Saint John is a parish in Barbados; Located on the east coast of the island, it provides a deputy to the Barbados Assembly. Saint John is the 7th largest parish among the 11 that make up Barbados (with 34 km² or 13 square miles), although in population it is located 8th in the country, with 8,963 inhabitants, with a population density of 260 inhabitants. /km² (or 680 inhabitants per square mile). Provides one deputy to the Barbados Assembly.

In the southeast corner, the coast of St. John parish turns north, forming the small Bay of Conset. The parish districts of St. John are Saint John (capital), Ashford, Bath, Bowmanston, Carter, Cherry Grove, Kendal, Saint Marks and Venture.

The parish of St. John is also home to Society Primary, which is the oldest primary school on the island: it is over 100 years old and was built by Codrington College. St. John has one of the largest secondary schools in Barbados: The Lodge School.

Saint John's Parish Church

It is presumed that it was a simple wooden building, but its construction date is unknown. Beginning construction in 1640-1641, it was severely damaged by hurricanes in 1675, 1780, and 1831. The current church building (the 5th) was built in 1836, and the chancel was added in 1876. It is the prototype of the restricted version Barbados Gothic Parish Church; a beautiful sculpture by Westmacott commemorates Elizabeth Pinder, to the left of the main door. Situated in what has been described as the most romantic location on the island of Barbados, Saint John's Parish Church has magnificent panoramic views stretching from Ragged Point in the east to Tenerife Peak in the north. It is speculated that the church was first built in 1645; making it one of the oldest churches in Barbados.

The first wooden church was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1660 when construction of a stone structure began; this church building would cost the diocese 110,000 pounds of sugar. In the hurricane that hit Barbados in 1675, this new church was severely damaged and was completely demolished in 1676. However, with true Christian perseverance, another church was built but this structure also fell victim to another hurricane in the year 1780.

Destruction would once again be the fate of Saint John's Parish Church in Barbados in 1831 when the church was completely destroyed by that great hurricane. The church as we see it today was completed in 1836 and rededicated on June 23 of the same year. Its chancel was a later addition some 40 years after construction, with its beautiful stained glass windows being added a little later in 1907.

Of special interest in this church is also the elaborately carved pulpit which is said to contain six different woods; ebony, carob, Barbados mahogany, manchinela, oak and pine; the first four are native to Barbados. Additionally, the church is also known for its beautifully designed curved stairs, which flank both sides of the entrance and the Westmacott sculpture adorning the wall to the left of the main door of the church which stands in tribute to Elizabeth Pinder.

This Gothic-inspired church is quite a popular attraction for both locals and tourists on the island. The rich history of this church includes a connection with Constantinople, now Istanbul, as it is the final resting place of Ferdinando Palaiologos, who was the last descendant of Constantine's second brother, the last Christian emperor of Constantinople. Palaiologos' grave is marked by a granite headstone at the rear of the church cemetery.

Paleologus was very active in his adopted home of Barbados; he was also a warden in the parish church. Even in death he managed to move: after the hurricane of 1831, Palaeologus's body was found embedded in quicklime with his head facing west (in accordance with Eastern Orthodox custom) under the dovecote of Sir Peter Colleton, the lieutenant-governor of Barbados (1673). The body was then moved and reintroduced to its current location in the church cemetery.

Saint John's Parish Church is also the location of one of only two intact sundials in Barbados, while the other is located at Codrington College, a short distance away. St John's Parish Church is packed with fascinating discoveries, such as the tomb of Thomas Hughes, buried in a standing position at his own request, as he rarely sat down for the job he did.

Molasses Bridge

"Molasses Bridge" It would be translated as “Molasses Bridge” and dates back to before 1682. The bridge is between 35 and 40 meters long and between 3 and 5 meters wide; It was built with limestone rocks, which were plastered together with a white mixture of lime and sand. Molasses and egg whites were also added to the mixture to give strength (and also its name) to the structure.

Saint John's Edge Cliff

So called because it is the edge of a cliff: “Edge Cliff” means “Axis Cliff”. It is a windy area, although winds from the Atlantic Ocean blow about 140 feet below; The beaches also have impressive crags and cliffs and are much more virgin than in the west. These high cliffs were used by the English as a natural defense against enemies, since, with that height, they did not need to build forts in the east of Barbados. The surface of the eastern region has a gradual slope and multiple caves created by rivers that modified the design of the limestone. Coastal erosion is also forming considerable cliffs next to many of the country's beaches. These cliffs offer beautiful views and the eroded areas are near mangroves, small coves and winding streams, with dense, jungle-like vegetation, unlike the rest of the island, which is quite flat, deforested and used for agriculture.