Historic Churches in Vihiga
Kima Church of God: The Singing Church
4 km east of Luanda town via Kisumu-Busia Road onto Ebusakami-Kima Road, passing the Stone Hill Resort, sits one of the historic Churches in Vihiga County, whose impact on socio-cultural development has firmly rooted its appeal among the residents. Unique to Kima Church of God is its symbiosis of modern Christian teachings with traditional belief systems. The initial wave of missionary work in Vihiga and its environs was intent on quelling indigenous beliefs. But in the wake of rebellions, revolts and reforms, a new mindset emerged, and missions began to accede to the residents. And nowhere is the native countenance better illustrated.
Established in 1905 by Robert Wilson, a South African Missionary who had a vision while in South Africa of spreading the word in Bunyore, the dashing-red Church, with a roughcast coat finish and 40 feet tall twin towers, is also dubbed as the Singing Church after its solid, orderly, seasoned and live musical repose, which is undeniably native. During service, Kima Church rings out with some of the most heavenly traditional choir melodies you’ll ever hear across Kenya. So impressive, that the Christians Broadcasting Hope maintains a broadcast point and studio run by the indigenous leaders at the Kima Church of God. Next door Bunyore Girls High School Choir has wowed judges and audiences year-in-year-out at the Kenya National Music Festivals, and at the National Drama Festivals.
In the end, and rather unique to Western Kenya, religious syncretism, and the process of combining the two religious belief systems into a new one, worked unexpectedly well. In happenstance, the resident Luhya community had a distinct socio-historical origin, with specific cultural, religious beliefs and practices, which enabled them to have a singular cultural identity and sustainable, meaningful understanding of aspects of life including the past, the present and the future. Further, the confluence of Luhya traditional religion and modern Christianity resulted into the evolution of various unique denominations in Western Kenya.
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 Kima Church of God
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.