A Church Says It Bought 1.5 Acres for $30,000 in 1973. A Couple Says Half an Acre Is Theirs

• Andrew and Sarah Buddan are suing Bethel Chapel Apostolic Foundation Limited in St Catherine
• The church says it bought a 1.5-acre plot for $30,000 in 1973
• The couple, who bought the land in 2017, say only one acre was ever meant to go to the church
• A Supreme Court injunction bars the church from dealing with or building on the disputed land until trial

Half an acre used as a church playground in St Catherine is at the centre of a Supreme Court fight between a congregation and a couple who bought the land in 2017. Andrew and Sarah Buddan have taken Bethel Chapel Apostolic Foundation Limited to court, alleging the church obtained title to land it was never entitled to, the Gleaner reported in November 2022.

The two sides tell very different stories. The church says it bought a 1.5-acre plot for $30,000 back in 1973. The Buddans, who purchased the land in December 2017, contend that the sale agreement only ever provided for the church to receive one acre. They accuse the church of making false or fraudulent statements to obtain title to the extra half-acre by adverse possession, even though, they say, it never occupied that portion.

Earlier in November 2022 the Supreme Court granted an injunction that stops the church from disposing of, transferring, charging or building on the disputed land until the case goes to trial. The Registrar of Titles was also ordered to produce the documents the church relied on in its adverse possession application.

The legal teams are substantial. Simone Mayhew KC and Ashley Mair represent the Buddans, while Stephanie Williams and Charah Malcolm act for the church. Millicent Thomas-Clarke is named as the church’s representative.

The case highlights a problem that runs through Jamaica’s land system: old, informal or poorly documented church land deals colliding with modern registered titles. Many congregations acquired land decades ago on handshake agreements, part-payments or loosely drawn boundaries. Adverse possession can regularise long use, but it also invites challenge when neighbours or new buyers dispute the facts. For church trustees, the lessons are clear: get purchases surveyed and titled promptly, keep the original sale documents safe, and make sure any application to the Registrar of Titles is backed by accurate evidence. For buyers, including returning residents and diaspora investors, it is a reminder to check what a neighbouring church claims before completing a purchase.

Follow Jamaica Homes on Youtube @jamaicahomes and Instagram @jamaica_homes and on Facebook @jamaicahomesnews Send us a message or email us at onlinefeedback@jamaica-homes.com or editor@jamaica-homes.com