Waldensia derives its name from that of an early Christian community known as the "Waldenses".
The Waldenses are named after a 12th century merchant, Peter WALDO, who lived in Lyons, France, and who gave up all his possessions to preach "Poverty for the sake of Christ". This view was not popular with the Catholic Church and he was excommunicated in 1184.
A Society developed out of his followers, and promoted discipline while being critical of unworthy clergy and abuses of the Church. In 1208 a Crusade was authorised against the Waldenses and eighty of them were burned at the stake in 1211. The majority withdrew into Alpine valleys in Italy and lived a marginal existance until they joined with Protestant reformers in 1552. They were given "freedom of the valley"in 1561 (this was the valley of PIEDMONT in ITALY) and though they suffered intermittent persecution over the next three centuries due to the Catholic/Protestant war, they obtained full civil rights in 1848 and are now significant in Italian theologicasl dialogue. They are members of the World Presbytarian Alliance and have small congregations in North and South America.
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The PIEDMONT area that we know here in Sherwood Content was owned by the William FLASH family and part was given to William Knibb (the Baptist minister stationed at Falmouth) for the construction of a chapel. Knibb named this chapel "Waldensia"
The chapel was rebuilt on the present site nearby in 1875 and the school now stands on the original site.

Descendants of the Flash family (including the headmistress of the school) still live in the area. The Jamaica Almanac of 1840 lists William Flash as owning 36 acres