Diocese of Thika
African Christianity
Christianity has been present on the continent of Africa from earliest times. Acts 8 records the story of the Ethiopian eunuch who returned to his homeland after his baptism by Philip. Early on the Scriptures were translated into local languages: Coptic in the second and Ethiopic in the fourth century. The great North African 
theologian, Augustine, spoke Latin with a mother-tongue (Punic/Berber) African accent. All this was before any Anglo-Saxon translations of Scripture in the ninth and tenth centuries, and long before Europeans began to explore or migrate to Africa from the sixteenth century. Following the colonial European Scramble for Africa in the nineteenth century and the post-WWII African independence movements, there were also vernacular (local language) movements of African Indigenous Churches from the 1920s.
From at least the 1st century AD, and on into the nineteenth century, there were major migrations within Africa. This is now reflected in the populations of East African nations like Kenya, where there are distinct groupings of peoples who form an extraordinarily rich cultural context in which Christianity flourishes. European Protestant missionaries first travelled into the interior of what is now Kenya in the mid 19th century, before any colonial settlers first arrived in the 1890s. Both Catholic and Protestant mission societies were committed to translation, but it was African Christians, using their own languages, who spread the Gospel and planted churches.
The Tripartite Relationship
Today there are many vibrant churches in Kenya. Some of these have historical connections with European churches like 
the Church of England (CofE); the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) is an example. It now has as many dioceses as the CofE, and many more Christians who regularly attend their local churches. The ACK Diocese of Thika began in 1998 and Exeter Diocese has a link with Thika in a tripartite partnership (begun in 2005) which also includes the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf. The three Diocesan Bishops have recently renewed their covenant together.
The link with Thika Diocese has gone through several phases. Mostly recently, the Covid pandemic brought travel between Europe and Africa to a standstill, but new communications through WhatsApp and other social media began to emerge so that partner relationships could be maintained: these parish partnerships are at the heart of the link. They are slowly coming back to life but do require renewal if they are going to work. Fundamental here are the practical ways in which we share, from our local contexts, our different perspectives and our common commitments. The strategies of Thika and Exeter Dioceses also provide much that could be of mutual encouragement.
Partnership Events and Activities
A Forthcoming Event
For those who would like to know more about the link with Thika Diocese, there is an event centred around a visiting team from St Monica’s, a parish in Thika town. They will be in Emmanuel Church, Plymouth, on 4 July, and Bishop Mike will be there as they start their visit. There will an opportunity to hear about the vision of St Monica’s and something of their life together, and to also hear Bishop Mike’s reflections on his recent visit to Thika Diocese. Subsequently, the team will take part in the life of Emmanuel parish, including sharing their faith (and their initial reflections) with Emmanuel congregations. The aim is to offer mutual encouragement and to learn more about ourselves and others. Come and find out more: all are welcome, especially parishes with partnerships in Thika.
If you would like more information and travel directions, please click here.
