RELIGION. 191 



The Christians may be thus sectioned : 



Roman Catholics 44,576 



Episcopalian or Church of England 16,350 



Wesleyan Methodists 2,570 



Presbyterians 1,021 



Baptists 449 



Independents and others 239 



So that Catholicism is the religion of the great majority of the 

 people ; since, Trinidad having been settled by Spaniards and 

 French, they naturally brought up their slaves in the religion 

 which they themselves professed. Episcopalians and Dissenters 

 came in after the capitulation of the island ; but, it is since 

 emancipation that their number has increased by the influx of 

 immigrants from the other British West India colonies, as well 

 as from North America, Great Britain, and Madeira, the 

 emigrants from the latter being, in fact, refugees in consequence 

 of a change of religion. In the year 1844, an ordinance was 

 passed " For the better regulation of the duties of the United 

 Church of England and Ireland in the Colony of Trinidad, and 

 for insuring the more effectual performance of the same ;" the 

 island, forming part of the diocese of Barbadoes, was also 

 divided into parishes for ecclesiastical purposes. 



The Episcopal Establishment consists, locally, of an arch- 

 deacon, six rectors, with eight curates. 



The Catholic Establishment consists of an archbishop, whose 

 jurisdiction extends over St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, Tobago, 

 and Trinidad ; of nineteen parish-priests or cures, and seven 

 assistant-curates. 



The Wesleyans have seven chapels, a superintendent, and one 

 or more resident ministers ; the Presbyterians, four chapels and 

 three ministers ; the Baptists, eight chapels, and one minister 

 residing in Port of Spain : local preachers are appointed to the 

 different chapels, and also leaders in the Wesleyan. 



The Roman Catholic clergy are supported from the funds of 

 the colony ; but the archbishop, who was formerly in the receipt 

 of 1,000 sterling per annum, now receives only 500 ; the cure 

 of Port of Spain, 300 ; and each parish-priest, 150 ; assistant- 

 curates, each from 130 to 100 sterling making a total of 



