The historic Anglican Church
When the British landed in Barbados, they did so with their traditions and religions, the main one being the Anglican Church. The religion of the masters also became that of the slaves. It structured the division of Barbados into parishes, each with a main church that looks like it came straight out of Kent or Sussex. Until the end of the 19th century, the Anglican Church accounted for 90% of believers, a proportion that has fallen to 28% today, due to the attraction of other Protestant and evangelical churches. Having virtually state church status for most of the island's history, it played an important role in education, with the creation of the first parochial schools and the famous Codrington College, a theological college that still exists today.
Protestant churches
Protestantism is the main religious belief in Barbados (33.7%), with a diverse spectrum of denominations. Two groups can be distinguished:
The pioneers of Protestantism, such as the Methodists, Wesleyans or Moravians, who were among the first to settle on the island at the start of European colonization. This group has played an important role in Barbadian history and culture, but today represents only a minority of the Protestant population.
The new evangelical churches and movements, a dynamic and growing group that includes denominations such as Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Adventists and especially Pentecostals. These newer, often more charismatic currents are attracting large numbers of followers, particularly among the younger generation.
Catholicism, a difficult implantation
Long dominated by the British elite, who were predominantly Anglican and Protestant, Barbados presented fierce resistance to the establishment of Catholicism on its territory.
It was only after the abolition of slavery in 1838 that Catholicism began to gain ground on the island. The arrival of the Irish Connaught Rangers played an important role in this development. Indeed, it was they who demanded and obtained the presence of the first Catholic chaplain in Barbados, paving the way for official recognition of the religion. It's easy to see why Bridgetown Cathedral is dedicated to St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Today, Catholics account for 4% of the population.
A mosaic of minority religions and beliefs
Alongside the Christian religions, there are a host of philosophies and religions that represent the diversity of the Barbadian population. The first non-Christian group is made up of agnostics and atheists, followed by Baha'ism, Islam, Hinduism, new religionism (including Rastafarianism, introduced in 1975), Buddhism, spiritualism and Judaism.
Judaism in Barbados
Forced to flee the Dutch colony of New Holland after its conquest by the Portuguese and the establishment of the Inquisition, a group of Sephardic Jews settled in Barbados from Brazil. Thanks to their expertise in sugar cane cultivation, the community quickly prospered and contributed to the island's economic boom.
In 1654, the Nidhe Israel synagogue was built. The oldest surviving synagogue in the Caribbean, it was a focal point of community life at the time, offering religious services, education and social assistance to the island's Jews.
After a temporary disappearance of two years (between 1929 and 1932) due to emigration to other horizons, a new community was formed, this time made up of Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe fleeing the rise of Nazism. The synagogue, threatened with demolition at one point, has since been restored to its former function as a place of worship and has also become a museum. Although the Jewish community is now small (around 100 people), it has had a significant impact on the development of Barbados and remains very active.
The obeah, a cult of African origin
In some Caribbean islands, cults of African origin (voodoo in Haiti) or forms of syncretism with Christianity (santería in Cuba) survived repression and the forced Christianization of slaves. In Barbados, where the British presence was particularly strong, obeah, a set of syncretic beliefs and rituals combining folk medicine, magic and divinatory practices derived from African cults, was long repressed and even illegal. Obeah involves the use of rituals, charms, plants and objects to influence events or behavior, often in the context of healing, protection or obtaining what one desires (love, wealth...).
Unlike santería and voodoo, there is no hierarchy or veneration of deities or spirits. Rather, they are "called" to assist the practitioner.
Its practice is considered contrary to Christianity and the established order, even though the practice of both religions is not exclusive. Obeah was only decriminalized in 1998.
