The Presbyterian arrival to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Arrival in Jamaica

Presbyterianism came to Jamaica in 1800 when the ScottishMissionary Society a non-denominational agency founded in 1796, dispatchedthree

missionaries to Jamaica in the persons of Messrs. W. Clark, E. Reid andRev. James Bethune (Church of Scotland). They encountered much opposition from

the planters and the work was further hindered by the death of Bethune andClark from fever.An invitation, extended to the Society by two planters in

Trelawny in 1823, provided another opportunity for work among the slaves. Rev.George Blyth was appointed and he arrived in Hampden in 1824. By 1828,

he haderected a substantial stone structure, and 70 persons gathered for the Lord�sSupper; the work was on its way, making Hampden the oldest work of

the UnitedPresbyterian Church in Jamaica .In 1827 two other missionaries came to Jamaica , Rev. JamesWatson, who worked at Lucea and Green Island

and Rev. John Chamberlain whostarted work at Port Maria. Quickly following after them was Rev. Hope Waddell,in 1829, who came to Mount Zion . He

was followed by Rev. John Simpson and Rev.John Cowan; Simpson went to Green Island then Port Maria, Cowan went to CarronHall.

TheUnited Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) was formed following anhistoric ceremony held on the grounds of Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, onDecember

13, 1992. This ceremony marked the union of the Disciples of Christ inJamaica and the United Church of Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands. Thejourney of this unification

began as far back as the 1880s when efforts weremade to bring about the union between the then United Presbyterian Church andthe Congregational Churches operating in Jamaica.

The first complete step wasmade on the December 1, 1965, when the Presbyterian Church in Jamaica and theCongregational Union of Jamaica became one Church, the United

Church of Jamaicaand The Grand Cayman Islands.

TheUnited Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands has six priorities as it workstoward the goal and mission of the Church.  The UCJCI recognizes that whenthe church, the

people of God, are united in God�s love, it is easier to reachout to each other and the church is better positioned to make a positivedifference in the world. This is the basic concept

and understanding that hasdriven the call for the renewal of the United Church in Jamaica and the CaymanIslands.