St. Phillip's Church, Tortola BVI
The oldest free African American Church in the American continent can be seen in Tortola. Also known as the African Church by the locals of Tortola, St Phillip’s Church was built in the early part of the nineteenth century for the free black slaves. Though this church occupies a prime spot in the history of the world, today it lies in ruins with no one to care for it.
Just like most of the other tourist attractions in this region of the world, St Phillip’s Church also has an intriguing history associated to it. The Slave Trade Act that came into effect in the year 1807 put an end to slave trade in the United States of America. In order to control slave trade, the seas were patrolled by Royal Navy personnel to prevent foreign ships from bringing bonded slaves into America. Between the years 1808 and 1815, there were about six ships that were captured by the Royal Navy. During this course of time, close to 1500 freed slaves were sent to Tortola.
In the year 1819, a Portuguese ship called Donna Paula, a ship carrying a number of slaves, was found wrecked at Anegada. Over 230 slaves who were aboard the ship and the crew of the ship were saved by the members of the Navy. There were many other ships that were seen at Anegada till the year 1824. The slaves who came aboard these ships could not survive long because of the pathetic conditions in which they were brought from their native land into America.
The remaining liberated slaves were offered a position in the military by the government and they jumped at the opportunity. However, there were a lot of them who declined the offer and wanted to stay on these islands. The African slaves who refused the offer to serve in the military services had to serve as “apprentices” for a period of 14 years before they were completely liberated. Finally, in the year 1828, they found their much needed freedom.
The next issue on hand was to find a place to relocate these liberated slaves. In the year 1831, Kingstown in Tortola was chosen as the perfect place. At that point of time, Kingstown was uninhabited which eased the process of relocation. Every African American who was transported to this part of Tortola was given a piece of land on which they could grow crops and build homes. The liberated slaves changed their religion and embraced Christianity. A church was built in this region to help them follow their new religion and this church was named St Phillip’s Church.
Today, St Phillip’s Church in Tortola is in a state of disdain. Except for a couple of open air wedding ceremonies that take place here occasionally, there have been no traces of any religious activities for decades. The church now stands on a lad that is privately owned. There is no restriction on any tourist visiting the church and getting some photographs clicked. There are no entry charges as well. Though there has been new about the government taking over this property and renovating the church, nothing seems to happen on this front.
The good news though is that there is a restoration project underway to preserve the solid remains of this site. St Phillip’s Church in Tortola will be given a historic status, thanks to the important position it occupies in the history of freed African slaves.