St. John’s Maroon Church

Located in the Maroon Town district of Freetown, St. John's Maroon Church offers you a unique look into one of Sierra Leone's oldest churches and its fascinating history. When you visit this landmark, you will see a simple, small white building surrounded by a low white wall, standing quietly on land granted between Percival and Liverpool Street.

This national heritage site, designated in 1956, carries a powerful story tied to the Jamaican Maroons who arrived in Freetown in 1800 after being deported to Nova Scotia. After helping local authorities put down a rebellion, these settlers established Maroon Town, converted to Christianity, and built their own place of worship in 1822 under the leadership of Charles Shaw. You are visiting a structure rooted in resilience, where worshippers practiced their own distinct brand of Methodism and maintained their independence from the broader Methodist establishment until 1900.

Though the congregation has dwindled over the centuries, it proudly survives today, having celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2007. If you want to experience an authentic piece of Freetown's spiritual and cultural heritage, a stop at this historic chapel provides a meaningful window into the surviving legacy of the Maroon community.

What to see at St. John's Maroon Church

• A historic small white building enclosed by a low white wall
• One of Sierra Leone's oldest churches, constructed in 1822
• Built by Jamaican Maroons on land granted between Percival and Liverpool Street
• Declared an official national heritage site in 1956
• Home to an independent Methodist legacy whose congregation still survives

Visiting tips

You can find this historic site in Freetown's Maroon Town district on the plot situated between Percival and Liverpool Street.

How long: 1 hour · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

St. John's Maroon Church is easy to reach on Freetown’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Sierra Leone National Museum and St. George's Cathedral, Freetown. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Freetown travel guide.