World Stamp News: Christ Church Cathedral (15c stamp) is the “Mother Church” of the Anglican/Episcopal Diocese of The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The word ‘Anglican’ denotes that this church was originally the Church of England which came to the region during the colonial expansion and that this church is the same as the “Episcopal Church” in the United States of America. The Turks and Caicos Islands, though politically separate, are a part of this Diocese.

In 1670, King Charles II granted the colony (of the Bahamas) to the Lord Proprietors of Carolina who were instructed to “build churches and chapels in the furtherance of the Christian Religion”. The First church building for the Parish of Christ Church was built between 1670 and 1684, to the west of the present building but was destroyed by the Spaniards in 1684. A second building, believed to have stood to the east of the present building in the area of Frederick Street, was completed in 1695. That too was destroyed by the Spaniards, in 1703. A third wooden building, like its predecessors, was completed in 1724 at the present site.

This was replaced in 1754 by a fourth building made of locally quarried limestone. A steeple was added in 1774 but was taken down in 1827 when it was found to be in a dangerous condition. A new square tower, the existing one, was erected in 1830. In 1834 an act was passed by the legislature for the enlargement of Christ Church and the fifth church building, which is still in use today, was opened for services in 1841.

The cathedral remains an historic landmark that has played a significant role in Nassau’s history. It is an enormous Gothic structure that towers majestically over the buildings that surround it. The cathedral underwent a major restoration in 1995, which included replacement pews, crafted locally from mahogany to replicate the original pews and a new granite floor. A stunning feature of the cathedral is the East windows, the central panel illustrating the crucifixion (FDC).

Rawson Square (50c stamp) is a public square at the crossroads of downtown Nassau between the cruise ship docks and the Parliament buildings. The square is named after Governor Sir R.W. Rawson (1864-68) and more recently has seen the addition of a statue of Sir Milo Butler, the first Bahamian Governor-General who served from 1973-9. From the square can be seen the Government buildings. The House of Assembly (the oldest governing body in the New World) to the right and the Senate building in the centre (where the post office once occupied the first floor). The building on the left houses the administrative offices. These pink-and-white, Georgian-style buildings were built between 1805 and 1813 and are still in use today, presided over by a statue of a young Queen Victoria that was installed much later in 1905.

Government House (65c stamp) atop Mt. Fitzwilliam has been the official residence of the Governor General of The Bahamas since 1801. The original home was built in 1737 by Governor Fitzwilliam (1733-38). A new structure was built in 1806 and additional wings were added during the 20th century, but the entire house was destroyed by a hurricane in 1929. The current building was completed in 1932.

The historic Nassau shopping area of Bay Street (70c stamp) runs through the downtown area of Nassau.  It is lined with shops, cafes, and a mixture of high end and local stores. The many artisans on the island use the island and the sea for inspiration and resources for their art or craft.  You will find unique items in local shopping areas like the Straw Market, where you can actually see people crafting hats, bags, woodcarvings, jewellery and more. The stamp illustration is based on a contemporary photograph which shows a quieter, but still lively scene.

By the mid-19^th century there was increasing dissatisfaction with the occasional visits from the Bishops of Jamaica and finally, on 4^th November 1861 The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands became a separate diocese and Dr Charles Caulfield ($1 stamp) was consecrated the first Bishop of Nassau (although he did not arrive in the Islands until 1862).

It was when Christ Church became a cathedral (in 1861) that Nassau also became a city. The Royal Governor at that time was Charles Bayley ($2 stamp).