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Historic St Joseph church reopens for worship

By Kaelanne Jordan

mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

After “many months” of construction and restoration work, St Joseph RC Church on Abercromby Street, St Joseph, was officially reopened Friday, January 24. The occasion was further marked by the dedication of a new altar.

Fr Alan Hall, who arrived at the parish January 5, 2024, described the reopening of the oldest church in the Archdiocese, as “really a profound day of celebrations”.

In attendance were parishioners, seminarians, religious sisters, several clergy, and government officials, including Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh.

The church’s restoration project was led by the Restoration Committee Chairman, Austin Rodriguez. Declared a national heritage site in 2015, the church, which has been in “continuous use” for over 200 years, had faced significant deterioration due to termite damage, internal wall issues, and general wear. Rodriguez explained that a detailed condition survey had uncovered numerous areas in need of restoration.

He stated, “….in addition to termite damage to the roof support timbers, the breathable internal walls were incorrectly sealed with latex paints, and the erosion on the walls was quite extensive.” Consultants with experience were engaged to manage the project, and relevant contractors with the “requisite skills” were identified.

The restoration was conducted in two major phases. Phase one, which began in January 2021, involved the replacement of the roof and supports, as well as the repair of the guttering. This phase, which had an estimated time frame of 12 months, experienced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was completed May 2022.

Phase two, which was estimated at 18 months, began July 2023. It focused on the repairs to the interior walls, the replacement of 40 per cent of the exterior clay bricks which had disintegrated, the retiling of the sanctuary floor, the refurbishment of doors and windows, and an upgrade to the electrical system. The estimated cost of each phase was TT$4 million, and phase two was successfully completed in December 2024.

Rodriguez emphasised the importance of community involvement in the project’s success. “We started our road to restoration project with several fundraising events, which was spearheaded by Fr Matthew d’Hereaux,” he said. “Through the generosity of our parishioners, benefactors, both local and foreign, and the hard work of our events team, we obtained required funding to bring the church to the beautiful new interior you see and to ensure the structural integrity of the building [lasts] for another 200 years,” Rodriguez said.