Regent
A hill village above Freetown with the oldest stone church in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Regent sits in the hills above Freetown, one of the settlements founded for liberated Africans, and its St Charles Church, built between 1809 and 1816, is generally described as the oldest stone church still standing in sub-Saharan Africa. The building is plain and solid with a bell tower. The village around it keeps some Krio board houses and the hill setting is cool by Freetown standards.
What you actually see
- St Charles Church - built 1809 to 1816, generally called the oldest stone church in sub-Saharan Africa.
- The bell tower - the plain solid front of the building.
- The Krio houses - the board architecture surviving in the village.
- The hill setting - cooler ground above the capital.
When to go
November to April is the dry season. The church is generally open around services. The rains from May to October are heavy.
Honest expectations
The claim to be the oldest is contested by other buildings and depends on how it is defined. Access to the interior depends on the parish. The village has few facilities.
Nearby
Charlotte is nearby, and Freetown is north.
What to pack for Regent
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.