History of the construction of the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross

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By Derrick Sinjela

 

In 1857, David Livingstone made his appeal at Cambridge in the United Kingdom which resulted in the foundation of the Universities Mission to Central Africa.

 

In 1907 celebrations were held I England to mark the Jubilee of the Appeal, and in thanksgiving for work, a resolution was passed that a new diocese should be founded to mark the Jubilee and that it be established in Northern Rhodesia.

 

Two years later, in 1909, the Jubilee of the foundation of the UMCA was observed and it was then announced that John Edward Hine, had accepted a position as Bishopric of Northern Rhodesia.

 

Bishop Hine had previously served in Zanzibar and Nyasaland.

 

Bishop Hine arrived in Livingstone in 1910 and decided in 1912 that Mapanza becomes headquarters of the diocese. He resigned in 1914 after twenty five years of service with the mission.

 

Bishop Alston May succeeded Bishop Hine and went to Mapanza to be enthroned in the |Church of Saint Bartholomew which then served as the pro-Cathedral of the diocese.

 

This was an arrangement that was to last for twenty years, until “on the Feast of Epiphany in 1935, when the bishop dedicated his throne in the Church of the Holy Nativity at Ndola, thereby distinguishing it as Cathedral Church. Bishop May served in the diocese until his death in 1940.

 

Bishop May was succeeded by Bishop Robert Selby Taylor, who was consecrated at Likoma in September 1941, when he was enthroned in the pro-Cathedral at Ndola five weeks later.

 

During Bishop Taylor’s ten years episcopate tenure, rapid change and development took place in the country and the diocese as a whole.

 

Lusaka became Capital City taking over from Livingstone in 1935.

 

The All Saints Church was built and dedicated on November 5, 1933 as a maninly European congregation, while other churches serving African Christians were equally set up.

 

In 1951, can an offer by the Government of the present site of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross which was later accepted by the Synod.

 

At the lower end of the plot there was a cinema and at the eastern end stood a rudimentary petrol station with a capacity of 44-gallon drums from which petrol was served to motorists.

 

“The site could not be bettered,” wrote promoting the Cathedral Appeal and many generous donations were received by the Cathedral Building Team.

 

In 1960, Bishop Oliver felt time to build the Cathedral as ripe and a group started building led by Ian Reeler.

 

The contractor and representatives of the Building Committee witnessed Bishop Oliver “cut the first sod” and later blessed the work.

 

The building immediately took possession.

 

Harold Mitchell built the structure and was at the time active in Lusaka civic activities and served as Mayor of the City.

 

In two-years the building took shape on the Cathedral Hill.

 

The first task was to lay the concrete ‘platform’ on which the Cathedral would later stand.

 

Apart from local employees, Mitchell had engaged two experts from South Africa and Italy.

 

There were a few ropes and pulleys, one concrete mixer, and (when roof level was attained) an electric hoist.

 

One of the most exciting moments was the arrival of the pre-stressed concrete members of the widows, these had been constructed on the Copperbelt and transported to the site by road.

 

Another moment came in 1963 when the great cross which was to stand on the baldachino over the High Alter also arrived by road. It was man-handled up to the steps into the building and hoisted by ropes and pulley.

 

Owing to an error in the alignment of the holes in the base plate it could not be easily belted until in the next morning, and so overnight hung precariously from one of the concrete rafters.

 

Built into the walls are stones from other Cathedrals, including one from Canterbury and one from America.

 

Bishop Oliver kept the faith as he always hoped that the building could be used for the first time on Holy Cross Day (September 14th) 1962.

 

Many had doubted whether it would be ready, but in March of that year a decision was taken to complete the walls and roof of the whole building and later use it, come what may!!!

 

The contractors worked hard, but in the event walls at the east end had not reached their full height, the nave windows were unglazed and wails unplastered.

 

Undeterred arrangements were made for a great service at which alters would be blessed and the Cathedral opened for public worship.

 

A meeting of the Provincial Synod, had been called at the time and this ensured that all Bishops of the Province be present alongside clerical and lay representatives from all diocesan offices.

 

In addition five other Bishops were able to join Bishop Oliver for the celebrations and the last days saw a great band of willing helpers working long hours.

 

Holy Cross Day dawned bright and sunny, but very windy. Candles were blown out, and fair linen almost lifted from the alter.

 

By kind permission of the Officer Commanding, Trumpeters of the Northern Rhodesian Regiment were present at both services. By 09:00 hours a great congregation, led by H.E. the Governor of Northern Rhodesia, Sir Evelyn Hone and Lady Hone, filled every corner of of the building and to the sound of the trumpets, the procession entered through the west door.

 

Following the visiting clergy and clergy of the Diocese, came Bishop of South-West Tanganyika, representing the UMCA, Bishop Bengt Sundkler of the Swedish Lutheran Church in Tanganyika, Bishop Stephen Bayne, |Executive Officer of the Anglican Communion and Bishop Robert Selby Taylor of Grhamstown,

 

Bishop Taylor was formerly from Northern Rhodesia and preached on the material Holy Cross Day.

 

Others present included, Bishop Edward Paget, formerly Archbishop of Central Africa, bishops of the Province of Matabeleland, Mashonaland and Nyasaland. Finally the Archbishop of Central Africa, Bishop of the Diocese, Oliver Green-Wilkinson, who was to preside and celebrate the first Eucharist in the Cathedral.

 

Before the Liturgy, however, came  the hallowing of the three of the four alters, the High Alter by the Archbishop, the Alter in the Chapel of St Mary abs the Holy Angels by Archbishop of South-West Tanganyika. The Alter in the Chapel of All Saints was in place, but this was to be blessed at a later date.

 

In the evening, another congregation filled the Cathedral, again led by the Governor and his lady. At this service, Bishop Oliver had three special tasks, blessing and installing the First Dean of Lusaka, thanksgiving and thirdly offering the traditional blessing to the City and Diocese of Lusaka.

 

Then the cathedral was handed back to the contractors so that the remaining work could be completed, but every Saturday their impediments were moved away and the building made ready for Sunday worship.

 

In addition to normal services two important historical events took place.

 

First, the congregation of the Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Kitwe had undertaken to furnish the Lady Chapel.

 

On March 31st 1963, their Rector, with his Church wardens and representatives of the parish, came to the Cathedral for the dedication by Bishop Oliver and their gifts.

 

Secondly, on June 9th 1963, came the hallowing of the Alter and dedication of the furnishings of the Chapel of All Saints, named in order to perpetuate the connection with the parish church, which had serve3d  the congregation for thirty (30) years.

 

This Chapel had been completely furnished as “An Offering from the Armed Services to Almighty God.”

 

Regimental Colours of the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, previously laid up in the All Saints’ Church, had been transferred and stored in the Cathedral.

 

Ensigns of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force hang alongside these. Affixed to the wrought iron screen are plaques showing the Arms of various |Regiments and Units of the Forces which had connections with the country over the years?

 

Three years later, in 1966, the Dean received from the Officer Commanding 2nd Battalion of the Zambian Regiment, further Colours of the Northern Rhodesian Regiment for safe keeping within the walls of the Cathedral Church.

 

Although the Cathedral had been in use since 1962, it had not technically been “consecrated”, because at the time there was still work to be done on the fabric, and money raised to pay for it.

 

It was on April 26th 1970, only four months before his tragic death, that Archbishop Oliver formerly consecrated the building at a Solemn Eucharist inaugurating the Eleventh Synod.

 

Standing in the Sanctuary Bishop Oliver traced the Sign of the Cross on the floor as a token that he took possession in the Name of Christ, of the ground on which the Church stands. Bishop Oliver then anointed six (6) Consecrated Crosses which had been fixed in the bays of the Cathedral and declared thus: “GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. Sanctify and Bless this place to be a sanctuary of the Most High and a Church of the Living God. The Lord with his favour ever mercifully behold it, and so sends down upon it his spiritual benediction and grace, that it may be the House of God to Him, and to us the Gate of Heaven…Amen.”

 

Some important footnotes

 

The BELL came from All Saints Church, where it used to hang in the lynch gate.

 

The FONT, there exists a feeling that Bishop Oliver and Pru gave in memory of their parents.

 

The COPPER EWER at the font was a special gift.

 

The COPPER TROUGH for flowers , at the font was given by Lusaka Mothers Union.

 

The ORGAN in the gallery camw e from All Saints Church.

 

The  CHAPEL OF ALL SAINTS  was furnished by the ARMED Forces.

 

The CHAPEL OF SAINT BATHLOMEW-This Apostle has always been connected with UMCA. The First public baptism in 1865 took place at Mapanza.

 

The Tabernacle on this alter was given by the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, on condition that a smaller alter be given away to a Mission Station, than the one held at All Saints Church.

 

THE FRAMED TAPESTRY of the Diocesan Arms which hang on one of the pillars in the nave was made and given by Mrs. Peggy Webster-Smith. She also made the set of WHITE-GOLD HIGH MASS VESTMENTS:, and with other helpers, the Fair Linen for the Alters.

 

The Bishop’s THRONE was a Thanks offering from the Architects-Richard Hope and Ian Reeler.

 

The Dean’s STALL was a gift from the Commissioner, All Ranks and Friends of the Northern Rhodesia Police given in memory of Inspector G.I. Walford, Constable Musa, Constable Mayengo, Constable Thembo, Constable Shumbwamuntu, Constable Mukuboto, Constable Banda and Constable Njovu, who had lost their lives at Chavuma, Northwestern Province in August 1961, on duty.

 

The KNEELERS, were made by members of the congregation and friends in the United Kingdom.

 

The GLASS ORNETS and COPPER TRAY for use at the High Alter were gift of the Mothers Union of the whole Diocese.

 

The CROSS on the BALDACHINO was given by the parish of Broken Hill, now Kabwe.

 

The LARGE CHALICE and PATEN was a gift from the Northern Rhodesia Police and the LARGE WOODEN PROCESSIONAL CROSS was a gift from the late Father Geoffrey Fiennes, who had designed and made it at Mapanza.

 

The smaller ETHOPIAN CROSS was a gift from the late Emperor Haile Selaissie, visited Lusaka in 1965 and worshipped in the Cathedral on a Sunday morning.

 

The CROSS NAILS were presented as a gift to Bishop Oliver and the Cathedral family by brethren from Coventry Cathedral.

 

The STATUE OF OUR LADY in the Lady Chapel was also a gift from well-wishers and friends of the Cathedral.

Compiled by Derrick Sinjela Sun, March 11th 2012

NOTE: For some of you, who have travelled and visited Msoro Anglican Mission, Diocese of Eastern Zambia, will be pleased to read and note that the former Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Michael Ramsay visited Msoro Mission as President of the Universities Mission to Central Afrcia (UMCA) in 1959. In this photograh you see him outside the orignal Out-Patients’ Department of St Luke’s Hospital in Msoro, Zambia (the building was pulled down when the new one was built). The other bishop (wearing a hat) is Bishop Oliver Green-Wilkinson, who was then Bishop of Northern Rhodesia who also at one moment became Archbishop of Central Africa.

Photo courtesy of the Reverend Father John Gore and Bishop William Mchombo – Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia. 

Anglican Diocese of Upper Shire – Malawi May 5, 2020 Eastern Province https://www.facebook.com/www.adusmalawi.org/?__tn__=-UC*F