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St. John's Fig Tree Church

A Nevis parish church holding the register entry for Nelson's marriage in 1787.

Updated 3 September 2026

Typechurch
WhereSaint John Figtree
Nearest cityCharlestown
Best seasonDecember to April
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereAt Fig Tree southeast of Charlestown; road, around ten minutes
EntryFree; donation

St John's at Fig Tree is a stone parish church on the southeastern side of Nevis, rebuilt several times since the seventeenth century, and its register holds the entry recording the marriage of Horatio Nelson and Frances Nisbet in March 1787, displayed under glass inside. Memorial tablets to planter families line the walls, and the churchyard holds graves running back to the early colonial period. The parish takes its name from a fig tree that once stood at the crossroads outside, long since gone.

What's there

  • The marriage register - the 1787 entry for Nelson and Frances Nisbet, on display.
  • The memorial tablets - the planter family monuments around the walls.
  • The churchyard - graves running back to the early colonial period.
  • The rebuilt fabric - a church reconstructed repeatedly since the 1600s.

When to go

December to April is the main season. The church is usually open through the day. Sunday services take priority.

What to expect

The church is often locked outside service times and access depends on the keyholder. The register page on display is a copy in some periods. There is little else to see inside.

Nearby

Charlestown is northwest, and Montpelier is east.

What to pack for St. John's Fig Tree Church

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

  • Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
  • Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
  • A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
  • A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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