Church celebrates 150 years

UMBILO Congregational Church held its celebratory thanksgiving service on Sunday, 20 October to commemorate the church’s 150th anniversary.

The church forms part of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa. Each church is a self-supporting church and as such either has the ability to call a full time minister or not, depending on the finances of the particular church.

The first church service was held in W Bottomley’s house in June 1869 and the first building opened in January 1870 and served for many years.

The first permanent building was erected in 1902, until the existing site was secured and a wood and iron building erected. The church had been a preaching station and used to fall under the Smith Street church and shared the services with the Bellair ministers.

From 1906 to 1911 the church was associated with the Sea View church and from 1911 to 1919 it was connected to the Florida Road Church. The church then opted for its own minister and from 1919 to 1923 was served by Rev J Richardson. The church was then moved to the back of the property and the corner plot where the church now stands was purchased and the corner stone laid on 22 October 1932 by Mr WM Fernie. The new church was officially opened on 15 January 1933.

In 1963 an idea was born to expand the church and have the building altered, turn the church around and turn the then entrance into the altar. This was undertaken and the rededication and reopening took place on 13 September 1964.

The church has been served by many ministers and lay preachers over the years and is currently under the guidance of the acting Minister Rev Armstrong Makhanya.

The church continues to serve the community, and church services are held on Sundays at 9am and 6pm. The Sunday School meets on Sundays at 9am and has been running for well over 100 years.

There are various forms of fellowship by way of Bible study, prayer meetings, Zulu lessons, extra lessons run for maths, physics and life science on Sundays after the service, a book club, Wally’s braai and art and craft club and a fleamarket. Various outreaches are done by way of knitting or crocheting blankets, scarves, bedsocks and beanies for babies, the elderly and the less fortunate. The church also collects food items and donates these to the Carrots and Peas soup kitchen run at Kenneth Gardens.

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