About Us

St. Mary’s Parish Kabete

A.C.K St. Mary’s Parish Kabete is part of The Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) which is also part of the Anglican Communion and holds a set of beliefs that are consistent with the broader teachings of the Anglican tradition. While it is important to note that individual beliefs may vary within the church, the following provides a general overview of the core beliefs commonly held by St. Mary’s Parish Kabete

  • The Holy Trinity: ACK affirms the belief in one God who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This belief emphasizes the unity and equality of the three persons within the Godhead.
  • The Authority of Scripture: ACK upholds the Bible as the inspired Word of God and considers it the ultimate authority for matters of faith and practice. They believe in the divine inspiration, infallibility, and sufficiency of Scripture.
  • Salvation through Jesus Christ: ACK affirms the belief that salvation is found only through faith in Jesus Christ. They believe that Jesus, as the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died on the cross as a sacrifice for human sins, and was resurrected from the dead. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior is seen as the means by which individuals can be reconciled with God and receive eternal life.
  • The Sacraments: ACK recognizes two primary sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion (also known as the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper). Baptism is seen as the sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith, and Holy Communion is considered a remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice and a means of receiving spiritual nourishment.
  • The Church: ACK believes in the Church as the Body of Christ, made up of all believers worldwide. They affirm the importance of worship, fellowship, and ministry within the context of the local church community. The ACK also recognizes the historical apostolic succession and the role of bishops in the governance of the Church.
  • Social Justice and Evangelism: The Anglican Church of Kenya emphasizes the call to care for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized. They believe in promoting social justice, addressing societal issues, and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through evangelism and missions.

It is important to note that this is a general overview, and there may be additional beliefs, practices, and nuances within the Anglican Church of Kenya that are not covered here. Individual members and clergy within the church may also have varying degrees of emphasis on different aspects of these beliefs.

 

Diocese of Nairobi

Nairobi Diocese, which is within Anglican Church of Kenya, is part of the wider Anglican Communion. The history of the Anglican church of Kenya dates back to 1844 when the first missionary from the Church Missionary Society (CMS), Dr. Johann Ludwing Krapf, arrived in Mombasa. He was joined two years later by Rev. Johann Rebman. The two CMS missionaries started several CMS stations in the coastal region which culminated in the diocese of Eastern Equatorial Africa formed in 1884.  This covered areas including Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika with James Hannington as the first Bishop.
In 1955 The first African Bishops of the Anglican Church in Kenya, Festo Olang’ and Obadiah Kariuki were consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury in Uganda
 In 1960 the Anglican Province of East Africa, comprising of Kenya and Tanganyika was formed with L.J. Beecher as the first archbishop.

In 1964, the Diocese of Nairobi was separated from the Diocese of Mombasa. The first African Archbishop of the Church, the Most Rev. Festo Olang’, was elected in 1970. In 1974 Imani House, the then headquarters of the Anglican Church of Kenya and the Diocese of Nairobi was opened. The most Rev. Dr. Manasses Kuria was elected the second Archbishop of the Church succeeding the most Rev. Festo Olang’ in 1980. In 1996, the Most Rev. Dr. Manasses Kuria retired and in 1998 The Most Rev. Dr. David Gitari was elected the third Archbishop to take his place.
In September 2002 Nairobi diocese was split into two dioceses creating the All Saints Cathedral diocese under the Most Rev David Gitari and the Nairobi Diocese, where Bishop Peter Njoka was elected the first Bishop. In July 2010, Bishop Peter Njoka retired and he was succeeded by The Rt Rev Joel Waweru. Due to the dynamic environment in which the Church in the capital city operates, and the contextual experiences taking place in the world today, the diocese resorted to strategic planning as a roadmap to meeting the needs of its stakeholders.

 

ST MARY’S PARISH KABETE OLD SANCTUARY

The A.C.K St. Mary’s Old Sanctuary Building was built in 1929 for a small community of white missionaries and settlers in the Fort Smith area, then a part of the white highlands. Records indicate that the first service was held in the church in 1934. In the 1960’s, the building was abandoned following the departure of the Europeans who built the chapel. In November 1972, the church building was put to use again by a few Christian students and workers from the University of Nairobi. The small congregation was nurtured by the then Vicar of St. Marks Westlands, Rev. Paul Lantey. Few families, that of Mr. Zakaria Njuguna Mwangi, Mr. James Muraguri, Prof Philip Nyaga, Mr. Fred Ngige and Dr. Theuri Njoka formed the congregation at that time. Mrs. Elizabeth W. Mburu and Mrs. Faith.