Hanover Parish Church

Hanover Parish Church, also known as St. Mary's Anglican, is located on Church Street in Lucea, Hanover, on a parcel of approximately 6,070 square metres owned by the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica. Classified as a Historic Structure, Priority 1, the church is believed to have been built around 1725, with records showing its first baptism in 1725, first burial in 1727, and first marriage in 1749. Historian Edward Long described the church in his 1774 History of Jamaica as a plain brick building constructed by parishioners at considerable expense. Originally "T" shaped and built of brick, the church has since had its walls rendered and offices added to the western end, altering its original layout. Notable features include a square battlemented tower damaged by the 1957 earthquake and later restored, a north transept added in 1837, evidence of a possible underground tunnel once linking the church to nearby Fort Charlotte, a mahogany altar built in 1926, and a still-functional pipe organ dating from 1891. The churchyard and interior also contain historic graves and monuments, including those of John Castello, publisher of the Falmouth Post, and Simon Clarke, owner of the Fat Hog Quarter Estate; two of its clergymen, D. W. Rose and John Stainsby, are also remembered for advocating for the rights of enslaved Africans during the era of slavery.

The church remains in good condition following a major 2002 refurbishment, though the rendering of its original brick walls has affected its historic character. Given its long history and architectural significance, the Hanover Parish Church is recommended for declaration as a national monument.