Iconic St Stephens Cathedral marks 100 years, Sapit calls for truce
By Alvin.Mwangi, July 31, 2023Clerics, leaders and faithful from various parts of the country converged ACK St Stephen’s Cathedral Jogoo Road to mark its 100th anniversary.
The service, which was led by Archbishop Rev Jackson Ole Sapit, also saw the launch of a book titled The Making of a Cathedral.
“St Stephens church holds a special place in the history of Kenya. As a church we are happy that unlike the Western world, this church has continued to preach the true gospel,” said Sapit.
He urged ruling coalition and opposition leaders to unite the country, saying the current political situation can easily lead to chaos.
“As a church, we are urging our leaders to have a dialogue. Kenyans at the grassroots are suffering because of the ongoing demonstrations. We want to have a peaceful country,” he said.
Explaining the history of the church, Provost Canon Paul Mwangi said St Stephens was the first Anglican African church to be built in Nairobi.
Mwangi said the cathedral holds a strong sentimental value to many.
On January 26, 2020, the Most Rev Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, visited St Stephen’s Cathedral.
Veteran radio journalist Leonard Mambo Mbotela, who was present, has been a member of the church, where his grandfather served as a lay reader.
The trade union movement was nurtured at the church, through Tom Mboya.
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) has traditionally held workers’ thanksgiving prayer day at church.
Cotu prayers are normally held on the last Sunday of April preceding Labour Day celebrations.
“This is a church of history not only for labour leaders but for our people,” Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli said during prayers day on April 30.
Interactions between the missionaries and the labour movement in Kenya started in the 1920s.
The cathedral is referred to as the mother church of a diocese.
“In the Anglican Church as well as the Roman Catholic Church, a provost is appointed to be the CEO of the Cathedral,” Mwangi said.
In Kenya, there are more than 40 dioceses, and each has one cathedral that hosts the seat of the Bishop. St Stephen’s Cathedral Jogoo Road serves as the Nairobi Diocese and houses the seat of the Bishop.