Corozal Town, Corozal, Belize — Central America

Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College

Corozal Town Historical Walk

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 18, 2017

1. Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College Marker

Inscription.
Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College The priest's residence or "El Convento" was constructed in early the 1890's. Its construction is attributed to Father Gillett who was one of the English Jesuit priests who came to Belize in the 1880's. It was of typical masonry at the time with thick concrete worked stone walls, a two storey building with a long wooden verandah facing the sea. The upstairs with many rooms, was the living quarters of the resident priests - usually two; one for the town and one for rural areas. The downstairs was used as the parish office, an assembly room and an elementary school classroom.

It survived Hurricane Janet in 1955 and underwent significant changes when Xavier College was opened in 1959, using one of its rooms as First Form. By 1967 the student population had increased so substantially that the whole building was being used as classrooms for students from First to Fourth Form. A new two storey board building was built next to the College to accommodate the resident priests, a parish office and an assembly room. With the closing of Xavier College to amalgamate with Fletcher's College and the opening of the Corozal Community College in 1978, the convent reverted back to what it was a century earlier, with the original classroom becoming the office of the local

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manager of Catholic primary schools in the Corozal District.

Erected by National Institute of Culture and History (NICH). (Marker Number 4 of 7.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Churches & Religion • Education • Man-Made Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.

Location. 18° 23.45′ N, 88° 23.165′ W. Marker is in Corozal Town, Corozal. Marker is on 1st Street South just south of 4th Avenue, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Corozal Town, Corozal 7M11P L1XL6, Belize. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Schofield Residence (within shouting distance of this marker); Her Majesty's Prison (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Corozal Town Hall (about 90 meters away); Felipe Santiago Ricalde (about 90 meters away); House of Culture/Public Market (about 120 meters away); Corozal Town Central Park (about 120 meters away); Fort Barlee (about 150 meters away); Mr. Ignacio Filiberto Sabido Padilla (approx. 14.4 kilometers away in Mexico). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corozal Town.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 18, 2017

2. Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College Marker

To the left of the marker in this view is St. Xavier's Catholic Church.

Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 18, 2017

3. Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College

The front of the building mentioned in the marker text can be seen in the distance, now surrounded by other structures.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, May 18, 2017

4. Parish Office/Priest’s Residence/Xavier College

This is a view of the reverse of the Parish Office building mentioned in the marker text.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 4, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 353 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 4, 2017, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.