Island of Nevis.

ARCHDEACON

RURAL DEANERY OF ST. CHRISTOPHER'S.-RURAL DEAN.-REV. D. G. DA

Rector.

J. H. Pemberton, J. H. Pemberton, 1 church 120 1 church
Rector.,

Rector.

1 church 150 1 church

T

1 chapel 3001 chapel (Propri

40

RURAL DEANERY OF ST. CHRISTOPHER.

REMARKS.

ISLAND OF ST. CHRISTOPher.

CLERGY.-The value of the benefices varies in different parishes, St. George's being £350 sterling (including fees), St. Ann's £230 (including fees), and the rest £175, besides a small amount, in some cases, from fees or rent of glebe, of which there are a few acres in six of the parishes. The Clergy (excepting in St. George's) have each either a parsonage-house, or rent allowed for one.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.-A local Association, in aid of the Negro Conversion Society, was commenced in Oct. 1823; and under its auspices, through the exertions of the Society's Chaplains (the Rev. J. B. Pemberton and Rev. W. Hendrickson), some steps were taken for the instruction of the Negroes, both in Churches and in Schools; and thus were begun, in 1824, two Sunday Schools, instructing altogether about 240 children, and two Daily Schools, instructing about 40. There also existed two Schools for poor white children, which have been since much improved, and are included in the Tables.

Benevolent and other beneficial INSTITUTIONS, in connexion with the Church :

A Branch Association of the Negro Conversion Society, first originated in Oct. 1823, but not fully organized till August, 1825. A District Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, established 1825.

A Clerical Library, 1826.

A Clothing Society to assist the poorer coloured children attending the National Schools, of more recent establishment.

NEVIS.

Provision for the CLERGY.-The value of a benefice varies in different parishes from £100 to £180 sterling. There is one parsonage; and in each of the other two cases an allowance is made for the rent of a house. There is a portion of glebe in each parish, varying from three-fourths of an acre, to sixteen

acres.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.-In Nevis, there were, in 1823, a Sunday and a Daily School, giving instruction to 170 persons, under the superintendence of the Rev. D. G. Davis, at that time Chaplain of the Negro Conversion Society. In July, 1824, a Branch Association of that Society was formed, through the aid of which a general system of parochial instruction was successfully commenced; and in July, 1825, there were five Sunday Schools (one in each parish), and one daily School (in Charlestown), with an aggregate attendance of 880 persons.

Other INSTITUTIONS.-A District Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, formed in 1825.

A Clerical Library.

ANGUILLA.

Anguilla was without any regular provision for the public maintenance of religion, or the furnishing of religious instruction, in connection with the Church, in the year 1825. The Clergyman now resident receives a stipend of £300. sterling, a year, from the Home-Government, the financial resources of the Island being very inconsiderable.

There is a Clerical Library in Anguilla.

VIRGIN ISLANDS.

At the time the Diocesan Returns were made, the living of Tortola was vacant, and in consequence there was no regular Return received. The information has, therefore, been supplied from other sources.

VIRGIN ISLANDS CONTINUED.

All the British Virgin Islands constitute one Parish; but the Rector has now the assistance of the Rev. Mr. Anton, whose more immediate duty is connected with the "Liberated Africans" of Kingston, a new settlement recently formed in Tortola for their benefit. By means of this aid, the Rector is able to visit each of the other Virgin Islands once in two months, and to have Divine Service every other Sunday morning at Windy Hill, in the West End Division of Tortola, where a chapel is greatly needed. There is Service at Kingston once on Thursday, and twice on Sunday.

The Schools are all of a date subsequent to 1825. Clerical Library in Tortola.

There is a

THE KEYS, OR OFF ISLANDS.-The EXTENT of Anegada is about 33 square miles; of Virgin Gorda, about 15; of the rest (including Jos, Van Dyke's, Peter's Island, Beef Island, Guana Island, and forty smaller isles) about 23.-POPULATION of Anegada, 200; of Virgin Gorda, 500; of the rest, stated at 2,500, but is probably much less.