Liberty Trails - Jamaica

7 Day Tour 3 – 12 Disciples Pioneering BMS Missionaries

Our 12 Disiples tour is an island-wide tours which involves travelling around the island and learning about the pioneering members of the British Baptist Missionary Society, who came to Jamaica with a commission to 'support' the work of the Ethiopian Baptists. We will walk in the footsteps of John Rowe, Lee Compere, James Coultart, Thomas Knibb, Joshua Tinson, Thomas Burchell, J M Phillippo, William Knibb, Joseph Burton, John Clarke, P H Cornford and John Clark. We will see how they took over the mantle left by the Ethiopian Baptists, inherited their churches and led the final push to Emancipation (1838).

Day 1 – Arrival – Kingston (o/n Kingston)

The evening will comprise of a brief lecture to prepare all participants for the tour ahead. Refreshments will be served.

Day 2 – Kingston (o/n Kingston)

We begin our tour by visiting what became the centre of BMS activity in Jamaica – Kingston which was central to the ministry of Lee Compere, James Coultart, Thomas Knibb, William Knibb and Joshua Tinson. We will visit East Queen Street Church, and School, where Thomas Knibb taught, and Hanover Street, the only church founded and led by a BMS missionary. We will visit Constant Spring, home to much radical action, before concluding the day by visiting Clifton Mount which once was home to a Baptist chapel, but today is more famous for growing the finest coffee, in the beautiful Blue Mountains. You will be invited to taste its very many varieties.

Day 3 – St Catherine – Clarendon – St Elizabeth (o/n St Elizabeth)

Our day in St Catherine begins with a visit to Spanish Town where we will visit the ruins of the Governor’s residence, the House of Assembly, and prison, before visiting Phillippo Baptist Church and cemetery. This church was not only the home of the longest serving BMS missionary, but is his final resting place. It's grounds house the only known liberty tree. We will then journey to Clarendon to visit Jericho Baptist Church, established by Miss Cooper and John Clarke. Then finally on to Black River, where you can take in beautiful rural scenery which has changed little over the past 200 years, to observe its birds and crocodiles by taking one of its famous boat rides.

Day 4 - St Elizabeth – Westmoreland – Hanover - St James (o/n Falmouth)

Today we travel to the heart of the 1831- 1832 Baptist War, led by Sam Sharpe. Here we will visit the churches central to the ministries of Thomas Burchell and William Knibb. We will take a walk on the coast of Savannah-La-Mar in the footsteps of Knibb before moving on to Salter’s Hill Chapel ruins, where a year earlier he preached to the enslaved against withholding their labour. We then travel on to Montego Bay and Burchell Baptist Church, the pastorate of Thomas Burchell and Cornford, and where the remains of rowe are buried. Here we will also visit the Courthouse, gaol, harbour and town centre memorial to Sam Sharpe and those who were executed in 1832. During this stop you will also have time to do a little shopping in the local market and shops before we conclude our day with a leisurely raft ride down the Martha Brae River.

Day 5 - Falmouth – Trelawny -St Ann (o/n St Ann)

Today we visit the ruins of what was the first Baptist Bible College on the island, Calabar College, where its first principal Joshua Tinson was buried. We then move on to Knibb Memorial Baptist Church, where both Knibb and his wife are buried. It also contains the plaque which was created by the emancipated, clearly demonstrating Knibb's links with the Ethiopian Baptist Society. Then a short hop to visit the school which he established before we travel to Kettering Baptist Church, his final pastorate. Then a brief journey through the countryside and on to Jackson Town, where Knibb had to seek shelter from persecution. Then on to our overnight stay at one of Jamaica’s all-inclusive tourist hotels for an action packed evening of a different sort.

Day 6 – St Ann – Kingston (o/n Kingston)

This our final full day begins by visiting Stewart Town, Brown’s Town, and Gibraltar Baptist churches which were at one time a part of the same circuit, overseen by William Knibb and John Clark. Each church has its own unique history, which you have to see to believe. We will pay our respects to the millions of enslaved who died, were martyred and survived, by visiting St Ann’s Bay Church and cemetery, wherein lies the remains of James Coultart and is situated the only known Liberty Grave. Our tour will conclude with a visit to Ocho Rios and Dolphin Cove, where you can feed and perhaps even swim with the dolphins. As you rest you will be transported south again to Kingston and taking the new north-south highway, you will be able to see Jamaica's natural environment as if from a bird's eye view!

Day 7 – Departure – Airports

As we bid you a fond farewell, if you have not made other plans on the island, then depending on the time of your flight time, why not use your time in Kingston to visit the Bob Marley Museum, Emancipation Park, National Heroes Park, Devon House's world renowned ice cream, or the Craft Market and Uptown Plaza.

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