Saint John's Cathedral

The fabric of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine consists not only of the History of the Church itself which realized three incarnations, but also the various buildings that support the Cathedral in its ministry, including the personal accommodations of the Bishop (Bishopric) and Dean (DEanery). The first Church was destroyed in an earthquake.

The second Church was destroyed by an earthquake just after it was named a Cathedral, and the  third, built as a Cathedral, has so far managed to stand the test of time and nature. The fabric also included the Bishop Mather Schoolroom which was built at the corner of Church Street and Church Lane but which was demolished in 1989 due to severe termite infestation, the Deanery, situated at the eastern end of St. John's Street, and other buildings used for other s services in support of the Cathedral edifice.

Some pieces of the fabric have served their time with grace, and succumbed to nature and other events.  They include the original Deanery which was located directly west of the current Deanery, and Anglican Schoolroom at the corner of Long Street and Church Lane, a sturdy wooden structure in its day, but which also succumbed to forces of nature in the form of termites.  Each building or part thereof played its part in the larger history of the Anglican Church in the City of St. John's, the capital of Antigua and Barbuda, and will be fondly remembered in the tales handed down from mother to child, those who were fortunate to have shared in the experience.

It is up to current and future generations to ensure that the spirit of the Cathedral Church lives on, not only in the hearts and minds of those who were a part of it all, but of those yet to come.  I it imperative also that Church continue to live on in its physical form; that current and future generations assume the responsibility for longevity of its physical form, and guarantee that it continues to be a viable part of the life and well being of Antiguans and Barbudans as well as all the peoples of the Diocese, especially Anglicans, for at least the next 166 years.

The Physical structures of the Anglican Church in Antigua include the following parishes, along with supporting structures as:

The Deanery

The Cathedral School Room

It was constructed in the early years of the 19th Century at the corner of Long Street and Church Lane in St. John's.  It was primarily the home of the Anglican Sunday School, but it was also a famous public meeting place, hosting many social functions, and many a debate on the social and economic issues of the day.  It was the site of the historic "Moyne Commission" under Sir Walter Citrine which investigated the cause of the labour unrest of the 1930s in Antigua and the wider Caribbean.  It was also famous for hosting Marcus Garvey of the Back to Africa Movement. Riddled with termite damage, the Schoolroom became unsafe and demolished in 1989.

Cathedral Cultural Centre

Cathedral Sister Churches in Antigua

[under development]