Our link with Mpwapwa was established in 2005 and is a great joy and blessing to all involved.
Mpwapwa Diocese, located in the central highlands of Tanzania, has a beautiful landscape of mountains and hi-plains. Founded in 1991, it is a growing Diocese made up of 138 parishes, with 650 small church congregations spread across 13 deaneries.
Bishop Luzineth, their fourth bishop, had a wonderful time visiting our Diocese in November 2024. He attended a Conference for New Bishops held at Canterbury and was also able to spend time with our Bishops, and with the parishes and schools who are linked with Mpwapwa. His itinerary also gave him some time to relax.
Photo: Bishop Luzineth relaxing and enjoying an ice-cream with the Link Chairs
The annual Celebration of Rochester’s Companion Dioceses was held on 2 November at St Stephen’s Church, Tonbridge. This included interviews with both Bishop Luzineth and Bishop Given (Kondoa) who shared how the links are blessing each Diocese, with additional reflections from 2 students from Bennett Memorial who visited Mpwapwa with their school in July, and included an address by Bishop Luzineth based on Psalm 133 (‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’) which made for a very special evening.
Photo: Bishops Luzineth, Given and Jonathan celebrating our links
The evening also included a 6-minute film of the recent visit made by Sylvie & Stephen (Link Chairs) and Corina Wood to Mpwapwa and St Philip’s Theological College – watch the video and get a flavour of what this link is all about!
Read about Bishop Jonathan's visit to Tanzania in August 2022
Click here to read the latest Mpwapwa Bulletin
More about Mpwapwa
The key challenges for the Diocese are climate change, and the empowerment of the people. Most are subsistence farmers, so when the rains fail, or are late, this results in poor harvests, hunger, and nothing to sell in the markets.
While the people are very poor, they are rich in their love of God, worship and hospitality and we have much to learn from them.
Many of the church leaders have little theological training and are dependent on their congregations for income.
The Diocese is about the size of Wales with few properly surfaced roads, so keeping their few essential vehicles roadworthy is a constant drain on diocesan resources.
Photo: A solar powered water irrigation project in Mpwapwa, funded by the Diocese's Poverty and Hope Appeal
Link in action
Rochester has eight parish links, two secondary school links, and several primary school links within Mpwapwa.
St Philip’s College and Queen Esther’s School in the Kiboriani mountains, and St Luke’s Medical Centre in Mpwapwa town, have captured the hearts of many Friends of Mpwapwa during their visits and now support these places through funding or their time.
Those with links or special friendships gather together several times a year to share and pray for the links.
Others from Rochester and further afield have signed up to become a “Friend of Mpwapwa” and receive the Mpwapwa Bulletin three times a year, and the occasional email update or prayer request.
Case Study: Shoreham and Chunyu
The link between St Peter and St Paul, Shoreham; Shoreham Village School; St Michael’s School, Otford, with St Joseph’s Chunyu; Chunyu Primary and Secondary Schools were formed during a visit to the community at Chunyu in 2018 by the Parish Vicar and Headteacher of Shoreham Village School.
They grabbed the opportunity to host Bishop Luzineth during his November visit for few days – here he is trying his hand at bell ringing!
Photo: Bishop Luzineth at Shoreham
Photo: St Joseph’s Church now has window frames!
Greetings and photos are regularly shared on their WhatsApp Group, sharing news and events as well as prayers and celebration music.
This is what those involved with this link have to say:
"Our partnership between Chunyu and Shoreham has enabled us to build bonds of friendship and support, and to further develop our understanding of commonalities and differences, and to celebrate them together."
Funds from a sponsored walk by their Vicar during the Covid lockdown have enabled window frames to be added to the new church building, desks to be bought for the primary and secondary schools, and has provided donations for improvements at both the Diocese’s Queen Esther’s School and St Luke’s Medical Centre.
St Philip's Theological College
St Philip’s Theological College is a Provincial College established in 1914 by missionaries and is overseen by the Anglican Church of Tanzania. It is a valued part of our link with Mpwapwa.
Photo: Bishop Jonathan Gibbs, the Bishop of Rochester addresses students at St Philip's
The current Principal, Rev Canon Captain Agripa Ndatila, is from Mpwapwa Diocese, in which the College is located. It has a beautiful campus, in a quiet setting on the slopes of the Kiboriani Mountains, overlooking the plains of Kongwa.
There are currently 65 residential students (some with their families), studying for either a 3-year Certificate or Diploma in Theology.
Over the years the College has established agricultural projects – both to help feed the students and to sell as a college income stream. These include
- a fish farm (tilapia)
- cattle and chicken
- bees and pigs
By using drip feed irrigation, they have produced bumper crops of maize, fruit, and vegetables; amazing during a time of drought; preparing their students to share this knowledge in their future rural parishes.
The College has become a centre of excellence in water management and shares its expertise with others to help combat the impact of climate change.
Currently, four students receive bursaries from either a parish or individual. This is a great investment in future church leadership, as few potential students - or their dioceses - can afford the £700 per annum fees for the 3-year course.
Giving
If you would like to give towards the ministry and mission of Mpwapwa Diocese this can be done in the following ways:
If your gift is for a particular project like Queen Esther’s, St Philip’s etc please make this clear in the “Public Message of Support” section of the Stewardship page.
Get involved
If you, your parish or school would be interested in getting involved with a project in, forming a link with Mpwapwa, visiting, or would simply like to become a “Friend of Mpwapwa” please contact Sylvie and Stephen Barbor, Chairs of the Link on mpwapwa.cdsg@gmail.com