Greyfriars Church of Scotland had its beginnings in 1834, when Greyfriars Church of Glasgow sent a missionary to minister to the Scots, the most numerous of the British residents of Trinidad, as well as to the newly freed slaves. Alexander Kennedy, a young minister from Ayrshire, arrived on the island in January 1836, having been ordained only four months earlier.
A week later, Rev. Kennedy preached his first sermon at a service held at the Wesleyan Chapel. He later used the Old Theatre on Cambridge Street (now St. Vincent Street) until he chose and purchased the site on Frederick Street, whose foundation stone was laid in April, 1837. Greyfriars Church building was completed in 1838.
Rev. Kennedy became deeply involved in the anti-slavery movement, established five mission stations in Trinidad, instituted the British and Foreign Bible Society, founded a Friendly Society, ran a school at the manse, and greatly assisted a group of Portuguese-speaking Presbyterian pilgrims who arrived from Madeira in 1846 fleeing religious persecution.
In May 1854, the Portuguese exiles built and dedicated the original St. Ann’s Church. This structure was later rebuilt and enlarged. The congregation of St. Ann’s, which had suffered persecution in their homeland for their profession of the Protestant belief, was nurtured and supported by Greyfriars ministers and congregation. The first minister of St. Ann's Church, Rev. Hewitson, was Scottish, and in the years that followed, Portuguese, Scottish and English ministers, served the St. Ann's congregation. Periodically, the duties of ministers, deacons and elders were shared between both congregations when the need arose. Much later, in 1971, both churches shared a minister, and in 1977, the two congregations united.
Both church buildings suffered the ravages of time, and in 2007/2008, both had to be vacated when the structures became unsafe. Sunday worship continued in the respective church halls, until 2009, when joint worship services began to be held at St Ann’s hall. The Greyfriars property was desanctified and sold in 2014. Restoration of the St Ann’s Church building began in 2008 and was completed in 2013. The building was rededicated on April 20, 2014, and is now a sanctuary where both congregations worship together.
A week later, Rev. Kennedy preached his first sermon at a service held at the Wesleyan Chapel. He later used the Old Theatre on Cambridge Street (now St. Vincent Street) until he chose and purchased the site on Frederick Street, whose foundation stone was laid in April, 1837. Greyfriars Church building was completed in 1838.
Rev. Kennedy became deeply involved in the anti-slavery movement, established five mission stations in Trinidad, instituted the British and Foreign Bible Society, founded a Friendly Society, ran a school at the manse, and greatly assisted a group of Portuguese-speaking Presbyterian pilgrims who arrived from Madeira in 1846 fleeing religious persecution.
In May 1854, the Portuguese exiles built and dedicated the original St. Ann’s Church. This structure was later rebuilt and enlarged. The congregation of St. Ann’s, which had suffered persecution in their homeland for their profession of the Protestant belief, was nurtured and supported by Greyfriars ministers and congregation. The first minister of St. Ann's Church, Rev. Hewitson, was Scottish, and in the years that followed, Portuguese, Scottish and English ministers, served the St. Ann's congregation. Periodically, the duties of ministers, deacons and elders were shared between both congregations when the need arose. Much later, in 1971, both churches shared a minister, and in 1977, the two congregations united.
Both church buildings suffered the ravages of time, and in 2007/2008, both had to be vacated when the structures became unsafe. Sunday worship continued in the respective church halls, until 2009, when joint worship services began to be held at St Ann’s hall. The Greyfriars property was desanctified and sold in 2014. Restoration of the St Ann’s Church building began in 2008 and was completed in 2013. The building was rededicated on April 20, 2014, and is now a sanctuary where both congregations worship together.
