Montserrat

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Background

The island of Montserrat is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the Caribbean Sea, south east of Puerto Rico, with a land mass of 102 sq km. On July 18, 1995 the Soufriere Hills volcano began erupting and has been continuously erupting since 1996. An estimated 8,000 refugees fled the island at that time; a few have returned. The estimated population is just under 9,000 people. Religious population figures for the island are unavailable but Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventists and several other Christian denominations were known to have existed on the island. The capital was formerly Plymouth but had to be abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity. Since then interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate in the Carr's Bay on the northwest end of the island. Industries include tourism, rum, textiles, electronics and appliances. The United Kingdom has launched a $122.8 aid program to help reconstruct the local economy. An a cappella Church of Christ of 35 was once located in Plymouth and was known as Trials Village under the direction of Victor Esprit of Victoria Village. The status of that congregation is unknown since volcanic activity has destroyed much of the life of Montserrat.

Clinton J. Holloway
National Profiles Editor
December 2003

For further historical reference:
Churches of Christ Around the World, Lynn, Mac, 21st Century Christian Publications, Nashville, TN, 2003.

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