Location Spanish Town Denomination Baptist Status Church Phone +1 876-984-2551 | Country Jamaica Founded 1827 (1827) Functional status Active Founder James Phillippo | |
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Address 9 William St, Spanish Town, Jamaica Similar Colbeck Castle, Kingston railway station - J, Spanish Town railway st, Fort George - Jamaica, Edinburgh Castle - Jamaica | ||
Jis building history phillippo baptist church
Phillippo Baptist Church , built 1827, is named after its founder and first minister, Reverend James Phillippo, a Baptist missionary who arrived in Jamaica in 1823. He campaigned for the abolition of slavery and for the establishment of "Free Villages" for emancipated slaves. The church is located on the corner of William and French Streets, in Spanish Town, Jamaica.
Contents
Mr john sayers addressing old farmers of 1963 class at phillippo baptist church
History
Rev. Phllippo built the Church in 1827 to replace an earlier one which he had built which was burned to the ground by plantation owners (planters), who were vehemently opposed to the preaching of religion to slaves. Phillippo died in 1879 and is buried, with his wife and son, in the churchyard. There are two tablets in the Church building dedicated to his memory.
Also located on the Church grounds is a stone slab which marks where some of the shackles of slavery are buried. The slab is inscribed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Church.
The Church was damaged during Hurricane Dean in 2007, which ripped the roof off the building, and required $25m ($300,000 USD) in repairs. The Church was closed for 20 months and underwent significant restoration, reopening in June, 2009. At the official reopening ceremonies of the Church, Prime Minister Bruce Golding's representative (Olivia Grange, then culture minister) said that "Phillippo Baptist Church represents a great part of the nation's history, therefore, we need for all to be aware of the pride and joy it gives to see the restoration done. James Phillipo was even denied permission to preach to slaves several times, but this did not stop him from setting up the church". Golding's representative also noted that the church played a major role in the fight for the abolition of slavery, and that even by today's standards is still an impressive architectural creation.