St. Mary's Anglican Church, Bridgetown

You'll find Saint Mary's Church at the junction of Cheapside Road, Harts Street, and Suttle Street, directly across from the Old Town Hall. This is an active church serving Bridgetown, but it feels like a rural parish church even in the hustle of the big city.

Part of this church's charm comes from its lovely grounds, protected from the outside world by a simple wrought iron fence. In addition, the colonial style adds to the ambiance, making one feel like they're in a rural parish in England.

The building is next to the Jubilee Garden, which was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee. The garden was abandoned and used as a bus terminal for some years but was restored to its former glory in 2005.

The site of Saint Mary's is where the first church was built on the island back in 1641. That wooden church was Saint Michael's, and a hurricane destroyed it in 1780. Even before the storm, however, the decision to move Saint Michael's had been made.

After Saint Michaels was moved, this site sat vacant for 45 years. Finally, in 1825, the legislature decided to build a new church here, and Saint Mary's Church was consecrated in 1827.

Several local persons of note are buried here, including National Hero Samual Jackman Prescod, the first non-white person elected to Parliament. On the east end of the church grounds, you can find the Justice Tree. This large cotton tree was, at one time, the site of public hangings.