St. John's Maroon Church

Small whitewashed Methodist church founded by Jamaican Maroon settlers

The small whitewashed Methodist church in Maroon Town was founded by Jamaican Maroons — escaped slaves who had fought the British in Jamaica and were eventually deported to Freetown in 1800. It is one of the oldest churches in Sierra Leone and a focus for Krio heritage.

The building is plain and easy to miss if you do not know to look for it. Inside, simple wooden pews face a modest pulpit. Easiest to find with a local guide or by asking for "the Maroon church" on Liverpool Street.

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A story
The Maroons of Jamaica fought a long guerrilla war against the British in the 1790s. When they finally surrendered they were deported first to Nova Scotia, then in 1800 to Sierra Leone — joining the earlier Black Loyalist and recaptive populations that founded Freetown. Their descendants still form a distinct strand of the Krio community.