Central

Port of Spain

North West

East

North East

South East

South West

Temple in the Sea

The temple in the sea is the culmination of the vision of one man. Returning from India during World War Two he had a narrow escape from a German torpedo and vowed to build a temple to thank God for his escape.  Siewdass Sadhu repeated sought to erect a temple on sugar cane land and was prevented from doing so. In fact he completed construction of a small temple on land but the estate owners broke it down. Eventually in 1947 he began construction of the temple on land that he reclaimed from the sea, doing the reclamation  by personally carrying the rocks by hand. In all Siewdass Sadhu spent 25 years building it in the sea. Unfortunately the effect of sea erosion prevented Sadhu from ever completing the structure and he died in 1971 with the structure incomplete. In 1994, the government created a more permanent artificial island and finished the temple to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Indian Arrival Day.

The temple is located at the end of the Orange Field Road in Waterloo.

Dattatreya Mandir

Located at Orange Field Road, Carapachaima, this place of worship is dedicated to Dattatreya, the Hindu trinity. Admission to the complex is free and it is open from 6 am to 12 noon and 5 pm to 8 pm Monday to Friday; and from 6 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm on Saturday and Sunday. On its pink exterior walls are numerous small statues carved into the walls, while inside are several murties.

The structure, which took two years to complete, was built according to the Dravidian style of architecture which flourished in India between the 12th and 14th century. Fourteen stonemasons were specially flown in from India and worked alongside local artisans in order to create the filigree ornaments and the life-sized elephant statues on the entrances of the meditation centre. Inside the main mandir are smaller mandirs dedicated to Dattatreys, Lord Shiva and the Mother Goddess.

The inner roof of the entrance foyer has exquisite paintings and statuettes. Photography is permitted on the outside but not allowed inside. Visitors are expected to show reverence by removing their shoes before walking inside. Cold drinks and snacks are on sale.

Hanuman Statue

This 85 foot statue is reputed to be the largest such statue outside of India and was consecrated in 2003. It is on the grounds of the Dattatreya Yoga Center and Mandir at Orange Field Road, Carapachaima. Inside the Hanuman murti there is a smaller Hanuman murti.

Hannuman was the best warrior and he protected the gods from evil powers. He stands for faith, friendship, strength and the willingness to make sacrifices. The significance of the height is to symbolise that all devotees should grow in height spiritually.

There is another larger than life Hanuman murti on the grounds of the Diego Martin SWAHA temple.

Confluence Magazine has an article about other Special Sacred Hindu Places in Trinidad

Charlieville_Highway_Masjid

The Charlieville Highway Mosque, lying alongside the Uriah Butler Highway on the outskirts of Chaguanas is a beautiful building that allows us to see many aspects of Islamic architecture.

On the front of the building, in the centre, can be seen a niche in the wall, which is the mihrab. The mihrab always points to the east, the direction of Mecca, the birthplace of the prophet. This niche is an important acoustic feature for the interior of the mosque as it allows the voice of the imam to resonate within the mosque.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

The first Anglican Church, known simply as the Trinity Church, was a modest wooden building on the corner of Prince and Frederick streets. In 1808, a great fire swept through the city, destroying every public building, including the church. In 1809 the British Crown granted money for the construction of a new church. The construction was started in Brunswick Square (now Woodford Square but there were objections from the public resulting in a halt to the construction.

On May 30, 1816, the cornerstone of the Trinity Cathedral was laid in its current location on 30A Abercromby Street, Port of Spain. Architecturally, the Cathedral reflects the late Georgian style mixed with Gothic, as well as elements of the Victorian age. The layout was designed by the Colonial Secretary, Philip Reinagle. The magnificent hammer-beam roof is made of local wood and characterized by huge trusses. The altar is built entirely of selected local mahogany and backed by alabaster and marble mounted on a base of Portland stone. The stained glass windows showcase magnificent representations of the saints. The Cathedral is filled with interesting historical items such as the marble statue dedicated to former Governor and founder of the Church, Sir Ralph Woodford. Along the walls inside the Cathedral are Tablets placed "in the memory of" former members of the British elite of colonial days.

There are tours of the Cathedral, on Tuesdays and Thursdays which cost $10, and begin   at 8.30 am and 1.30 pm.

St John's Church

St John's London Baptist Church is located at 8 Pembroke Street in Port of Spain, next to the Port of Spain City Hall. London Baptists first came to Trinidad at the end of the American War of Independence with the negro soldiers who were transported to Trinidad in 1815 in exchange for helping the British in the war.

The cornerstone of the church was laid in 1853 and the church opened for worship in March 1854. In 1882 the church was enlarged. The original Manse built in 1845 still stands and is now the church office.

Holy Rosary Church

Construction of the Holy Rosary Church began in 1892. The design of the church is in the Gothic revival style. Its vaulted ceilings in the main aisle and the lower ceilings of the side aisles form the shape of a cross. The stained glass lancet windows came from Toulouse, France and the stone blocks for the exterior of the building came are blue limestone from the Laventille quarries.

In 1829 Abbé Francis de Ridder purchased land that the church and schools currently stand on. He was a free coloured priest in Trinidad at a time when the first civil governor, Sir Ralph Woodford, had been imposing restrictions upon the coloured population. His work and independence challenged the colonial establishment. In the political struggle for justice that ensued, the site of the Holy Rosary Church was the free coloured headquarters in Port-of-Spain.

The Holy Rosary Church was considered the last French enclave in a predominately British Port-of-Spain. Because Trinidad was a British Crown Colony, french culture was being systematically dismantled. The finance for building came directly from the mainly french creole parishioners and as a result the progress of the project depended entirely on their fortunes. It took almost fifty years of hard work for this beautiful building to be completed and blessed in 1939, plus a further forty years for it to be consecrated in 1980.

Belmont_Churches
 
Belmont is a suburb of Port of Spain lying on the eastern side of the city at the foot of the Laventille Hills. It is an area known for narrow streets and winding lanes with houses sitting close together. Belmont's development really began in the 1840's and 1850's when the British Royal Navy started stopping illegal slave ships and rescuing the captured Africans who were on these ships. These rescued Africans then began settling in Belmont which was at the time was on the outskirts of the city's boundary. In the 1880's and 1890's the population of Belmont increased significantly as the black professional class began to build large homes in the area. Many of these homes survive to the present either as residences or business places and Belmont is one area in Trinidad where it is easy to see the varied architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th century. Two of the buildings that reflect the architectural styles of that period are the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and the St Margaret's Anglican Church, both of which are located on Belmont Circular Road.

St Margaret's Anglican Church

In 1856 Charles Warner donated two lots of land on Belmont Circular Road to the Anglican Church for the construction of a church and school. In 1860 four lots next to the site were purchased by the church. The original building was a wooden church and in 1890 the foundation stone for a brick church was laid with construction being completed by December 1891. St Margaret's is a pretty stone church with its tall steeple and the headstones of the graves crowding around the church on three sides. Thanks to the foresight of the early church members in acquiring the additional land, the church is set back from the road. Within the church there is a magnificent stained glass window representing Margaret of Antioch that was installed in 1906. In the 1980's two new stained glass windows were added on either side of the main window. These new windows were done by the Trinidadian stained glass artist Mike Watson and show children of every race singing the praises of God, Yoruba drummers invoking Him, an African man offering a bunch of bananas and an Indian woman picking a hibiscus flower.


St Francis of Assisi - Belmont

St Francis of Assisi in Belmont is another of Trinidad's beautiful church buildings and is one of two Catholic churches in Trinidad that was named after St Francis. The other St Francis of Assisi church is located in Erin. The Belmont church is constructed of local limestone, most likely from the quarries that operated in Laventille. In 1865 a church and school were constructed on the site but with the expanding population of Belmont at the turn of the century it was decided to construct a new church. Thus in 1902 construction of the present church was completed. In addition to the limestone walls the interior pillars are of granite from Aberdeen Scotland.

Tranquility Methodist Church

Tranquility Methodist Church is located on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Tragarete Road in Port of Spain. This church is part of the National Trust of historic buildings. In 1796 the first Methodists came to Trinidad as Wesleyan missionaries. They established a church in Port of Spain using rented premises. The church members however wanted a building of their own and so in 1870 they acquired the land on which the church presently sits. After much saving the foundation stone of the church was laid in 1886 with the church being completed in April 1886. Then in January 1906, cornerstone of the present building was laid. This church has survived an earthquake in 1954 and a fire in 1984 and continues to be a place of comfort for the weary soul.

Stone Churches

Trinidad is not usually thought of as an island with significant limestone but yet there are large limestone beds. The Northern Range of Trinidad has extensive beds of limestone known as the Maraval formation that run through the the entire range from Diego Martin to Toco. These limestone beds cause the flat areas in many of the Northern Range valleys. Many of the early churches in the Port of Spain area were constructed using limestone with much of the limestone coming from quarries in Laventille.

Laventille is located on the eastern side of Port of Spain and the name reflects the French influence on Trinidad. The northeast trade winds come over the Laventille hills and then onto Port of Spain. The name was therefore given to the area because it was considered The Vent (La Ventaille) through which the winds blew. The Laventille area had several quarries, with two of these being the Eastern Quarry and Jeremy Quarry that are situated on Picton Hill to the east and west of Fort Picton respectively.  Another quarry in the area was called the Piccadilly Quarry. Due to the close proximity of Laventille to Port of Spain, the stone from these quarries was widely used for construction.

In addition to the Laventille limestone, ballast bricks were often used especially for outlining the windows. The huge sailing ships that came from Europe while bringing manufactured goods could not completely fill their holds with goods because of the small size of the island's population and so filled their hulls with the bricks to be used as ballast. In sailboats ballast is used to help the boat resist the lateral forces on the sail as insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds and too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. Once the ships arrived in Trinidad the ballast bricks were unloaded and used for local building needs while the ships took the locally produced rum, sugar, cocoa, cotton back to Europe. To hold the rocks and bricks together, the cement was often a mortar made from sand, limestone and molasses.

Some of the churches that were constructed using Laventille limestone are St Ann's Church of Scotland, All Saints, Sacred Heart and St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church.

The initial spanish settlers of Trinidad were all of the Catholic faith. When the Cedula de Populacion, which allowed French settlers into Trinidad, was introduced in 1783, one of the conditions for entry was that the immigrant had to be Catholic. As such when the British captured Trinidad in 1797, the majority of the population was non-english speaking. In order to cater for English speaking Catholics, Sacred Heart Church was constructed in 1882.

This church which is located on the corner of Richmond Street and Sackville Street in Port of Spain was constructed using limestone from the Laventille Quarries. Many aspects of it design give the impression of a medieval fort with towers and battlements. The Photo Gallery has additional pictures that show these features.

The St Ann's Roman Catholic Church is another of the stone churches of Trinidad. Located in the suburb of St Ann's on St Ann's Avenue (just after the Chinese Association building), it was constructed in 1861.

On first hearing the name, The St. Ann's Church of Scotland, many persons would think that this church is located in the suburb of Port of Spain now called St Ann's. In fact this church is located on the corner of Charlotte Street and Oxford Street in Port of Spain. The  church derived its name because in 1854 when the church was built, Charlotte Street was called Rue St. Anns (St Ann's Road).

This church was created by Portuguese Presbyterian immigrants who fled from Catholic religious persecution in Madeira and arrived in Trinidad on 16th of September 1846. In Madeira the Catholics had burned their schools and destroyed their vineyards. As a result of the violence against them, these Presbyterians had been almost forced to run to the harbour, where there happened to be ships that had come for other Portuguese immigrants to Trinidad and St Vincent. The first group was 197 persons and in all approximately 600 Portuguese Presbyterians came to Trinidad. Many of these first Portuguese Presbyterian immigrants were destitute when they arrived in Trinidad as a result of the haste with which they left Madeira. Unfortunately they were snubbed by the other Madeirans in Trinidad who were Catholic. They were assisted by Greyfriars Church on Frederick Street and St John's Baptist Church in Port-of-Spain. In 1854 under the leadership of Reverend Henrique Vieira they constructed their own church. In 1894, the church was enlarged using Laventille limestone and ballast bricks. over the years the church has been known by several names, The Portuguese Church, the United Free Church and the United Kirk.

Built during 1844 and 1846 of Laventille stone with ballast bricks outlining the doors and windows, All Saints Church is on the western side of the Queens Park Savannah at the corner of Marli Street immediately after Boissiere House. It was enlarged in 1884. Within this Anglican Church are three beautiful stained glass windows and a hand carved Episcopal chair.

Port of Spain Hindu Mandir

The Port-of-Spain Hindu Mandir also known as Paschim Kaashi (Benares of the West) is situated on Ethel Street in St. James. Within its walls are the most beautiful murtis (idols) imported from India made especially for the Mandir. A manicured garden exists to provide the fresh flowers used for worship and it contains trees that have been sacred to Hindus for thousands of years. At the back of the Mandir there is a cultural centre containing classrooms where dance, music,craft and Hindi are taught.

The Mandir is open to all visitors. The main Mandir is open for worship on Sundays at 8:00 am and 6:00pm and other visits may be made during the week by telephoning the caretaker at 868-622- 4949. Visits by tour groups must be arranged in advance.

In the 19th century St. James was a cane farming area peopled by indentured Indian immigrants. It was their dream to erect a structure of which they could be proud. This took place in 1963 when construction began of Port of Spain's first Hindu Mandir or temple. All the major Hindu families living in St. James in the early fifties became actively involved. Many prominent members of the Port of Spain Hindu community assisted in this construction effort.

Local architect John Newel Lewis designed the original structure utilizing Trinidad architectural concepts of a city temple making the Mandir uniquely Trinidadian Hindu and not a Mandir of India. Within the compound there is a Kali Mandir that again reflects a Trinidadian approach in that the architect was Chinese, the builder Muslim and the craftsmen African and Indian. Inside can be seen the inspired work of Ken Morris.

Haji_Gookool_Meah_Mosque_St_James

Most of the middle aged and older persons in Trinidad will be familiar with the phrase "as cool as Gookool", though many may not know what gave rise to the phrase. In 1853, a six year old boy called Modhoo came to Trinidad from Kashmir as the son of indentured laborers, however within 3 months of arrival his mother died of malaria and he was adopted by a Hindu family who gave him the name Gookool. When he was older he was indentured at the Concord Estate in Pointe-à-Pierre. After his indentureship he purchased a donkey cart and made a living hauling sugar cane to the factory at Usine Saint Madeline. After a few years he sold his cart and established a shop in Danglade Village on the road to San Fernando. Next he went into cocoa cultivation, establishing one of the early cocoa plantations in the Diego Martin valley. From cocoa he moved on the real estate, becoming one of the major landlords in Port of Spain. He also established himself as a cinema magnate, opening the Metro cinema in Port of Spain which he later renamed the Globe Cinema and eventually operating a string of five cinemas in Port of Spain and San Fernando. The phrase "cool as Gookool" arose because in the face of the racial prejudice that existed in Trinidad at the time, Gookool conducted his business with an icy calm.

With his icy calm and business acumen, Gookool eventually became a millionaire. Throughout his life, Gookool Meah maintained his devotion to the Muslim faith and in 1922, he made the pilgrimage to Mecca which gave him the title Haji (one who has made the Haj). In 1927, Haji Gookool Meah decided to build a mosque and constructed the mosque that exists on the southern side of the Western Main Road in St James. Upon his death at the age of 92, Haji Gookool Meah left most of his money (over one million dollars) in a trust fund for the poor and to to maintain the mosque which had been named after him. That trust fund which is managed by a bank, continues to this day to maintain the mosque and also to provide for the poor, the needy and for education.

Notre Dame de La Mer

Many persons rushing through the village of Carenage on their way to and from Chaguaramas, never notice the little chapel that juts into the sea at St Peters Bay. This chapel, the entrance to which is located opposite School Street and next to the gas station, has existed since 1876. Constructed by the people of Carenage under the direction of their parish priest, Abbe Poujade, the Our Lady of the Sea chapel was at the request of the local fishermen who wanted spiritual protection. The building is made of stone which the fishermen collected from nearby bays and transported in their boats to the site.

On the seaward side of the chapel is a large statue of St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen. It is doubly symbolic that this statue is placed at this point because in the 1870's the particular piece of land was merely a rock jutting into the sea at which fishermen tied their boats.   The symbolism arises because of the words of Christ who in referring to Peter said, "on this rock I will build my church".

After it was first constructed, the chapel which has come to be known as St Peter's chapel was used often with a regular mass. In particular it was used for the blessing of the boats at the annual St Peter's Day festival held on the first Sunday after the 29th of June. Over the years its use declined and the chapel fell into disrepair. In July 2007, the chapel was restored and blessed by Archbishop Edward Gilbert.

The little chapel is now only used on special occasions. The area around the chapel is however used by persons seeking spiritual blessings as can be seen by the numerous burnt candles on the sea walls. The bay in which the chapel sits is a popular location for baptisms by the Spiritual (Shouter) Baptists.

For a close view of St Peter's statue visit the Photo Gallery

St_Chad's_Anglican_Church

On the Macqueripe Road in Chaguaramas can be seen the remains of St Chad's Anglican Church. In 1850, Daniel Cave who was the owner of Mount Pleasant Estate, donated 22,800 square feet of land to the Anglican Church for the construction of a church. The church was named after Saint Chad who was an English saint. The original church that was constructed in 1850 was made of wood but after 18 years it fell into a state of disrepair and had to be demolished. The Church members requested a new church and with the help of Daniel Cave a new church was finished in 1875. Unfortunately by 1915 this church was again in a state of decay. Agnes Tucker, who was the wife of the owner of the majority of estates in Chaguaramas, then pushed for the construction of a new church. By the end of 1915, with the help of the people of Mount Pleasant Village (which was created by the former slaves after Emancipation who settled on the lands of Mount Pleasant Estate)   and the estate workers a new church was constructed. This church remained in use until the US Army was given Chaguaramas for use as a military base.

When St Chad's church was constructed it lay between the grocery and the school. The grocery (though no longer operational) still appears in good condition because of the refurbishing that was done when Mount Pleasant Village was used in 2001 to film some of the scenes for the movie, The Mystic Masseur. Within the church's cemetery can still be seen several graves. The most prominent grave belonging to Amelia Tripp who was the daughter of William Tucker and married his business partner, Edgar Tripp. Amelia died in 1877 at the age of 24 and there are those who say that on a dark night she roams the roadway but no one has been able to prove it.

Diego_Martin_SWAHA_Temple

At the northern end of the Diego Martin valley, along St Lucien Road immediately before its intersection with the Diego Martin Main Road, is the SWAHA temple. Gracing the entrance to the temple is an imposing 25 foot Hanuman murti. While not as large as the Hanuman statue at the Dattatreya Yoga Center and Mandir at Orange Field Road, Carapachaima, this murti captures your attention as you drive by or enter the grounds of the temple.

Viewing this Hanuman murti provides a nice addition to a trip to this part of Diego Martin, with the River Estate Museum nearby and the North Post signal station a short distance away.

St Joseph Catholic Church

Construction of the present Catholic church in St. Joseph commenced in 1815 and was completed in 1816. When St Joseph was founded in 1592, one of the first buildings constructed was a Catholic Church. That church was destroyed in a raid in 1595 by Walther Raleigh but another church was rebuilt on the same spot. In 1649, the church was again destroyed in a Dutch raid and again rebuilt on the same spot. In 1815 the wooden church was replaced by the existing structure, so that the present church stands on the same location as the original church in the founding of the town in 1592. More information on St. Joseph can be found on our Other Places of Interest page.

St_Michael’s_Catholic_Church_Maracas_St_Joseph

Set on a wide flat plain looking up at the rich green hills of the Maracas valley lies St Michael’s Roman Catholic Church. With its tall steeple standing out as a counterpoint to the luxuriant dark green hills this church dominates the landscape. From the beginning of its settlement, this valley was home to numerous agricultural estates. In the 19^th century, cocoa and coffee came to be the main crops and even today in this section of the valley cocoa and coffee are still abundant. In 1870 on the site of the present church, the mainly Spanish settlers from Venezuela built a church using wood from the nearby slopes of El Tucuche. By 1890, this church had to be rebuilt and construction was begun on the present stone and mortar church. By 1900 the church was completed and the largest church bell in Trinidad installed in the steeple.

Mount St. Benedict

Mount St. Benedict is located 800 feet above sea level and a sense of calm descends as you ascend until upon reaching the Abbey, peace seems to fill your being. Founded in 1912 by monks fleeing religious persecution in Brazil, the monastery is dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Exile. The monastery had very humble beginnings and expanded over the years. In 1943 the Monastery began a seminary  to prepare young men for the diocesan priesthood. In that same year the Monastery established a Secondary School. In 1967, a Vocational School was established  to teach young people a skill such as woodwork, bookbinding, plumbing, welding or other technical craft.

The Abbey is located in the Northern Range above the suburb of St. Augustine and provides a panoramic view of the Central Plains. The Abbey welcomes persons of all faiths who visit to worship or simply absorb the serenity of the surroundings. There is a small gift shop and cafeteria where items produced by the monks, such as yogurt, honey, jams, jellies, bread and coffee, are sold.

In 1916, the Monastery opened Pax Guest House, which is still functional today and receives bird watchers from around the world. The Abbey sits on a 600 acre private reserve where the slopes are covered with lush lowland forest. There are various trails through the forest that are favored for birdwatching as a variety of species can be seen that include hawks, pigeons, hummingbirds, orioles, mockingbirds. A colony of Oilbirds nests in a cave on the property.

To get to Mount St. Benedict from Piarco International Airport, proceed west on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway (towards Port of Spain). Turn right into Macoya Road, then left (west) onto the Eastern Main Road. At the intersection of the Eastern Main Road and St Johns Road (Scotia Bank is at the corner) turn right onto St. John's Road. Follow St John's Road up the hill in a northerly direction until the signs for the entrance to the Abbey. Turn left at the entrance and follow the road to the Abbey. For those travelling from Port of Spain or areas in the South, along the Eastern Main Road, St John's Road will be on the left.

Morton_Memorial_Presbyterian_Church_Guaico

It is not often that we see wooden buildings in Trinidad, with the apparent public preference for concrete and steel. Yet there is a beautiful small wooden church on the Eastern Main Road on the outskirts of Sangre Grande in Guaico in the area known as Damarie Hill. Although given the name "Hill" the area is not really a hill but more of a rise in the road. According to a Trinidad Guardian 1999 article, immigrants from other West Indian islands, particularly St Vincent and Dominica, migrated to Guaico and brought with them their custom of giving elevated places where they lived the name "Hill," and so the name Damarie Hill.

The Morton Memorial Presbyterian Church was established in 1898 by Dr John Morton. Reverend John Morton, a Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia, Canada, came to Trinidad to recuperate from illness. During his stay, he visited sugar estates and seeing the East Indian Community about 20,000,  in a state of neglect, he returned to Canada and asked his Church to initiate a mission to these people. He offered himself as the pioneer of such a mission. The Canadian Church accepted the challenge. On January 6th, 1868, Reverend Morton, his wife and infant daughter arrived in Trinidad. Morton then began the work of developing the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad, focusing on the Indian indentured laborers in Trinidad. The first mission was at Iere Village on the western outskirts of Princes Town and in time spread throughout Trinidad.

The church at Guaico was built in 1898 and a Primary School was also established.   William Hugh Benjamin from Scotland who had a bakery in Guaico assisted Dr. John Morton, with the lumber to erect the Morton Memorial Presbyterian Church and the Guaico Presbyterian School.

Santa Rosa

When the Mission at Arima was established by the Capuchin the original church was a small house with thatched roof. The land for the church donated by Christian Robles. In 1786 under the direction of Governor Jose Chacon the church was replaced by a larger structure built with boulders taken from Calvary Hill by Amerindians. On completion of the new mission church in 1786 Governor Chacon recognised that 1786 was the 200th anniversary of the birth of the saint, Santa Rosa de Lima. Rosa de Lima, was not only the first Amerindian to be made a saint but the first saint of the New World. And so to mark the anniversary Governor Chacón dedicated the mission church to this saint, making her the patron saint of Arima.

Due to its close association with the Amerindians the religious festival has been expanded and incorporates aspects that highlight our Amerindian heritage. Now often known as the Santa Rosa Carib Festival it takes place in August - in the week leading up to Independence Day (August 31). The ceremonies include the crowning of the Carib Queen, an elder matron of their community who performs the role of focusing their heritage and traditions; performance of some of the traditional and ritual Amerindian activities - smoke ceremonies and prayers plus the church procession.

Catholic Church, Mission Toco

Around 1731 Catholic Capuchin priests from Aragon in Spain established a mission in Toco. As part of the mission they built a church on a slight hill overlooking the sea. Over time the village that developed around the church came to be called Mission Village, which name it bears up to this day.  In 1830, the Catholic Church made Toco a parish and built a new church on the same spot as the original church established in 1731. This church was called Our Lady of the Assumption Church at Mission Village. Today this church still sits on the hill ministering to those in the village that it gave its name plus those who come to camp on the nearby beach.

Triveni_Mandir

The Treveni Mandir is an impressive site, sitting on a hill with spires reaching for the sky and manicured lawns spread around. This large temple complex is truly beautiful with detailed workmanship. Located on Sister’s Road in the village of Hardbargain, the mandir is sometimes called the Sister’s Road Hindu Temple. The name Triveni was given to the mandir because it was the meeting place of three villages, Sister’s Road, St. Julien and Dyers Village and in India the meeting point of three sacred rivers, the Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati was called Triveni.

Looking at the Triveni Mandir today one cannot help but be impressed by the devotion and dedication that ultimately led to the creation of this magnificent complex. Especially when you consider that the original group was created in 1946 and it was not until 1948 that a small wooden structure was erected on the site using wood that the men cut from the surrounding forest. In 1970 work on a larger structure was started and completed in 1974. In 1992 an upgrade to the building was done and then in 2001the entire complex was rebuilt with the work ending in 2003.

The Triveni mandir can be reached by taking the Gasparillo Exit from the Solomon Hochoy Highway and then travelling along the Bonaventure Main Road. One can also get to the temple by using the Guaracara Tabaquite Road and going through Williamsville.

St_Stephen’s_Anglican_Church

St Stephen’s Anglican Church lies at the western entrance to Princes Town and has both religious and historical significance. To understand its historical significance we have to go back to the start of recorded civilization in this area. The year was 1687 and in October of that year, the Catholic Catalan Capuchin friars established a mission for the Amerindians at this location that was called La Mission de Savanna Grande. The name was given because the area around this mission is composed of rolling plains and hence was considered big savannahs. As the years progressed, Savanna Grande or simply Mission as it was sometimes called, grew in size even though its Amerindian population decreased markedly. This growth was partly caused by the establishment of the "Company Villages" nearby and also by the development of large sugar cane estates on the surrounding plains. As a result of these estates, the first railway was established with a tramway running from Savanna Grande to San Fernando with horse and mule drawn carriages.

Even in the early years of its existence Savanna Grande experienced a tourist trade as it lay directly along the path of those going to visit the Devil’s Woodyard mud volcano. It was this tourist trade that led to a high point in the life of Savanna Grande. In January 1880, two grandsons of Queen Victoria were in Trinidad and the Governor at the time, Henry Irving, took them to see the mud volcano. As they were passing St. Stephens Church, Reverend Knight begged them to plant two poui trees to mark their historic visits. The two princes agreed and planted the trees in the churchyard. In honour of the visit the name of the village was henceforth changed to Princes Town.

St Stephen’s Church still stands at the entrance to the town and in the yard can still be seen two poui trees brightening our day with their yellow flowers in the dry season.

Edinburgh_Hindu_Temple

As one drives along the Southern Main Road on the southern side of Chaguanas in the village of Edinburgh, Trinidad, you pass a continuous stream of small commercial establishments. Suddenly in the midst of this conglomeration of houses and businesses there sits a majestic structure of predominantly white, the Edinburgh Hindu Tempe. This beautiful structure is a scene of serenity in the midst of commercial chaos and it is uncanny how even though cars are passing one gets a sense of calm from being at the temple. The land for this temple was donated by the owners of the Woodford Lodge sugar estate in 1920 and a small mandir was constructed. Then in 1983, under the guidance of pundit Ramesh Tiwari, the Edinburgh Hindu Temple was reconstructed into the present structure.

Although at first the overall white colour catches your attention, your eyes are soon drawn to the colourful symbolic tile work that graces the outer walls. As you look more closely at the outer walls one also begins to discern the figures and patterns that have been moulded into the brickwork. Raising your eyes to the heavens reveals the domes that are on the roof of the building. Each of the domes is ornamented with other figures but it is the northern dome that draws your eyes as it is ornamented with figures of Lords Shiva, Ganesh and Hanuman.

The interior of the mandir is air-conditioned and there are marble murtis arranged in family groups.

Tortuga_Roman_Catholic_Church

The picturesque village of Tortuga sits on the highest point of the Central Range. It is a poignant spot. One of the oldest and most charming churches can be found on this pretty crest. From its cusp, the city of San Fernando and the oil refineries that represent the cogs that drive the nation's economy lie in clear view. The distance makes them seem almost pretty and it is possible to romanticise the slash of flame on the horizon.

Tortuga church, as it is commonly known, is the Catholic church of Our Lady of Montserrat built in 1872. This church is best known for its recent restoration work.

The church had fallen into disrepair and many of its original stained-glass panes depicting biblical scenes were in danger of being lost forever. Elton Rostant, Karen de Verteuil, George de Verteuil, Monica Clement, Simone Taylor, Yvonne Rostant, Clares Batholomew, Franklyn Lee Sam, and Joseph Rostant were the dedicated committee members that worked tirelessly to bring this church built by French priest and architect Fr Marie Jules Dupoux back to its former glory. The end result is something of remarkable beauty.

The restoration of the stained-glass panes was begun in 1991. Mike Watson, the talented craftsman who discovered their existence in 1985, began the meticulous process of restoration in an attempt to preserve the panes before they sucuumbed to further damage. The windows originally came from renowned atelier Henri-Louis Victor Gesta.

Gesta was the son of Louis Victor Gesta, owner of the 19th century’s largest stained glass window manufacturing firm in the world. The windows, depicting biblical scenes, were made in Toulouse, France, between 1880 and 1890 but were damaged by tropical storm Alma in 1974.

Mike Watson sadly passed away before his work could be completed. His baton was taken over by the committee with Simone Taylor taking an especial interest in the restoration of the windows.

In a 2004 Guardian Newspaper report, the following report was given..... Taylor’s efforts included four trips to France to find the original manufacturer of the windows. In 1995 she visited the atelier of Michael and Daniel Bataillou in Toulouse. She subsequently enlisted the help of the French Embassy, which sponsored a visit to Trinidad by Daniel Bataillou who provided an estimate for restoring the 20 windows. This figure was roughly $500,000. Undaunted, the Friends continued their fund-raising, eventually taking a loan for $300,000.
In February 2004, the windows were sent to Toulouse, where the Bataillous worked on their restoration. They were aided by Michael Inniss, a glass maker from Trinidad. The French Embassy sponsored a two-month trip in which he was able to learn the process and assist in restoring the windows. The newly restored glass windows returned to Trinidad in late August and after five days of feverish work, they were reinstalled in their original positions at the church. The finished product was first seen at the parish festival held on September 5. Parishioners, Gran Couva residents and people from all over the country were able to see the result.

The rear entrance of the church is reached by climbing rickety wooden stairs that open onto a side room that is the shrine to the much beloved Black Virgin of Montserrat. This Virgin is said to have been brought to the church by early Capuchin monks. She is swathed in a shiny white dress and holds her infant Jesus close to her breast. Her altar is dotted with fresh flowers. I found an excellent article by Paria Publishing online that gives a comprehensive history of this unique madonna.

Few genuine relics remain from Trinidad's Spanish period. One of them is to be found in the church dedicated to Our Lady of Montserrat. This little wooden figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the 'Black Virgin', is said to be a copy of a statue of Our Lady in a shrine in Montserrat, Spain. Port of Spain was probably not founded by the Spaniards at all........ (click to read the entire article)

The view from the churchyard cemetery is serene and peaceful. It overlooks the central plains and is a reminder of how much of Trinidad's beautiful countryside is still undeveloped. In its heyday, this was prime cocoa land and many fortunes were made and lost on the plains of Gran Couva. The cocoa grown in this soil is still recognized as the one of the most superior in the world.

In addition to the beautiful stained-glass windows, the Stations of the cross in this church are unique in that the captions below each image are all in French.

The overall effect is beautiful. The beautifully rendered images delivered in French reminds of the strong French Creole influence of the French cocoa planters of the 19th century.

This church has an extraordinary atmosphere. Yes, there is the overwhelming beauty of the stained glass but there is also a palpable energy that radiates from the Black Virgin. This mixes in with the French Stations of the Cross and captures the complicated relationships that must have been a way of life for the cocoa farmers and their estate workers. I imagined how many planters would have come to this church seeking redemption or reprieve during the crash of cocoa. Just to add a sense of drama, the distant flares of the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery couldn't be more apt. As the old poeple say, after one time, is another.

The information on Tortuga RC Church was kindly provided by Sharon Millar who writes the blog My Chutney Garden

St Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, Rio Claro

This church, located on an incline to the north-west of the main commercial district was constructed in 1928.

Catholic Church Mayaro

Mayaro is one of the areas in Trinidad that was originally settled by the Amerindians. In 1783, the Spanish Governor, Jose Chacon, signed the Cedula de Populacion that led to an increase in the population of the island with an influx of French settlers. Chacon gave land in Mayaro to some of these settlers. A Catholic Church was built in 1819.

The Church of St Peter & St Paul was constructed on land donated by Alphonse Ganteaume who was a descendant of Pierre Nicholas Ganteaume who had fled from Martinique in 1793 as a result of the French Revolution and attempting to get to Venezuela, washed ashore at Mayaro.

This church has become a landmark in Mayaro and the area known as Church Road in Radix Village. Generally a quiet church but at holiday time during July & August and especially at Easter, the church fills as vacationers attend the service. This church with its high vaulted wooden ceiling beams encourages one to take time for peaceful reflection.

The beaches at Mayaro are popular for bathing and the Church Road area is one of the most popular, with a lifeguard station. It is also a popular Easter camping location.

St Francis of Assisi - Erin

The St. Francis of Assisi church was originally established in 1758 and around this church the village of Erin developed. The present church was built in 1916, replacing an earlier church from 1876 that had in turn replaced the first church. The establishment and naming of this church has over the years resulted in some confusion in terms of the naming of the area, i.e. is the area Erin or San Francique. The Spanish missionaries who established a mission at this bay for the conversion of the Amerindians in the area, called the mission church San Francisco. When the French Catholic settlers began populating the area they called the church, Saint Francique. When the British conquered Trinidad in 1797 and set about creating a map of Trinidad, it seems they were either unsure of the real name or sought a compromise and so labelled the area as San Francique. As a result some people refer to the area as San Francique while others call the area Erin. There is another church that is also called St Francis of Assisi and it is located in Belmont.

Icacos_Mosque_and_Hosay

In the small village of Icacos in the Cedros region there sits a small beautiful clean looking mosque, clothed in white with green trim. The presence of this mosque is a further reminder of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious nature of Trinidad society. The presence of this mosque is also a reminder that the Cedros region has the second largest Hosay celebration in Trinidad. While Hosay is a Shiite Muslim tradition, one of the differences with the Cedros religious observance is that many Hindus and Christians participate in the construction of the tadjahs. All who work to build the tadjahs (Moslems and Non-Moslems) must observe the fasting and rules of ritual personal cleanliness.

Hosay is an annual parade full of colorful tadjahs in commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussain (Hussein), the grandson of Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, in the year 680 AD. Hussain's martyrdom at Kerbala in Iraq, which is located about 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Baghdad, is observed annually by Shiites during Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This observance occurs during a different calendar-month every year because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar (Gregorian) year. Thus, the observance arrives about a month earlier every three years, rotating through the four seasons in 33 years.

The first observance of Hosay in Trinidad has been traced back to 1854, eleven years after the first indentured laborers arrived from India. The British colonial government attempted to ban Hosay in 1884 however there were riots on sugar estates as a result of the ban and approximately 30,000 people defiantly took to the streets for Hosay in Mon Repos, San Fernando, on Thursday, October 30, 1884. As a result of the shots fired by the police to disperse the procession, 22 men were killed and another 120 were wounded. That fateful day is commonly referred to in Trinidad history as the "Hosay Massacre."

The main parade of tadjahs takes place on the 10^th day of Muharram; this day is called Aashura. Aashura is the "Day of Atonement" for all Muslims and was observed long before the martyrdom of Hussain which, coincidentally, occurred on the same day. The three days preceding Aashura are also filled with parades. On the 13^th day of Muharram (Teejah Day), at around 6pm the tadjahs are taken to the sea where a short prayer is said and then the tadjahs are placed in the water where they eventually sink beneath the waves.

La Divina Pastora Roman Catholic Church

The La Divina Pastora Roman Catholic Church is the site of a religious observance where Catholics, Hindus and others venerate the same saint. Situated in Siparia in south western Trinidad, the church is atop a plateau 80 kilometers from Port of Spain and 23 kilometers from San Fernando.

Catholic Church history says that in 1703 in Seville, Spain, Isidore, a Spanish Capuchin Monk, received an apparition of the Blessed Virgin, in which she requested him to encourage the faithful to seek her intercession with Jesus, addressing her as "Divina Pastora" - Good Shepherdess. In 1758, the Aragonese Capuchins established a mission at Siparia. One of the reasons for the mission was that it lay along a route used by the Warahoon Indians as they traveled from the Orinoco region in Venezuela, landing on Quinam Beach. Then in 1795, Pope Pius VI decreed that the saint known as "The Divine Shepherdess", or more familiarly called 'La Divina Pastora', be made the patron saint of all the Capuchin missions. Sometime in the 1800's a Spanish priest brought a black hued statue of this Catholic saint from Venezuela to the church in Siparia , declaring that it had saved his life. The church was thereafter referred to as "The Church of La Divina Pastora".

The church celebrates the feast day of its patron saint during Easter. Over the years, this feast day has also become a religious observance for many Hindus. The event has become known as the "Siparee Fete" or Siparia Fete and the statue known to those of the Hindu faith as Sipari Mai (Mother of Siparia) or Siparee Mai Ke Mala. The reason for this multi-religious observance has not been definitively identified. The most popular view is that because the statue was of a dark-skinned female in a flowing, white sari-like gown with long jet-black hair the Indian indentured labourers identified her as Mother Kali, who is the black Hindu deity who leads her children to the invisible God and who readily grants wishes. Others have claimed that some indentured labourers saw an apparition of a lady in white sitting on a stone under a palm tree where the church now stands. They claim further that the apparition was endowed with healing powers, just as Mother Kali. Another theory is that long ago Siparee Mai appeared at the La Divina Church, as a baby, to grant the wishes of East Indian forefathers. It is said that the baby, who appeared close to the altar, aged as the hours of the day went by. By evening, she turned into an old woman and disappeared as the sun went down.

Whichever the reason for the start of the veneration, hundreds of Hindus visit the church each year. On Good Friday, persons of the Hindu faith take offerings to "Sipari Mai" either in supplication or thanksgiving. They believe the statue bestows fertility to barren women, marital success to couples, healing to the sick, proper husbands for young girls and blessings to the poor and needy. Children who are unable to walk or speak could be healed if offerings are made to the Goddess.

Another Hindu ritual which is performed on the church grounds on Good Friday is the first cutting of the hair of a child, locks of which are placed at the feet of the statue. The hair is cut as a sign of dedication and offering.

Because of this unique nature of the devotions that take place at La Divina Pastora, the church has been, and continues to be, the subject of research by undergraduate and graduate students.

The Other La Divina Pastora

While the La Divina Pastora Church in Siparia is well known, there is another Trinidad Catholic Church and statue called La Divina Pastora and in a small way both are linked by the Hindu veneration of the statue in Siparia. The other La Divina Pastora resides in the La Pastora chapel in Lopinot, which is situated several miles after the main village in Lopinot and its parish church of La Veronica. The church at La Veronica was built in 1945 when the colonial government relocated the people of the Caura Valley to the site of the former La Reconnaissance estate of Compte de Lopinot. The residents of Caura dismantled parts of their church, including the cornerstone, two colonnades, several stained glass windows, a bell and the statue of Saint Veronica, and carried them to Lopinot. The Church at la Pastora however predates the La Veronica church having been built in 1890 using sand, gravel and stones from the Arouca River, which runs through the valley. Within the Chapel that has replaced the La Pastora Church is a statue of La Divina Pastora. It is reputed that in October 1917 at the Arouca church this statue wept, shedding tears that were witnessed by 200 persons. Shortly after the weeping the statue was moved to the La Pastora church. It is this statue that provides the link to the Siparia church.

The exact date when Hindus began journeying to Siparia is not known but Catholic Church records of 1871 refer to the practice. In the 1880's planters in north Trinidad, attempted to reduce the work time lost as a result of their laborers going to Siparia. They imported a statue of La Divina Pastora and installed it in Calvary Chapel at the western foot of Laventille Hill, which they re-christened Siparia Hill. Unfortunately for the planters, the statue they imported was white, so the indentured labourers never believed in the statue and continued going to Siparia. Eventually the statue was moved to the Arouca church and then to La Pastora in Lopinot.

A searchable CD with information on over 332 tropical birds and over 820 photographs