St. John's Cathedral, St. John's
Encyclopedia
St. John's Cathedral also known as the St. John the Divine, the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, is an Anglican church perched on a hilltop in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
. The present cathedral
with its imposing white twin towers was built on a fossilized reef, in 1845, and is now in its third incarnation, as earthquake
s in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures. The iron gates on the south face of the church are flanked by pillars displaying lead Biblical figures of St John the Divine and St John the Baptist
. They were taken by HMS
Temple in 1756, from a French ship destined for Martinique
.
The present church is the successor cathedral built in the same location where two other churches had existed one after the other. The first St. John’s Anglican Church built here in 1681 was a simple wooden structure, devoid of any decorations. This was severely damaged in the earthquake in 1745. The second church, a much larger one, was built in 1746. English
bricks were used to build this church. The architect of this church was Mr. Robert Cullen. It had a short steeple
from the western end. About a century later when the church was elevated to the status of a cathedral, following which the Diocese
of Antigua
also got established, in 1842. However, soon thereafter, in February 1843 an earthquake caused serious damage to the church. The church was partially restored, and the first Bishop of Antigua
, Bishop Daniel Davis, was ordained in the same year of 1843.
Adjoining the old church, which was damaged, a new cathedral was planned and construction began on October 9, 1845, after Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, Governor of Antigua laid the foundation stone. At the end of three years of construction the new cathedral started its first divine service, with the consecration taking place on July 25, 1848. The new church was reported to be able to provide for a congregation of 2,200.
The present history of the church has been acclaimed by a citizen of Antigua, a centenarian, in his memoirs who has said, "the planters called the Cathedral 'Big Church' and that it frightened the people as a symbol of English power. He also said that the Anglican Church catered more for the planter class, but the black people got more involved at about the time of World War I
. At last some black persons’ names were memorialized on the cathedral's walls."
In 2008 it was reported that the church is in a state of disrepair and that a renovation project has been in the pipeline for several years. Also affected is the large cemetery of the church which is often used as something of a park during lunch breaks by Antiguan workers.
According to the first 1846 edition of The Church of England Magazine, the current church is 156 feet (47.5 m) long and 46 feet (14 m) wide. The length of the transept is 104 feet (31.7 m). The building is made from freestone, with stained glass windows and dark pitch pine
furnishings. A unique feature in the cathedral is the pitch pine interior structure and cladding to provide lateral reinforcing for earthquake or hurricane loads. As a result that the cathedral is known by the epithet "a building within a building." The cathedral has two 70 feet (21.3 m) high towers built in baroque style of architecture
with cupolas topping them, described as "slightly awkward," and are painted in an aluminum color. This design had invited derision when built as representing "a pagan temple with two dumpy pepper pot towers", while now it is extolled as the best cathedral in the West Indian province. The interior decor of the church is dominated by dark pine furnishings and marble tablets on the walls , some of them were salvaged after earthquakes from the old churches that stood on the spot.
The entrance iron gate from the southern side into the cathedral, which was erected 1789, depicts two imposing bronze statues, one of St. John the Divine and the other of St. John, the Baptist
inflowing robes. It is said that these statues were confiscated by the British
navy from the French
ship HMS Temple in Martinique waters in 1756 during the “Seven Years War” and moved to this church. At the time of erection, the edifice was criticized by ecclesiastical architects as being like "a pagan temple with two dumpy pepper pot towers", however, in more recent times the same edifice has been given the accolade as "the most imposing of all the Cathedrals of the West Indian Province."
St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda
St John's is the capital and largest city of Antigua and Barbuda, a country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. St John's is located at...
. The present cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
with its imposing white twin towers was built on a fossilized reef, in 1845, and is now in its third incarnation, as earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s in 1683 and in 1745 destroyed the previous structures. The iron gates on the south face of the church are flanked by pillars displaying lead Biblical figures of St John the Divine and St John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
. They were taken by HMS
Her Majesty's Ship
Her or His Majesty's Ship is the ship prefix used for ships of the navy in some monarchies, either formally or informally.-HMS:* In the British Royal Navy, it refers to the king or queen of the United Kingdom as appropriate at the time...
Temple in 1756, from a French ship destined for Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
.
History
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
bricks were used to build this church. The architect of this church was Mr. Robert Cullen. It had a short steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
from the western end. About a century later when the church was elevated to the status of a cathedral, following which the Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Antigua
Antigua
Antigua , also known as Waladli, is an island in the West Indies, in the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region, the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish and was named by Christopher Columbus after an icon in Seville Cathedral, Santa Maria de la...
also got established, in 1842. However, soon thereafter, in February 1843 an earthquake caused serious damage to the church. The church was partially restored, and the first Bishop of Antigua
Bishop of Antigua
The Anglican diocese of Antigua and the Leeward Islands was formed in 1842, as the diocese of Barbados, then one of two covering the Caribbean, was sub-divided.There is also a Catholic diocese.-List of Anglican bishops of Antigua:...
, Bishop Daniel Davis, was ordained in the same year of 1843.
Adjoining the old church, which was damaged, a new cathedral was planned and construction began on October 9, 1845, after Sir Charles Augustus Fitzroy, Governor of Antigua laid the foundation stone. At the end of three years of construction the new cathedral started its first divine service, with the consecration taking place on July 25, 1848. The new church was reported to be able to provide for a congregation of 2,200.
The present history of the church has been acclaimed by a citizen of Antigua, a centenarian, in his memoirs who has said, "the planters called the Cathedral 'Big Church' and that it frightened the people as a symbol of English power. He also said that the Anglican Church catered more for the planter class, but the black people got more involved at about the time of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. At last some black persons’ names were memorialized on the cathedral's walls."
In 2008 it was reported that the church is in a state of disrepair and that a renovation project has been in the pipeline for several years. Also affected is the large cemetery of the church which is often used as something of a park during lunch breaks by Antiguan workers.
Architecture
The cathedral was designed by the architect J. Fuller of Bath and raised at the highest point in the St. John's town. F.W. Rowe of Bristol was in charge of the construction. The cathedral is seen now as an impressive landmark providing a panoramic view of the island.According to the first 1846 edition of The Church of England Magazine, the current church is 156 feet (47.5 m) long and 46 feet (14 m) wide. The length of the transept is 104 feet (31.7 m). The building is made from freestone, with stained glass windows and dark pitch pine
Pitch Pine
The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized pine, native to eastern North America. This species occasionally hybridizes with other pine species such as Loblolly Pine , Shortleaf Pine , and Pond Pine The Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida, is a small-to-medium sized (6-30 meters or 20-100 feet)...
furnishings. A unique feature in the cathedral is the pitch pine interior structure and cladding to provide lateral reinforcing for earthquake or hurricane loads. As a result that the cathedral is known by the epithet "a building within a building." The cathedral has two 70 feet (21.3 m) high towers built in baroque style of architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
with cupolas topping them, described as "slightly awkward," and are painted in an aluminum color. This design had invited derision when built as representing "a pagan temple with two dumpy pepper pot towers", while now it is extolled as the best cathedral in the West Indian province. The interior decor of the church is dominated by dark pine furnishings and marble tablets on the walls , some of them were salvaged after earthquakes from the old churches that stood on the spot.
The entrance iron gate from the southern side into the cathedral, which was erected 1789, depicts two imposing bronze statues, one of St. John the Divine and the other of St. John, the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
inflowing robes. It is said that these statues were confiscated by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
navy from the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
ship HMS Temple in Martinique waters in 1756 during the “Seven Years War” and moved to this church. At the time of erection, the edifice was criticized by ecclesiastical architects as being like "a pagan temple with two dumpy pepper pot towers", however, in more recent times the same edifice has been given the accolade as "the most imposing of all the Cathedrals of the West Indian Province."