Glass Window” represents the Ascension of Christ and stands a memorial to those soldiers who lost their lives in World War I.

The stained glass window at the south entrance tells the story of the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunich.

At the north entrance of the church is the original bell dating back to 1696.

In 1887, the original burial ground was closed and a modern cemetery was opened nearby. The tombstone of John Gibbs dates back to 1700.

St. James Parish Church is an Anglican/Episcopal Church located on the island’s first settlement of Holetown in St James Parish. It is an active congregation that oversees a number of local outreach programs. The church is located in Holetown, St. James, Barbados. For more information, visit their website at http://stjames.truepath.com/index.htm.

Please note that there is no admission fee to visit the church, but donations are greatly appreciated.

What to See and What to Do:

St. James Parish Church
Church Road
Holetown, Barbados
Telephone: 246 422 4117

Where to Stay:

Hilton Barbados Resort
Needhams Point, St. Michael
Bridgetown, Barbados, BB11000
Telephone: +246 426 0200

Where to Eat:

Waterfront Cafe
The Careennage
Bridgetown, Barbados, West Indies
Telephone: 246 427 0093

Order the local beer and a flying-fish sandwich!

What to Eat:

Flying Fish – the national dish of Barbados
Fish Cakes – salted cod or whitefish
Pepperpot – meat with Bajan spices and hot peppers
JugJug – guinea corn flour, pigeon peas, salted beef brisket, ham or other salted meats, pork or chicken, onions, and other herbs and spices
Pudding and Souse – steamed sweet potatoes made with onions, salt and pepper and souse is a picked pork dish
Roti – island burrito

What to Read:

Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan
A Caribbean Mystery, by Agatha Christie
Captain Blood, by Rafael Sabatini

Photo Guide for Barbados:

The Animal Flower Cave
Cherry Tree Hill
Silver Sands Beach
Almond Beach Resort
Speightstown
Rihanna Drive, Bridgetown

Are you interested in visiting churches or other places of worship when you travel? If yes, I would be interested in hearing about some of the locations you visited in the comments below. Happy Travels!

At the south entrance is the original baptismal font dating back to 1684.

An Ethiopian “Hunger Veil”

Barbados Taxi Tour, West Side of the Island

2 April 201817 September 2024

Strolling through Bridgetown, I was approached by a driver who offered me a great deal on a tour of Barbados. His name was Gene and I spent the next couple of hours with him touring the west side of the island. We started in Bridgetown and rode up the coast, stopping at St. James Parish Church, passing through Holetown and Speightstown. We eventually worked our way inland towards St. Nicholas Abbey and Cherry Tree Hill.

The drive began on Spring Garden Highway which is known as the coastal road of Highway 1. The coast is absolutely breathtaking with its crystal clear waters and a myriad of blue seas on the horizon.

Gene slowed down along a stretch of beach to point out the pyramid monument. The memorial marks the location where terrorists took down a Cuban Airliner in 1976 which was traveling to Jamaica. Unfortunately, all 73 passengers were killed.

Our next stop was Sandy Lane, known for its upscale resorts and luxury homes. Many celebrities and millionaires have made their homes here. Behind a wrought iron fence and security, we caught a glimpse of Rihanna’s new $22 million dollar condo.

Gene slowed down to point out where Tiger Woods was married as well. Sunderlin is another fashionable, extravagant housing development in Sandy Lane, Barbados.

On the outskirts of Holetown is Barbados’ oldest church, St. James Parish. Gene suggested we stop due to its historic importance to the island. I was happy to walk into the auditorium, admiring the stained glass windows and church organ. Outside of the church was an old cemetery, dating back to the early 1600s.

North of St. Peter’s Parish is a little fish market in Speightstown. Second to Bridgetown, this is one of the largest town centers on the island with several historic structures dating back to the time of slavery. Arlington House and the Bridge of Tides Mural are some of the top attractions.

Our journey led us through the beautiful scenery of historic Speightstown, heading a little further north.

Gene stopped for a few moments so I could takes photos of Coral Cliff Beach Club. One of the newer developments in the area, there are properties here that are available for sale starting at $1 million.

The scenic road began to curve inland as we passed the entrance to St. Nicholas Abbey Plantation. This small neighborhood is located in the Irish/Scotland District. The plantation, the Cherry Tree Hill scenic view and Morgan Lewis Windmill are a part of this lovely community.

Driving further down the road towards the water, the high tide was crashing up against the rocks. We had a beautiful view from Cherry Tree Hill and with a closer look, there was a small village not too far from the shoreline. Nestled in the parish of St. Andrew, I was standing about 850 feet above sea level. An avenue of mahogany trees have since replaced the cherry trees that once stood here.

I could tell we were nearing town as cows were randomly chained along the side of the road. Gene explained that this is a very common tradition as people do not always have property for the cows to roam in an enclosed space. He also said that the roadside cattle benefit the city as the cows maintain the height of the grass along popular roadways.

I thoroughly enjoyed my taxi tour of Barbados’ west end and thanked Gene for his hospitality. It is not often that you have the opportunity to see a place from the perspective of one who lives there and of course, it is always wonderful to explore rather than staying on the ship. Just another beautiful day in paradise.

Have you visited the island of Barbados? What attractions did you see or would you recommend for future trips? I would be so happy to read your comments below! Happy Travels!