Christianity in Jamaica

Christianity was Introduced by Spanish settlers who arrived in Jamaica in 1509.Roman Catholicism was the first Christian denomination to be established . Protestant missions were very active, especially the Baptists, who played a key role in the abolition of slavery.^[1] There are over 100 denominations, the Church of God having the largest membership.

According to the most recent census (2001), the population's Christianity affiliation consists of Church of God, 24 percent; Seventh-day Adventist, 11 percent; Pentecostal, 10 percent; Baptist, 7 percent; Anglican, 4 percent; Roman Catholic, 2 percent; United Church, 2 percent; Methodist, 2 percent; Jehovah's Witnesses, 2 percent; Moravian, 1 percent; Brethren, 1 percent; unstated, 3 percent; ^[2] The Catholic Church was prohibited by the British until 1837

Roman Catholicism

Introduced by Spanish settlers in 1509 Peter Matyr ordered the building of the first church in Sevilla Nueva {now known as St Ann's Bay and was completed in 1526 a Christian monastery was setup by the request of the Spanish king in an effort to convert Arawaks The effort to convert to the Arawak's failed as they rapidly died from disease.In 1655 a Protestant English force captured Jamaica and Roman Catholicism was removed

Baptist

• In 1782 two freed American slaves Moses Baker and George Lisle introduced the Baptist denomination and started the 'Native Baptist Movement' which held certain superstitious and pagan beliefs ^[3]The Jamaican Baptists fought for the abolition of slavery under the leadership of William Wilberforce, William Knibb and Thomas Burchell.

Presbyterians and Methodist

The Presbyterians arriving in 1823 and methodist arriving in 1789 made significant contributions to education.

Other Denominations

The Moravian church was the first denomination that seriously undertook the teaching of Christianity to the slaves. In 1754 two wealthy plantation owners living in England invited the Moravians to send missionaries to their estates in Jamaica.They are still active today especially in Manchester, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland

references

1. ^ http://www.oikoumene.org/member-churches/regions/caribbean/jamaica.html
2. ^ http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2008/108531.htm
3. ^ http://www.jis.gov.jm/gov_ja/culture.asp