Small church a testament to slave owner's religious faith

By Catholic Online
10/30/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Both slaveowners and slaves worshipped at Cottle Church

The Cottle Church, in the Caribbean islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis is a popular spot for weddings. The small church retains an austere elegance untouched by the disrepair it has suffered in more than 150 years it has stood.

The Cottle Church ruins are located north of Charlestown, hidden in the woods. Visitors must find the small sign on the main road just south of the Newcastle Airport and follow the dirt track. The road will lead you back to the church.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - John Cottle, a onetime president of the island of Nevis, built this tiny church in 1824 as a place where his family and his slaves could worship together. A very lenient slave owner by the standards of the time, Cottle created this Anglican Church, which was never consecrated, as it was illegal for slaves to worship in this area.

The first Reverend of the church was Daniel David. Four year after John Cottle's death, the building fell into disuse. It was then rebuilt by Governor Sir Graham Briggs in the late 19th century, but because of the population decline on the island, the Cottle Church again fell into ruins at the turn of the 20th century.

The structure was severely damaged in a 1974 earthquake and again in 1989 during Hurricane Hugo. The stone building, though, still provides a glimpse into Nevis' history. The church underwent some restoration work in 2010 to help stabilize it.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Cottle Church, restoration, Carribean

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