Restoration of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church
A National Heritage Site Worthy of Preservation
St. Joseph RC Church, The First Cathedral in Trinidad
In 1592, one hundred years after Christopher Columbus came to our shores, San José de Oruña, the town of St. Joseph, was established as the first capital of Trinidad under Spanish Colonial times and the first Catholic church was built.
It remains one of the oldest and most recognizable landmarks in St. Joseph, a witness to many intrigues of Colonial times and is a firm reminder of the persistent presence of the Catholic faithful. Churches are more than architectural structures as they speak to and are reflective of a living community of persons.
The present church and was rebuilt in 1815 on the same site on which first church was erected, 427 years ago.
As a significant national heritage site, St. Joseph RC Church holds historical, social and cultural significance for Trinidad and Tobago.
The Church guarded the remains of three Capuchin friars, the Martyrs of Arena, from 1699 until 1989 when they were transferred to the Church of St. Raphael. These are the only recognized martyrs buried in Trinidad.
The cemetery on the Church grounds boasts many memorial plaques including what is believed to be the oldest gravestone in Trinidad, dated 1682.
Architectural Features
The style of the Church is Gothic inspired.
Local and imported materials were used in construction. The walls are made of a combination of bricks and stones, extracted by parishioners from the nearby river. The frame is made of bricks brought from Britain as ballast in the holds of the ships.
One of the outstanding features of the church is the three impressive stained glass windows located in the apse originally installed in the late 1870s. The large one represents the Holy Family and smaller ones represent St. John and St. Andrew
Marble altar installed in 1913- made of 14 different types of Italian marble. It was installed in 1912. The style is Gothic and is engraved with several scenes. To the upper left depicting the death of St. Joseph to whom the church was dedicated. To the right is the flight of the Holy Family from Egypt. The lower part of the altar depicts the chalice of the sufferings of Christ.
Two marble side altars dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and the Sacred Heart around 1946.
Carved into the original cornerstone is the date 1815 in Latin, MDCCCXV
At 204 years old, this tired but still impressive building stands in need of dire restoration. This is an historical necessity. It is a stronghold of the Community, a gathering place for the assembly, a resting place, a place of encounter with God and a place holding in its hallowed walls memories which have shaped the nation of Trinidad and Tobago.
