Historic Churches in Tharaka Nithi
PCEA Chogoria Church: The Arrival of the CSM
Among the cluster of buildings filling to overflowing at the church compound of Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) Chogoria, 600 ms south and west of the main township, is an obviously old building with rounded walls and vaulted roof, representing the arrival and spread of the denomination in the region. The history of the Methodist Church, the Anglican Church, and the Catholic Church in Eastern Region is well documented, but that of PCEA in the area is scanty. Still, it has been in the region, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties, for over a century now and is one of the dominant denominations in the area. The old church represents the premier mission station, established in 1922. The Chogoria Church was a part of a holistic approach which included education, health care, and industrial work.
The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA ) was introduced in Kenya by the Church of Scotland Mission (CSM) in 1915. And as the founder name suggests, it originated from the Global Scottish Presbyterian Church. Before arriving in Kenya, the Church of Scotland Missions had advanced in North Africa in the eighteenth century at the Egyptian port of Alexandria. From thence it came to Kenya as a private venture pioneered by directors of Imperial British East African Company (IBEAC) in Kenya. They arrived at Mombasa in 1891. They formed a committee in Scotland called the East African Scottish Mission. A missionary team was duly set up comprising of Thomas Watson, John Grieg, John Linton and Cornelius Rahman.
By 1907, no Christian mission had been occupying the East and North Eastern of Mount Kenya. The Anglicans (CMS) had been allocated the area but had failed to occupy it due to lack of funds and staff. The Methodists and Catholics had already established themselves in the upper Meru, hence the urgency of occupying the Southern Meru. The CSM were granted permission to occupy the area in 1915. The first missionaries were Africans sent from Kikuyu and Tumutumu. In 1921, plans were underway to post the first European missionary to Chuka-Mwimbi, and in October 1922, Dr. A. Clive Irvine arrived at Chogoria. It is from Chogoria that the Presbyterian Church of East Africa spread to other parts of the Eastern Region.
Dr. Irvine was welcomed by Daudi Makumi, one of the first African evangelists, together with Chief Mbogori. That evening, many people came to see the white man who had come to live among them in Chogoria. On this night, Dr. Irvine held prayers in his house with the native people, and this became the foundation of the church at Chogoria. They also adopted a holistic approach, blending the work of evangelization with education, health care and industrial work. They established a mission school, a church, a medical facility and industrial work. Chogoria became the central station from where CSM spread to Chuka, Mwimbi, Tharaka, Imenti, and upper Meru, covering the Eastern Region in Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.
The first achievement of Dr. Irvine was developing the medical work which he did during his first year. Soon after, he started industrial work that was boosted by hydropower generated from the falls at River Kamara. He also installed a sawmill, which helped in providing timber for the construction of the mission building. By 1923, they had built a small church, and regular church services and instruction classes were ongoing. He also organized village visits in the surrounding villages, taking the gospel message outside the mission station. This led to the conversion of the Africans to the new faith, and in 1924, the first baptisms were conducted.
By 1939, there were 15 eensy-weensy congregations throughout the Chogoria area that included; Kiangua, Gikurune, Kanyakine, Kithangari, Mutinndwa, Chogoria, Kiraro and Kirindini. Their first church holdings, fabricated with wood and grass, commonly known as “Kanitha wa mithara”, usually served as a church, school and dispensary. By 1946, the congregations in Chuka Mwimbi had grown to 28, which included Kiang’ondu, Kathigiri, Gatuntuni, Ikuu, Mukui, Lower Chure and Yururu. For easy administration, Chogoria Mission was divided into three parish areas in 1947. Chuka area, which was now under Silas Muchina; Meru South, which was under Willie Kanini; and Mwimbi area, under Phares Mutonga as the evangelists.
By 1950, the congregations had grown to about 30 with the addition of Weru and Kieni, with about 2000 members. In 1952, Chuka Parish and Kirk Session were constituted by the Tumutumu Presbytery. The first parish minister was Geofrey Ngari. Thus, the Kirk sessions had grown to two. In 1953, the South Meru Kirk Session was inaugurated with its headquarters at Kanyakine under the Reverend Linus Waruiru. In the same year, Chogoria Presbytery was constituted, and Dr. Irvine was appointed the first moderator. And its presence continues to grow!
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
Although Tharaka Nithi County is not a prominent touring circuit, it is a beautiful, diverse area known for its stunning landscapes, cultural heritage, and agricultural economy. Taking after the character of its closely homogenous neighbours around Mount Kenya, Tharaka Nithi, with very good roads, is easy to access and traverse.
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A Guide to Tharaka Nithi County
A Summa Digest of Tharaka Nithi
About Tharaka Nithi Way Back When
35 Destinations in Tharaka Nithi County, arranged as one would visit these - south to northeast - with the aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Chuka Forest, Tredds Garden, The Hidden Falls, Hidden Treasure Lodge, Nithi Bridge, Weru Tea Factory, Whispers Garden, Pacha Waterfront Resort, PCEA Chogoria, Mount Kenya National Park, Anabas Alpine Lodge, Chogoria Trail, Nithi Falls, Lake Michaelson, Vivienne Falls, Kierra Ridge, Kierra Viewpoint, Thimbora, Mutunguruni Tree, Inanduru Caves, Kijegge Range, Kibuuka Grand Falls, River Tana, Mumoni Hill Reserve, Mwingi National Reserve, Kajuki Eco Lodge, Marimanti Baobab Lodge, Ikwa Falls, Mutejwa National Reserve, Meru National Park, Elsa's Grave, Ura Gate Festival, Ura Waterfalls
Know More About Tharaka Nithi: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Temperatures in the highland areas range between 14oC to 30oC, while those in the low land range between 22oC to 36oC. Rain vary with altitude.
The highest altitude within Tharaka Nithi County is about 5,200 ms at Chuka, Maara, and Igambang’ombe, and the lowest is 600 ms at Tharaka. The entire county is strewn with large masses of hillocks.