Holding On To Heritage: St.James Parish Church

As you drive or walk through Holetown in Barbados you may notice a tall standing coral stone building surrounded by lush greenery- well this is the famously known St. James Parish Church. This church is located in the Parish of St. James and is a stone's throw away from the ocean. The first settlers landed in Holetown in 1626 and it was decided that a place of worship should be erected as the settlers community was growing at a rapid pace. In 1628 a wooden building was constructed on this site and then replaced by a coral stone building in 1683 which is now still in use. St James Parish church has been restored in recent years and has been honoured by the Barbados National Trust for their restoration efforts.

There are many interesting features about St James Parish church such as the The Old Church bell (the oldest church bell in Barbados), the original baptismal font which is 300 years old, stained glass windows and objects of art namely sculptures and murals. If you do pass through Holetown, be sure to stop at St James Parish church and take in a bit of history while enjoying the stunning architecture and surroundings.