Saint Margarets

Saint Margarets

Saint Margaret's Church is a quaint little country church located in the Parish of Saint John. The church was built exclusively by J. A. Haynes of Newcastle Plantation in 1862 and named after his wife, Margaret Ann Haynes, who died in 1917 at the age of ninety. Inside the church is a plaque dedicated to her by her eight children. Saint Margaret's was consecrated on 9 December 1863 by Bishop Thomas Parry. This church was built on the site of the old Glenburnie Boiler House in Saint John, and incidentally much of the rubble from the old boiler house was used to build this rural church in Barbados. In fact, the building materials themselves may have contributed to the rather odd appearance of this small church, but despite its odd appearance, it is still much loved by the people of this rural area, Barbadians, old and young, who worship here. Compared to other churches built on the beautiful island of Barbados at the time, this one is quite distinctive. The structure is squat in appearance, with an oddly proportioned wooden portico on the building's façade, directly above the main entrance to the church. This structure holds the church bell, and it is believed that this portico was actually a later addition to the church. Indeed, the simple, almost sparse interior of the church contradicts this strange aspiration to opulence that the exterior of the church displays. Despite its awkward appearance, Saint Margaret's still exudes a strange charm that beckons visitors to come and explore more of the grounds and interior of this odd-looking Barbadian Anglican church.