Caribbean Destination Guide: St Mary’s Anglican Church in Turks and Caicos
by Karen Rollins Mar 17, 2025
Originally built in 1900, St Mary’s Anglican Pro-Cathedral is one of the most photographed sites in Turks and Caicos.
Located on Queen Street in downtown Cockburn Town overlooking the water along the west coast, St Mary’s is the primary church of worship for the Anglican Church in Grand Turk.
The outside of the building is painted pristine white. It has a vibrant red roof and distinctive red shutters. Inside, there are beautiful stained-glass windows depicting familiar Bible scenes, including Jesus’ crucifixion.
A plaque on the site states that the church “was first built as a ‘chapel of ease’ in 1900 to accommodate the parishioners of Cockburn Town. At that time, St Thomas’ Church, the first church in Grand Turk, was quite a distance from the town, making it particularly difficult for evening worship.
“The Church was designated a Pro-Cathedral of the diocese of the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands in the 1990s. Every diocese has a Cathedral, and as the Turks & Caicocs [sic] Islands are politically separated from the Bahamas but still ecclesiastically part of the Nassau diocese, St. Mary’s can be used as a Cathedral if the Bishop of the diocese wishes to do so.”
St Mary’s holds three services every Sunday at 6.30am, 9am, and 5pm. During these times, Holy Eucharist takes place and the church comes alive with singing and worship, so these are the best times to visit.
