St. Phillip's Church, Anglican church ruins in Kingstown, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
St. Phillip's Church is a stone church ruin in Kingstown on Tortola, with walls that tell the story of its colonial past. The structure stands near Road Town and displays architectural features typical of its era.
The church was built in 1840 by freed Africans who had been rescued by the Royal Navy from slave ships. These settlers created one of the earliest independent African places of worship in the region.
The church served as a gathering place where freed Africans built community through shared religious practices and social bonds.
The site stands on private property and requires permission from the landowner to visit. You can photograph the ruins and use the space for special occasions, but advance arrangements are needed.
Over 1,300 Africans were freed by the Royal Navy between 1814 and 1815 from slave ships and settled in Tortola. This rescue mission was an unexpected chapter of colonial history that led to the building of this place of worship.
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