Now that the ruins of the old St. Phillip’s Church in Kingstown have been stabilised, history buffs hope to improve the adjacent burial ground and turn the site into a park, complete with stone walkways, explanatory plaques, and a memorial sculpture, said members of the recently formed Association for the Preservation of Virgin Islands Heritage at their official launching ceremony.
With just five members so far, APVIH began as a chat group, said Dr. Patricia Turnbull, one of the group’s founders. But as their chats became more focused, the group decided they should take on a specific project. Dr. Turnbull said they chose the site because it has already been recognised as historically significant by community groups like the Millennium Committee and by government.
Government will be assisting with the cost of the project too, said Culture Director Luce Hodge-Smith at the launch. She also said that the department hopes that the site can be added to the United Nations list of World Heritage sites.
See the Nov. 20, 2014 edition for full coverage.
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