Christianity in Jamaica
Encyclopedia
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
.
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;
The Catholic Church was prohibited by the British
until 1837
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
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
was Introduced by Spanish settlers who arrived in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
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
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
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;
The Catholic Church was prohibited by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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 ArawaksThe 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 LisleGeorge LisleSir George Lisle was a Royalist leader in the English Civil War. Lisle's execution without trial, following the siege of Colchester, came to be regarded as a serious miscarriage of justice and Lisle himself was seen as a martyr to the Royalist cause.The known facts suggest that Lisle came from...
introduced the Baptist denomination and started the 'Native Baptist Movement' which held certain superstitious and pagan beliefs The Jamaican Baptists fought for the abolition of slavery under the leadership of William Wilberforce, William Knibb and Thomas Burchell.