St Paul's R.C. Church

The Parish of Couva came into being in 1837 when a chapel was first built under its first Parish Priest Father John O'Hagan. Previously, it had been treated as an off-spring of the Pointe-A-Pierre, having been served by priests acting in a joint capacity.  It was replaced by a church, which was built, blessed and dedicated to St. Paul by Archbishop Gowin on August 20th, 1877.  The Parish priest at this time was Father Donnelly who remained until 1881 when Father Rabinit took over, having served the parish intermittently before this from Pointe-A-Pierre.

Taking a leap through the year, the next parish priest to grace St. Paul's was Fr. C. B. Jennings, 1956 - 1969. Described by a parishioner as a "Man of Action" and a "visionary" he can be said to be one of the few priests who pre-emptied the Vatican II through his active encouragement of the laity to become involved in all aspect of church activity.  It was under this stewardship that the Gospel reading were conducted by men such as Messrs Ganga, Sant and Ackbarali.  Soon the Legion of Mary became heavily involved in outreach work among the needy of the parish, identifying families and referring them to the St. Vincent De Paul Society.  The needs of the faithful in the surrounding parish of Carolina and Orange Valley where he had built school chapels were met by the laity conducting Easter and Lenten Missions.

Of great interest, is the fact that during his tenure, a census was conducted of all baptized Catholic in the parish.  In an attempt to keep the 'family' together parishioner volunteered to seek out lapsed practitioners in order to find out the reason for non-appearance.  If it turned out to be one of social need, referral was made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  Oftentimes, only encouragement and a sense that someone cared were enough to return the person to the fold.

Father Jennings, 'the man of action,' not satisfied with the physical condition of the church, turned his thoughts around 1965 to the building of a new church.  A building committee was formed comprising Mr. Bereford Weekes, Mr. B. Sant, Mr. A. Ganga, Mrs Bovell, Mr. L.E. Rousseau, Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin and Mrs. Maingot.     Father Jennings chose to have the greater portion of the money saved before construction began.  To this end, fund raining went into full gear through the giving of harvest and the receipts of donation both foreign and local.  When there was about three-quarter of the money, the project started with architects Ray Fojo and Associates being commissioned.  The project took a little over a year at a cost of approximately $140,000.00 and completed in 1968.  It was this church, the present, which was the first church that the newly ordained Archbishop Most Rev. Anthony Pantin blessed on March 25, 1968.

Following Fr. Jennings as parish priest was Father Declan Gowen (1969 - 1976) who finished paying off the debt and continued serving parishioners.  Other priests who had brief sojourns were Father Clifford O’Riordan, Father Kennedy, Father Keating and Father Curten.  Father John Osbourne who served from 1977-1983 was responsible for starting the first Parish Council in his first year of service.  He did some early renovation work on the Presbytery and is remembered as a man who epitomized holiness.

September 1983 heralded the coming of Father Ronald Tagallie as parish priest, marking an era of youthful priesthood filled with innovation, charisma and dynamism.  Here was a priest able to reach out to the youth and encourage their participation in church activates.  He had the ability to fuse local culture, music and art into the liturgy, so that Mass became alive and meaningful, filling the pews to capacity, new pew, which were installed under his stewardship.  June 1992 saw his department from the parish amidst scores of friend and well wishers.

Father Kennedy Swaratsingh has now taken up the reins and has introduced some sweeping and innovative change in many aspect of the church, both physical and otherwise.   Speaking of physical aspects, Father Kennedy is responsible for the continuing renovation of the church which has taken the form of the installation of the new windows and a baptismal font, the complete renovation of the presbytery, the building of a choir loft and the painting of the church.  His musical ability is outstanding, whether he is singing, playing the guitar or the pan.  The quality has spilled over to the choir, which has increased its membership because of recruitment drive and moved them on to 'higher heights'.  Father Kennedy merges the discipline of the old order and the energy of the youth into a synthesis, which is a joy to behold, and which can only enrich the Body of Christ.