Five years in the making, this 19th-century church was a labour of love for the missionaries who built it. A lot of hard work went into its creation and it shows, with mother-of-pearl inlays, stained-glass windows and a ship-like vaulted timber ceiling.
Like most spots on Norfolk Island, St. Barnabas Chapel is a welcoming place with an open-door policy, so you can wander on in and explore at will. Services take place at 9:00am on Sundays, except for the first Sunday of the month, when the chapel hosts evening prayer and a sing-along at 5:00pm – your chance to meet Norfolk locals.
Visitor information
Operating Hours: 24/7. Please close the door behind you when you leave.
Cost: Free
Getting Here: On the corner of Anson Bay Road and Headstone Road, a 5-minute drive from Burnt Pine.
Top Tips for St. Barnabas Chapel
For context and colour, go with a guide who can bring the chapel’s history to life and point out all the interesting details in its design. Ask about tours at the Visitor Information Centre.
Just beside the chapel is a small cemetery in the Melanesian Mission Memorial Garden.
More historic and cultural attractions on Norfolk Island
Don’t let the gory legend of Bloody Bridge deter you; visit this historic landmark to admire the stonework and hard labour of the convicts who built it.
Visit the Commissariat to learn about Norfolk’s convict past. This historic building once held food supplies for the convicts and jailers on Norfolk Island.
Formerly the Surgeons Quarters, today this resilient little building houses a fascinating collection of photographs which bring the history of our island to life.
Visit Kingston Pier, which was a vital entry point for Norfolk’s settlers and still welcomes supply ships and fishing boats as it has done for two centuries.
Norfolk Island’s page-turning history is on full display in Kingston. Learn the stories behind the ruins and exhibits in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bring your camera along to capture this solitary tree that survived the mass felling of Norfolk pines and stood sentry over the island’s turbulent history.
Turn back to Norfolk Island’s convict chapter at No. 10 Quality Row, now a museum. Learn about the home’s inhabitants as you wander through the restored interior.
Our fascinating history takes on a new dimension at the Norfolk Island Cemetery. Read the grave stones marking two centuries of life on this South Pacific island.
The Old Military Barracks have served many purposes over the years. Visit the Kingston UNESCO World Heritage Site to find out what important roles it has played.
Strolling through Queen Victoria Memorial Gardens is a treat for both horticulturists and history lovers. There’s something for everyone on Norfolk Island.