Christianity in Mauritius
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Christianity portal |
According to the 2011 census,
Figures in 2020 showed that 33.06% of the population were Christian.[2]
The
History
Christianity first came to Mauritius with the first inhabitants, the Dutch. However, the Dutch abandoned the island in 1710.
Another account states that Christianity was the first religion in the island country and is the religion for both the Creole and the White population, with more than 80 per cent being Sino-Mauritans.[7] But Franco-Mauritians, usually having the same religion and denomination as the Creoles, have sometimes emphasised their differences from the Creoles by practising more traditionally, for instance celebrating Mass in Latin.[8]
Christian faiths
Religious census[9] | |
---|---|
Faith | Total % |
Hinduism | 48 |
Roman Catholic |
26 |
Islam | 17 |
Other Christian | 6 |
Others | 3 |
* Others - Animist & others
| |
* Other Christian - Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Assemblies of God
|
Reformed tradition in Mauritius dates back to 1598 during the period of Dutch. The Presbyterian Church in Mauritius is considered an inheritor of the tradition, but in spite of having Parish Ministry in just three places, it has strong links with Parishes in Scotland, France and Switzerland. Roman Catholicism is believed to have been introduced by the
Government policies
Mauritius gained independence in 1968 and there was no state religion in Mauritius defined in the constitution. The nation had no indigenous population nor any indigenous tribes or religion. The religious organizations present at the time of independence, namely,
Churches
The major and the oldest church in Mauritius is the St. Louis Cathedral, Port-Louis. Originally built by French during the 18th century, the church was destroyed in a cyclone during the early 19th century. It was rebuilt in 1925 and expanded with a twin tower in 1932. A fountain built in 1786 by Governor Vicomte de Souillac and an oil painting depicting a biblical scene, painted by A. Richard in 1855, are the major artefacts in the church. St. James Cathedral, located on the Poudriere Street is locally called cyclone shelter with its two metre thick wall of the old structure.[11] St. Andrews, built in 1851 and St. Johns' in 1856 in Port Louis are prominent churches built by Patrick Beaton, the first minister of Church of Scotland in Mauritius.[12]
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Mauritius
Notes
- ^ "Resident population by religion and sex" (PDF). Statistics Mauritius. p. 68. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ World Religion Database at the ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ a b "Christianity history in Mauritisu" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ US State 2022 report
- ^ ISBN 978-0-520-04031-1. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
- ^ Richards 2011, p. 24
- ^ Richards 2011, p. 36
- ISBN 978-1-85973-959-4. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
- ^ ISBN 9781452266565.
- ISBN 9780802824158.
- ISBN 9781868728275.
- ^ ORR, Brian J (2013). Bones of Empire. lulu.com. p. 162.
References
- Richards, Alexandra (2011). Mauritius: Rodrigues. Reunion. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841629247.