Historic Churches in Vihiga
Kidundu Friends Church: A Beacon of Hope
To appreciate the full scale and beauty of Bunyore and Maragoli Hills, the iconic landmarks of Vihiga, you would be interested in driving from Luanda to Majengo, taking a junction off A104 Kisumu-Kakamega Road onto C38 Ebusakami-Kima-Majengo Road for 18 km. The primary distinction between these hills is the locale they fall under, the one found in Bunyore and the other in Maragoli – also known as Mungoma. Shortly before turning left at Majengo towards Kakamega you can also make a quick detour, 200 ms from Majengo, to the Kidundu Friends Church.
Kidundu Friends Church is among the historic churches in Vihiga County that preserve the living history of the Quakers in Kenya. Akin to its opposite-number Kima Church of God, it is exemplified by a sharp angular exterior with a dashing-red finish. The foundation of Kidundu Friends Church, christened as Nemiilembe Church or Vihiga Meeting House, was laid in 1905. Next to the church holding is an ancient fig that formerly served as the shrine, or the meeting place, which is a poignant marker to ponder the inflection between traditional and modern beliefs.
Still and all, for well over a century, Kidundu Friends Church has been a steady beacon of hope for the communities in Vihiga County. Founded by the Quaker Missionaries just three years after their arrival in Kenya in 1902, led by Arthur Chilson and Edgar Hole, it is a salient hallmark of the rise and spread of the Friends Mission in Kenya, who chose Kaimosi as their base in East Africa. As the Quacker Mission expanded its influence, so too did this church and its counterparts attract a considerable following. Part of its invaluable success is spearheading education.
Much of the success of the Quakers (Friends) Mission in Western Kenya is that it emphasized egalitarianism and non-hierarchical worship, which aligned well with the community-oriented structure of the Luhya and other groups. They also opted for a rather non-intrusive approach to local traditions compared to other mission groups, gaining respect and acceptance; ergo the contribution of Friends Mission towards creating an environment suit for learning is a remarkable story that fails to get proper recognition, so often confused and misconstrued with pacification.
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
Typified by lush, green landscapes with rolling hills, rivers, waterfalls and forest, such as the much-noted Nganyi and Kaimosi Forests, which offer scenic spots for nature exploration and birdwatching, Vihiga County is famous for its agricultural productivity, especially tea and subsistence farming. Despite challenges related to population density it continues to thrive as a hotspot for farming and tourism.
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Explore Destinations Nearby Kidundu Friends Church
A Guide to Vihiga County
A Summa Digest of Vihiga
About Vihiga Way Back When
26 Attractions in Vihiga County, arranged as one would visit these - south, west, east then west - with aid of in-depth narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Nganyi Rainmakers Forest, Roddy's Green Lounge, Bunyore Hills, Mbale, Kima Stone Mountain, Kima Church of God, Mwitoko Fish Farm, Kidundu Friends Church, Maragoli Hills, Mungoma Caves, Givavei Cave, Givavei Artisans, Jesus Wagevere Rock, Chabuga Mausoleum, African Divine Church, Obida Ombima Mill, Sosa Cottages, Mudete Tea Factory, Magnum Resort, Turaco Intercounty Resort, Kaimosi Forest, Kaimosi Mission Wildlife Conservancy, Kakamega Forest, Kibiri Forest, River Yala, Kichutu Gold Mine
Know More About Vihiga County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Vihiga experiences a high equatorial climate with well distributed rainfall year-round. Temperatures range between 14ºC and 32ºC.
Generally speaking, Vihiga slopes gently from west to east – with undulating hills and valleys plying streams flowing from northeast to southwest, all draining into Lake Victoria as the mouth.