Religious Experiences in Cape Town & The Social Role of the Church

The west stain-glass window in St. George's Cathedral

The west stain-glass window in St. George's Cathedral

 

Greetings from the Rainbow Nation.

As you know, the Christian Church has a long and divided history. From Catholic to Anglican, Protestants, Latter Day Saints, Nontrinitarian, and beyond, the Christian Church has seen formal divide since King Henry VIII formed the Church of England during his reign. The first deviation from the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church (Church of England), was our first religious experience here in Cape Town. St. George’s Cathedral, a Cape Town Anglican Church, received its first bishop on 1848. Over a century later, St. George’s Cathedral is the home to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who in 1986 became the first black archbishop of the South African Anglican Church.

As a religious studies student, I have spent time in many different places of worship. There are few, however, that I have felt the presence of God as I did in St. George’s Cathedral.

St. George’s is a spectacle of beauty. The intricate detail in the stain-glass windows tells a story of artists dedicated to the beautification and preservation of the Cathedral. On the high alter there is a Pelican carved in the marble to represent Christ. Pelicans pluck their own hair to make a nest for their young, a sacrifice like Christ made to all people through his suffering. The aesthetic beauty is only surpassed by the beauty of their commitment to social justice. During Apartheid, the South African Anglican Church renounced segregation, and became a common meeting place of protest for those leading the anti-apartheid movement. One can only guess how many protesters have claimed sanctuary in the open doors of St. George’s Cathedral. Archbishop Tutu speaks for the Anglican South African Church when he says, “I’m not obeying your laws, but I am obeying God’s laws.” Today the first sign posted when you enter the doors of the Cathedral reads, “This church is HIV/AIDS friendly.” In a time when those infected with AIDS were treated like lepers, the Anglican Church welcomed the people to join the congregation, share in communion, and worship without fear of discrimination. We will be fortunate enough to join this congregation on the morning of Friday the 15th, where Archbishop Tutu will lead us through a service.

In the excitement of meeting Archbishop Tutu, it is important not to forget the wonderful experience this Elon group had at Langa’s Baptist Church on Sunday the 10th. After leaving the overflow of the Methodist church down the street, our group ventured to the local Baptist Church filled with the energy of whole-hearted worship. Our group was warmly welcomed by the congregation between songs, sung with more power than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. During the apartheid the township churches such as Langa’s Baptist Church served as an outlet from the apartheid struggle in the townships. As our class was told, when Europe came to South Africa, Africans had the land, and Europeans had the bible. Now Africans have the bible, and Europeans have the land. In Langa’s Baptist Church, members rejoiced as they proudly sang the hymns that were led by various members of the congregation. All the members were the choir, dancing and singing to songs of praise. Elon students could not help but to move with the music, embracing the joy that filled the room. The service, which we only participated in a part of, ran from 9am until 12:45pm that day, but can last as long as five hours.

This church stands in contrast with the South African Moravian Church, which follows a more traditional protestant service. The Moravian Church has been in South Africa for 272 years, with 32,000 members across the country. The Moravian Church and the Anglican Church serves as places for protest, often in the form of theater. These congregations helped to push the anti-apartheid movement into its peak in the 80s, and continue to stand against social injustice in South Africa.

While our religious experience in South Africa is far from over, we have all experienced a wonderful piece of God’s work here in Cape Town.

Peace from Africa.

-Christina Strader

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