Historic Churches in Kilifi County
Thomas Wakefield Memorial Methodist Church
In September, 1853, Johann Ludwig Krapf, who had first arrived in Mombasa in January, 1844, left Kenya and Rabai Mission, famous as the first mission station in Kenya, for the last time, for reasons of health, to England. Back in Europe, Krapf wrote his book, “Travels, Researches and Missionary Labours”. Through this book, the United Methodist Church were inspired to start work in Kenya. Krapf offered to help the Methodists with their initial beginnings. As a pioneer, Krapf cherished the idea of creating a chain of missions between East and West Africa. He felt that it was necessary to venture into the interior in order to make that ideal possible.
The critical setbacks for Krapf was that the Christian Missionary Society (CMS), under whose banner he had crisscrossed Africa, from Egypt to Kenya, seemed to be procrastinating the pursuit. Growing impatient, he encouraged the Methodists to seize the opportunity, while the climate for missionary work was favorable. And thus, in 1862, the pioneering members of United Methodist Church arrived from Britain, led by Krapf, to put up stations in Kenya at Ribe, Jomvu, Lamu and Sagalla. Krapf worked closely, from 1862, with Thomas Wakefield, to set up the founding mission station of the United Methodist’s Free Church Mission in Kenya at Ribe.
Along with Wakefield came three other missioners. The others, however, were invalided home within months. Woolner, who stayed for only eight days before he was interned because of deteriorating health. It was from the Ribe station, begun through the stalwart efforts of Thomas Wakefield, that UMFC spread in Kenya. The first school of the Methodist mission was started at Ribe around 1864 and the objective was to reach the children through formal Western education.
A second school was started at not too far from Ribe, at Mazeras, in 1894, and, soon after, another one at Golbanti, in 1896. At Golbanti, the missionaries suffered a setback as they were attacked by the Maasai warriors, as well as, opposition from the Muslims. Two missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. John Houghton, were murdered during a raid and thus making the station unbearable to other missionaries, worse luck. Despite these preliminary impediments at Golbanti station, the Methodists established a very successful mission school at Ngao among the Pokomo people.
Keen to proper, they sought opportunities to expand their influence, by continuing to grow and spread along the coast region of Kenya, and other regions of the county. Eventually, when the opportunity presented itself, the Methodist Church opened its first inland mission at Kaaga, in present-day Meru County, in 1912. Soon, the Conference of the Methodist Church in Kenya as stipulated by the “Deed of Church Order” and inaugurated by the Annual Conference, saw the Methodist Church become autonomous, in January, 1967. It has since engaged in evangelism and outreach and today has mission stations in Uganda and Tanzania.
Born in Derby on June, 1836, Thomas Wakefield is immortalized as one of four UMFC missionaries who sailed for East Africa in 1861. He settled at Ribe, inland from Mombasa, and began what eventually became the first Methodist Church in Kenya. He lived at Ribe for 25 years, often alone, often ill, and his first wife, infant son and three colleagues are buried at Ribe. He travelled throughout the coast and baptized the first 21 native converts in 1870. He made translations into Swahili and Oromo (or Galla), who were believed to be far more numerous than proved to be the case. During his grey years, he was elevated to President of the UMFC Assembly in 1888. Thomas Wakefield died in Southport on December 15, 1901.
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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Explore Destinations Near Thomas Wakefield Memorial
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
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.05?
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.
What’s The Air Like In Kilifi?
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.
