St Andrew Scots Kirk

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St Andrew Scots Kirk - 43a Duke Street, Kingston
Tel:- (1 876) 922-1818

The St Andrew Scots Kirk boasts three features, its distinctive design, distinguished choral tradition and its unusual history.

History of St Andrew Scots Kirk

The St Andrew Scots Kirk began life as the Scots Kirk when it was constructed during the years 1813 to 1819. Much of the original funding for construction came from donations from Scottish residents of Jamaica at the time. The church mostly attracted a white Scottish congregation, earning it the nickname "the Backra Church".

The original Scots Kirk was the main Presbyterian Church in Jamaica until 1907 when it was destroyed by the great earthquake. The current church was built on the same site, to the same design (but slightly shorter).

In 1939, the nearby St Andrew Kirk (also a Presbyterian Church) collapsed and the congregation joined forces with the Scots Kirk to form the "St Andrew Scots Kirk". The St Andrew Scots Kirk continued as a Presbyterian Church until 1965 when, following a merger of Jamaica's Presbyterian Church with local Congregational churches it came under the denomination of "The United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman". In 1992 this denomination merged with the Diocese of Christ Church in Jamaica to become "the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands".

Distinctive design

The St Andrew Scots Kirk is a red-brick octagonal shaped building, the building is surrounded by stone columns. The church also features a dozen mahogany pillars which were a feature of the original 1813 design. There are blue and white saltire cross designs on the stained glass windows, reflecting the church's Scottish heritage.

Distinguished singers

The St Andrew Scots Kirk is home to the St Andrew singers, a renowned Jamaican choral group.

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