Holy Spirit Anglican Church 3.83

Holy Spirit Anglican Church is situated at the Corner of Seyisi and Matomela Streets (edolweni), Kwazakhele, Port Elizabeth dates back when the preliminary work among the people who were removed from Korsten to resettle in Site and Service Scheme known as Kwazakhele was started as early as 1958.

People started grouping themselves and formed prayer groups which started in private houses. As more people were gradually coming, numbers increased and the congregants were finally cradled in a bigger place for worship.

The home of Mr Jeffrey Nogaya who was then the catechist from St Cyprians Church, Korsten was used. We also remember the times and difficult task that faced the priest and his small congregation in the early years of our church.

Finally a building site was founded at the corner of Seyisi and Matomela Street, an iron and wood shack was built and the worshippers began to hold services and devotional meetings in the site. The Mission house was also built to accommodate the assistant priest. The first priest-in-charge was Fr Harry Fletcher Cyprian Thorpe assisted by Fr Enoch Koena Shai.

The work on the erection of the present church then began with funds donated by people, companies and organisations from here and abroad. The foundation stone was laid by the councillor Mrs FH Holland on St Phillip’s day in 1960.

The Bishop of Grahamstown, Robert Selby Tailor assisted by Archdeacon Powell officiated. The service was graced by the presence of the visiting Bishop of Glasgow.

Finally the church was dedicated on the 10th of December in 1960 by the clergy from the Diocese and elsewhere.

In 1975 we saw the second enthronement of the second bishop of the new Diocese of Port Elizabeth held in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Kwazakhele, the Rt Rev Bruce Read Evans.