Numerous periodicals carried information about this 'Iron Church', in 1843-5, some also stating that it was designed by Peter Thompson, and was shipped from Glasgow, apparently in pieces, to be assembled after they reached the island. Unfortunately these reports fail to indicate where the 'Iron Church' was to be built!
One of the periodicals made this snarky comment -
THE CHURCH AND STATE GAZETTE, October 25, 1844. page 677
An iron church has been constructed for Jamaica; it is, to our taste, so ugly, that we only wish it were built of a more perishable stuff. The only church-like thing about it externally, is a conspicuous cross over the end of the chancel. |
Only two references have turned up giving possible indications of the "Iron Church's' location -
Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command, Volume 40, 1858
12. A small iron church, similar to the one at Belize, Honduras, or in the Port Royal Mountains, Jamaica, would prove most suitable for Gambia.
Newcastle, Jamaica Defence Force, Training Depot -
Newcastle and Its History : Souvenir Handbook
A. G. Douglas - 1983
page 21
About seven o'clock in the evening of August 18th, 1880 the wind began to rise; the corrugated iron church was blown down, trees were lifted out by the roots, buildings were leveled to the ground . . .
Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command, Volume 40, 1858
12. A small iron church, similar to the one at Belize, Honduras, or in the Port Royal Mountains, Jamaica, would prove most suitable for Gambia.
Newcastle, Jamaica Defence Force, Training Depot -
Newcastle and Its History : Souvenir Handbook
A. G. Douglas - 1983
page 21
About seven o'clock in the evening of August 18th, 1880 the wind began to rise; the corrugated iron church was blown down, trees were lifted out by the roots, buildings were leveled to the ground . . .
The Jamaica National Heritage Trust website page gives this information -
"In May 1841, London finally sanctioned Gomm’s efforts to build what is thought to be the first permanent mountain station in the British West Indies at Newcastle. The site selected was a coffee plantation protruding from the southern face of the grand ridge of the Blue Mountains. The British government paid £4,230 for the Newcastle site.
Death was not entirely averted at Newcastle. Soldiers died there, but nothing like the devastating effects of the yellow fever epidemics that occurred on the plain. In 1842, very soon after Newcastle was established, only 24 out of 197 troops there died. Five years later, 7 men died from a strength of 583; and in 1858, 2 men perished out of 476.
By 1845, the Newcastle station was fully operational. The various buildings of the camp sat on a series of step-like terraces cut into the spine of the ridge between 3,500 to 4,500 feet above sea level. The buildings were constructed of pitch-pine.
In August 1880, a hurricane struck the island and a number of buildings at Newcastle were destroyed."
"In May 1841, London finally sanctioned Gomm’s efforts to build what is thought to be the first permanent mountain station in the British West Indies at Newcastle. The site selected was a coffee plantation protruding from the southern face of the grand ridge of the Blue Mountains. The British government paid £4,230 for the Newcastle site.
Death was not entirely averted at Newcastle. Soldiers died there, but nothing like the devastating effects of the yellow fever epidemics that occurred on the plain. In 1842, very soon after Newcastle was established, only 24 out of 197 troops there died. Five years later, 7 men died from a strength of 583; and in 1858, 2 men perished out of 476.
By 1845, the Newcastle station was fully operational. The various buildings of the camp sat on a series of step-like terraces cut into the spine of the ridge between 3,500 to 4,500 feet above sea level. The buildings were constructed of pitch-pine.
In August 1880, a hurricane struck the island and a number of buildings at Newcastle were destroyed."
So it is possible, given the dates, that the 'Iron Church' was purchased by the relevant authorities for the new army station at Newcastle, and that it was destroyed, like many other buildings at Newcastle, and across the island, in the hurricane of August 18, 1880. I hope someone may know more on this, and will fill me in, or that a Google search may, one day, turn up the required information!
Universalist Watchman and Christian Repository, Volume 16, Eli Ballou, 1845
page 175 An Iron Church. - An iron church, the whole cost of which would be about ₤1000, was lately sent from Glasgow, Scotland, to Jamaica, as a specimen of neat architectural and manufacturing contrivance and it is said that many more such buildings are likely to be employed by similar localities. |