Historic Churches in Kilifi
Rabai Cultural Landscape: A New Dawn
Started in 1846, Rabai Mission became the foremost missionary base in Kenya. Inspired by the mettlesome adventures of David Livingstone, Johann Ludwig Krapf, who arrived in Mombasa on January 3rd, 1844, and joined later in 1846 by Johannes Rebmann, under the Church Missionary Society (CMS), would become Kenya’s avant-garde missioners. Soon after, the British Methodist Mission arrived.
Johann Ludwig Krapf was born at the village of Derendingen, near Tübingen city in Germany, on January 11, 1810. The name Ludwig, “wrestler,” conferred on him at his baptism, was, he observed later in his autobiographical reminiscences, “no inapt appellation for one who was destined to become a soldier of the cross.” It was in his fifteenth year that the call came, which he afterwards so nobly obeyed.
The inflection point came when the rector of the school read an essay to his pupils on missions to the heathen, of which Krapf now heard for the first time. Instantly the question sprang up in his mind, “Why not become a missionary, and go and convert the heathen?” And thus, on February 6, 1837, four months before Queen Victoria ascended the throne of England, the ardent young Krapf left Basle for Marseilles, whence he sailed for Malta, on his maiden overseas mission.
In short order he transitioned southeast – to Africa – choosing Egypt and his jumping off place. In his brief stayr in Egypt at Alexandria, he married. This would the first of three marriages in his lifetime. From Alexandria he travelled to Cairo, where he remained for five months with the CMS. After some experience of the usual difficulties of African travel, Krapf succeeded in joining the missionaries C. W. Isenberg and C. H. Blumhardt at Adowa, the capital of Tigré.
While in Ethiopia, Krapf studied linguistics, with such accomplishment that the University of Tübingen awarded him an honorary doctorate. His evangelistic work was attended with great difficulty, however. The hostile influence of early Churches in Africa caused the expulsion of Krapf and his brethren from Tigré. Gallantpartly due to opposition from two French Roman Catholic Priests.
Having learned of an ethnic group called the Oromo in East Africa he set course for a new region. He set off for East Africa hoping to reach the Oromo, from what is now the Kenyan coast. When Krapf arrived on the coast, Seyyid-Said was at the height of his influence, and had lately transferred his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar. On this occasion Krapf was only a few hours at Mombasa.
On January 7th, 1844, he reached Zanzibar, where he was kindly received by the Sultan (or Imam), and by both the English and American Consuls. The latter wished him “to remain in Zanzibar, preaching on Sundays to its few Europeans, working amongst the Banians from India, founding schools for the Swahilis and Arabs, and preparing books.” he same year he married Rosina Dietrich, but she died two years later and is buried together with their infant daughter in Mombasa.
Krapf, however, was still longing to reach the Oromo, or Galla, and could not rest until he had made firm his footing on the mainland; and the work he declined was undertaken many years after and is still carried on by the Universities’ Mission. He obtained a letter from the Sultan which ran as follows: “This comes from Seyyid-Said, Sultan; greeting all our subjects, friends, and governors. This letter is written on behalf of Dr. Johann Krapf, a German, a good man who wishes to convert the world to God. Behave well to him, and be everywhere serviceable to him.”
With this he started to explore the coast. But soon after his arrival at Mombasa, where he had been joined by his family, tragedy struck, as his wife and child died from malaria. Krapf moved to the higher grounds of Rabai, along the coastal range, where he begun this station. In 1846 he was joined by Johannes Rebmann, a German Lutheran, who was also in the CMS’s service. Philanthropic, economic, and eventually imperialist ventures followed these evangelical endeavors.
In September 1853 Krapf left Rabai for reasons of health for the last time and spent a year in England before revisiting Ethiopia, at the request of Bishop Samuel Gobat of Jerusalem, to assess the possibilities for reestablishing mission work there, before finally settling back in Germany at Kornthal, a center of Pietism, which became his home for the rest of his life. He married again in 1856, his second wife being Charlotte Pelargus, the eldest daughter of a city councilor of Stuttgart; they had one daughter, Johanna. Charlotte Krapf died in 1868, and the following year Krapf was married for the third time, to Nanette Schmidt von Cannstadt.
Nothing of great moment, however, occurred until 1846, when a German, Carl Peters, riding a tide of Europe’s diplomatic hostility between Germany and Britain, secured the grant of an imperial charter for his German East Africa Company”. Ludwig Krapf’s deteriorating health forced him to return to Germany in 1853. Of interest at Rabai are; Krapf Memorial Museum, Livingstone memorabilia, and Kaya Kambe Shrines. Rabai Museum is situated 25 km north of Mombasa near Mazeras.
You don’t have to be religious, or even spiritual, to enjoy a beautiful old church. The architecture, the stained glass, the history, and the famous graves all make visiting historic churches a fulfilling activity on any trip. Kenya has a lot of very old and lovely churches, and you can enter most of them free of charge, at any time.
Index of Historic Churches in Kenya
Baringo County - St. Swithin's Church, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Wewo Catholic Church, Homa Bay County - SDA Church Gendia, Asumbi Catholic Church, Isiolo County - St. Eusebius Cathedral, Kericho County - AIC Kericho, The Sacred Heart Cathedral, ACK Kericho, Kiambu County - St. Mary's of the Angels Church, All Saints Limuru, Watson Scott Memorial Church, PCEA Thogoto Mission Church, Kilifi County - Thomas Wakefield Memorial Methodist Church, The Portuguese Chapel, ACK Rabai Church, Kisumu County - St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Kitui County - AIC Ikutha, Lamu County - Lamu Catholic Church, Machakos County - AIC Mumbuni, Makueni County - AIC Kalamba, Kyale Catholic Church, Meru County - St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kaaga Methodist Church, Migori County - Komotobo Mission Church, Mombasa County - The ACK Mombasa Memorial Church, Holy Ghost Cathedral, ACK Emmanuel Church, Muranga County - Muranga St. James & All Martyrs Church, Tuthu Catholic Church, Nairobi County - St. Stephen Cathedral, St. Austins Cathedral, The All Saints Cathedral, Nakuru County - The Church of Goodwill Elementaita, Remembrance Church Njoro, Nyandarua County - Knessiah 7th Day Jewish Main Synagogue, Nyeri County - Tumu Tumu Hill Church, The Consolata Nyeri Cathedral, PCEA St Curthbert Church, Italian Memorial Church, Samburu County - Baragoi Catholic Mission, Siaya County - Rangala Catholic Church, Taita Taveta County - St. Marks Anglican Church, The Bura Mission Catholic Church, ACK Trinity Church Mahoo, Tana River County - Ngao Neukirchen Church, Hola Methodist Church, Tharaka Nithi County - PCEA Chogoria Church, Trans Nzoia County - St. Lukes Anglican Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Vihiga County - Kidundu Friends Church, Kima Church of God, African Divine Church, West Pokot County - The Holy Cross Church Kacheliba, The Dini ya Roho Mafuta Pole ya Africa
Touring Kilifi County offers a delightful blend of coastal beauty, lovely beaches, cultural richness, natural wonders, and fascinating ancient ruins. Whether you’re seeking pristine beaches, historical sites, or vibrant cultural experiences – or a combination, Kilifi promises a memorable and enriching travel experience.
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A Guide to Kilifi County
A Summa Digest of Kilifi
About Kilifi Way Back When
95 Destinations in Kilifi County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Shimo la Tewa Prison, Mtwapa Creek, Mtwapa Ruins, The Moorings, La Marina Restaurant, Jumba la Mtwana, Kikambala Beach, Vipingo Mosque Ruins, Kinuni Ruins, Kuruwitu Conservancy, Neem Tree House, Vipingo Ridge, Chasimba Cave, Kilifi Sisal Plantations, Vuma Cliffs, Old Town Takaungu, Takaungu Creek, Kitoka Ruins, Takaungu House, Beneath the Baobab Festival, Kilifi Creek, Kilifi Bridge, Kilifi Boatyard, Distant Relatives Lodge, Mnarani Ruins, Mnarani Snake Park, 3 Degrees South, Kamili House, Mazingira Park, Bofa Beach, Saltys Kitesurfing Bar & Restaurant, Bush Baby Kilifi, Casa Dalton, Panga ya Saidi Cave, River Rare Geo Park, Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Mwangea Hills Forest, Watamu Marine National Park, Uyombo Ruins, Rock & Sea Resort, Mida Creek, Sudi Island, Kirepwe Ruins, Watamu Beach, Ocean Sports Watamu, Medina Palms, Hemimways Watamu, A Rocha Eco Lodge & Conservation Centre, Watamu Treehouse, Garoda Beach, Tribe Watersports, Kite House, Local Ocean Conservation, Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Kiburugeni Ruins, Mgangani Ruins, Mida Creek Nature Camp, Gede Ruins, Kipepeo Butterfly Farm, Malindi Museum, Henry the Navigator Monument, Malindi Pier, Malindi Pillar Tomb, Malindi Waterfront Park, Portuguese Chapel, Vasco da Gama Pillar, Malindi Beach, Ndoro Sculpture Garden, White Elephant Sea & Art Lodge, Malindi Crocodile & Snake Farm, Malindi Marine National Park, Malaika Beach Sunbeds & Restaurant, Sawa Sawa Dhow Excursions, Lo Sfizio Coffee Shop, Lennox Art Gallery, Falconry of Kenya, Hanging Gardens, Malindi Golf & Country Club, River Sabaki Delta, Marafa Depression, Dakacha Woodland, Mekatilili wa Menza Site, Mambrui Dunes, Mambrui, Mambrui Tombs, Kibirakani Ruins, Che Shale Hotel Kitesurf Center, Ngomeni Shipwreck, Luigi Broglio Space Centre, The Nyika Plateau, Galana Conservancy, Ngala Mausoleum, Rabai Museum, Kaya Kambe Shrine, Thomas Wakefield Memorial Church
Know More About Kilifi County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Kilifi can be split into three zones – the narrow coastal plain, varying in width from 3 kms to 20 km; few coastal hills lying below 30 ms asl, and the Nyika Plateau rising from 100ms to 340 ms asl.
For the greater part of the year, the climate along the coastal plain is pleasurable, though humid. Temperature ranges between 21C and 30C along the coast, and between 30C and 34C further inland.
