Nestled along Arnos Vale Road between Les Coteaux and Castara, the St. Thomas Anglican Church is recognized as a cultural heritage site by the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. Its story reflects the island’s colonial past: following Britain’s formal cession of Tobago in 1814, Anglicanism expanded across the island’s villages.
The present wooden church, consecrated in 1911 on land donated by O’Riley Noel, became more than a place of worship. With its carved pulpit and distinctive bell, it anchored community life, serving as both a spiritual centre and a school for children in surrounding villages, such as Culloden and Castara. The village name “Les Coteaux,” drawn from French influence, further weaves the site into Tobago’s layered cultural history.
Today, St. Thomas stands as one of the few surviving rural Anglican churches of its kind, but its future is uncertain. Financial strain and structural decay have led the Tobago Heritage Conservation Society to warn of a possible collapse without urgent preservation efforts.
Visiting St. Thomas offers a glimpse into Tobago’s colonial legacy, local resilience, and the enduring role of faith in shaping village life along the Northside Road.

• Photo by @Sham Sahadeo