Called to restore a historic Jamaican church

By Jim Whitten

On the north coast of Jamaica, cruise lines are building a mammoth new terminal at Falmouth Harbor, just 20 miles from the tourist haven of Montego Bay. When the terminal is completed, probably by November, cruise ships will unload passengers by the thousands. Time had passed by Falmouth, despite its deep-water harbor on the Atlantic Ocean. Now it will be a tourist destination.

Falmouth was founded in 1790, but the Anglican Church designated a site for a sanctuary as early as 1771. Some tombstones in the site's graveyard predate even that.

Trelawny Parish Church of St. Peter the Apostle, with its classic Georgian architecture, was completed in 1796. The bell tower, containing three carillon bells, stands 60 feet tall - still the tallest structure in Falmouth.

If this church looks familiar, it may be because it was seen in the 1973 movie "Papillion."

The church's three-foot-thick walls are made of local limestone. The floors, altar, pews and decorative interior woodwork are native mahogany. Intricate stained-glass windows were dedicated at various times to adorn the church.

But many locals have moved away, to jobs in Montego Bay or elsewhere, and now this 214-year-old church is vacant and in disrepair. The altar area cannot be used because of wood rot. Stucco is falling off the walls. The grounds are overgrown with weeds, and the graveyard is turning into a briar patch.

But there is always hope. Joyce Ledbetter worked for the cruise lines in Jamaica for several years before retiring to Orlando. She was asked to return to Jamaica to help complete the Falmouth cruise terminal. When she discovered Trelawny Parish Church, she felt called to help restore it. "I knew this was a holy place," she said, "and I could feel the prayers of the faithful that had permeated the church. I have stopped at that old church so many times and prayed there. It has a comfortable feeling."

Joyce learned that the Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the Rt. Rev. Alfred C. Reid, sent a yearly stipend for maintenance, but it was very small and did not go far.

When those boatloads of cruise passengers disembark at Falmouth, the main road will take them right past the church. Joyce has a vision to restore that historic holy place, giving it new life and giving future generations new hope. We should not forget the past for the sake of the future. We must treasure our religious heritage and preserve landmarks that honor religious freedom and our Christian way of life.

Joyce contacted chamber member Jim Whitten to bring the plight of Trelawny Parish Church to the attention of her friends in Central Florida. With the help from Steadman White and Joseph Nunes, a "Save The Church" committee was formed. Nunes contacted the bishop, who approved sprucing up the church grounds and painting the interior. The Episcopal Jamaican community is supporting Ledbetter's dream with bake sales and fundraisers.

Donations in support of this effort may be made to Joyce Ledbetter, for the Trelawny Parish Church of Falmouth, Jamaica. Send your donations to the attention of Jim Whitten, St. Mary of the Angels Episcopal Church, 6316 Matchett Road, Orlando FL 42809.

For additional information, contact Jim Whitten  

A longer version of this article appeared in the July 2010 issue of Episcopalian Central Florida.