How about a story that starts with bricks? These aren’t just any bricks. They whisper tales of merchant ships and toiling hands. We are standing before St. Patrick’s Anglican Church in Mt Pleasant Tobago. This majestic church is the oldest church building in Tobago. St. Patrick’s Anglican Church was commissioned in 1843. It serves as a landmark in Mt Pleasant village.
The bricks you see forming St. Patrick’s Anglican Church have a unique past. They once served as ballast on English merchant ships. These ships transported sugar to the United Kingdom. These are fire bricks from the era of the sugar plantation. Envision enslaved people carrying these very bricks. They toted them on their heads from Mt Irvine bay. They walked to the site where St. Patrick’s Anglican Church now stands.
Look for the grave of Jane Lovell. She was the last of the slaves who carried bricks for the church. Her grave occupies a prominent spot in front of St. Patrick’s Anglican Church. She lived to be over 100 years old.
St. Patrick’s Anglican Church isn’t just old in years. It holds treasures from centuries past. Two Bibles used when the church was commissioned in 1843 are still here. Lois Leslie is the chairman of the anniversary committee. She can tell you more about them. Consider the bronze lectern. Sir Geoffrey Knox donated it. It bears the date 1727. Imagine the sermons that have been read from it.
The church also has an 18th-century chalice. It is made of copper-plated silver. Cecil Anthony found a baptismal shell at Buccoo. This shell is made of Mother of Pearl. It has a carving of our Lord representing the Resurrection. It is believed to have come from a French ship that sank over 200 years ago. Some of the pews you see may have been installed originally. Relics from the horse and buggy era stand at the front of the church.
St Patrick Anglican Church celebrated its 170th anniversary. The theme was 170 Years. One Church, One Family, Alleluia. The church celebrated with a Family Day at Canoe Bay. The celebrations focused on the Anglican Bishop’s vision. The vision was for the Anglican diocese and A New Wine Vineyard. This vision addresses the historical position of the Anglican Church. It looks at its current position and its future role. This includes its role within the local and national community.
St. Patrick’s Anglican Church stands as a testament to time. It is a symbol of faith and perseverance. It is more than just a building. It is a living story etched in brick and spirit. As you leave St. Patrick’s Anglican Church remember the hands that built it. Remember the faith that sustains it.