Historic church celebrates 150 year milestone

ST THOMAS Anglican Church on Musgrave Road will commemorate a huge milestone this month as its celebrates its 150th anniversary.

St Thomas Church, which includes the beautiful, historic Old St Thomas Church on the corner of Ridge and Julia Roads, and the larger St Thomas Church in Musgrave Road, has been the spiritual beacon and home on the Berea for many generations of Rectors and parishioner. It's 150 year celebrations will include a range of activities, memorabilia and the unveiling of a beautiful mosaic cross to honour past and present parishioners and their families.

To commemorate this memorable year, six days of scheduled events will take place between Tuesday, 8 July and Sunday 13 July. The local community and greater community of worshipers at the churches are invited to attend and take a trip down memory lane.

The scheduled events will include an organ recital, a historic talk at Old St Thomas church including a Soup and Sherry evening, a celebratory “Tastes of Durban” Saturday lunch and floral art through the church. These events will culminate in a Sunday service to be celebrated with Bishop Rubin Philip.

Many Berea families have passed through these churches and celebrated Easter, Christmas, weddings, christenings and funerals. According to the Church's Belinda Croxon, for several parishioners still worshiping in the church, it has been their spiritual home since 1948. “Collective memories are being collated in the form of a book which will be available for sale, detailing memories of flower festivals, fetes, musical extravaganzas, theatre evenings and evensong attended by DHS and Durban Girls College girls of the past. Memories from past rectors and parishioners during their time here speak of humorous anecdotes, happy and sad times, times spent in a caring, compassionate and loving community, a community including the youth in the active Teenage and young Adults Group and the elderly, where fun times were shared by all,” Croxon explained. She added that music has been a constant thread throughout these years with their beautiful organ being the focus of traditional music and more recently their grand piano and small but energetic band, who get the parishioners swaying and toe-tapping.

A commemorative mosaic cross which has been created by well known Durban mosaic artist, Inger Paton, is to be erected in the car park and unveiled during this celebratory week. Anyone who would like to have a loved one remembered on a plaque to be displayed alongside this cross may do so for a donation of R150.

The church will host more events throughout the rest of the year.

For more information and booking for events contact St Thomas Anglican Church between 8.30am and 1pm daily on 031-2012204/5 or email:parishsec@stthomasberea.org.za