All Souls Anglican Church in Tsakani celebrates six decades

Tsakani – For more than six decades, the All Souls Anglican Church in Tsakani has stood as a landmark on the corner of Mashobane and Hlakwana streets.

This week, the church celebrated that milestone with week-long mid-week services covering the church’s history, dating back to its debut in the location in 1964.

“Starting from October 28, the All Souls Anglican Church opened its doors to the community by inviting them to hear about the establishment of the parish and how it has stood the test of time.

“Taking to the stage, old parish members took the audience on a journey through time, recounting the days of old and the transition from the church under the apartheid era into democracy.

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“The retelling of stories of the church liturgy remaining a constant factor of the Anglican faith has enabled its sustenance of the faith of Christians under the banner of the Anglican Church of South Africa,” said church spokesperson Mamello Mkhwanazi.

She said that an elder of the church, Nada Nolutshungu, said the love of hymns, praise and worship from the Anglican Hymn Book is a cornerstone for lifting the name of the Lord.

Mkhwanaz said Nolutshungu is the church choir’s oldest member and still leads from the front. Church members told how the founding priests played an important role in forming formal structures in the community, particularly the first cohort of school governing body members.

“This is how schools surrounding the church sang hymns taken from the Anglican Hymn Book because of the active participation of the church in the moral generation of children in the community,” noted Archbishop Zitha of the Episcopal Church.

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The archbishop mentioned All Souls’ role in the democratic process, facilitating peace talks between warring political parties on the East Rand.

“The All Souls Anglican Church remains a pillar of the community, playing an important role in the care of families affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic and the development of young minds at an early development centre run through the church’s NPO, the Tshepo Hope Centre,” said Mkhwanazi.

The programme has yet to move between a financial wellness session and the role and importance of civic participation in the democratic processes until tomorrow (October 31).

An inter-denominational prayer and worship service closed with a talk on the importance of a healthy lifestyle through healing emotional wounds and healthy eating choices. The Kwatsaduza community is invited to a street cookout on November 2 from 11:00 at the church.

“Food, music and entertainment will be on offer. A feast has been prepared for all who join Sunday’s patronal festival starting at 08:00 sharp,” added Mkhwanazi.