Barbados

The nation of Barbados is the easternmost country of the Caribbean islands. It is the only Caribbean colony to have been governed only by one European nation, Great Britain. The island became independent in 1966, but it remains a member of the British Commonwealth. With a population of more than 281,968 occupying 443 square miles (1 square mile = 2.59 square kilometers), Barbados is one of the world's most densely populated nations with more than 1,570 inhabitants per square mile. Historically, there has been more outmigration from Barbados than from other countries to Barbados. This has had a profound impact on religious organizations.

More than 90% of the Barbadian population are descendants of slaves, representing a mix of African tribal groups predominantly Igbo, Akan, and Yoruba. European Whites constitute about 4% of the population. Whites are mainly from Britain, Scotland, Ireland, and North America. Other ethnic groups (about 6%) are from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. A number of Chinese (including some Buddhists) migrated from Hong Kong in the 1940s. Muslim Syrians and Lebanese Christians have become economically important, as have recent migrants from Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Brazil (many of whom are Roman Catholic). More than 2,000 East Indians migrated from Guyana in the 20th century. Some East Indians are Hindu, but the majority are Christian. Nevertheless, the 2007 CIA World Factbook reports that Hinduism is one of the fastest growing religions in Barbados. There are also a number of Rastafarians and a Jewish community of about 100, who worship in a synagogue built in the 17th century by Sephardic Jews from Brazil. Although small in number, the Jewish community has taken steps to preserve its heritage and maintain an active synagogue.

Religion is at the center of Barbados's life and culture. Even a seemingly secular activity such as “Cropover” traces its origin to religion. Cropover—the largest festival in Barbados—was once a religious rite celebrating the success of the sugarcane harvest. In addition to Cropover, Barbados Christians celebrate their heritage at an annual gathering known as “Gospelfest.” A majority of Bajans classify themselves as “very religious.” Families gather once a week for prayer, religious holidays and rites of passage are observed, and most businesses close on Sundays, which is a day set aside for rest and prayer.

The overwhelming majority (67%) of the Bajan population classify themselves as Protestants. When the first English settlers arrived in Barbados in 1627, they began building substantial churches. Every parish in Barbados has an Anglican church, and Anglicanism constitutes the single largest denomination on the island (representing more than 30% of the population). As noted by Robert Stewart in 1999, the Anglican Church in Barbados was not disestablished as on other British West Indian islands, and Barbados's Anglican churches are among the island's most elaborate religious buildings.

[Page 118]Barbados claims to have as many denominations as there are days of the year. It is home to hundreds of religions groups, including Anglicans, Apostolics, Baha'is, Baptists, Christian Scientists, Evangelicals, Hindus, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, Methodists, Moravians, Mormons, Muslims, Pentecostals, Quakers, Rastafarians, Roman Catholics, the Salvation Army, Seventh-Day Adventists, Spiritual Baptists, and many more.

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