About the Diocese of Grahamstown (Anglican Church of Southern Africa)

The Anglican Diocese of Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was founded over 150 years ago in 1853. Ebenezer St Mark Ntlali is the Bishop. More about Bishop Ebenezer ...

Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali and members of Synod seen in the grounds of St Andrew's College Chapel, where a wreath was laid on the grave of the first Bishop of Grahamstown, John Armstrong, and his daughter.

Diocesan Synod meeting 17-20 April 2013 in Grahamstown

The Synod of the Diocese of Grahamstown, met from the 17th April to 20th April 2013 at St Andrew's College Grahamstown.

Click here for: Photo Album. Bishop's Charge.

Dr Bill Domeris led a series of Bible Studies at the beginning of each day on Leadership. Click here for: Bible Study No. 1, Bible Study No. 2, Bible Study No. 3

Under the chairmanship of Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali, Synod focussed on the needs of people in parishes and society round about, and how the Church can serve them. Important issues addressed included the need for civic education among Anglican parishioners in order to witness to government and society, and the vital role of the Church in education, both theological education and the education of children and young people.

A prophetic call to contribute financially towards education and ministry was met with a spontaneous demonstration of generosity by members of Synod, which at no notice raised the sum of R 11 000 in cash. Some members of Synod were privileged to attend the Breaking the Silence ceremony in the Cathedral on Friday 19 April 2013, in which rape survivors courageously told their stories of being violated, both outside and within the family. The Synod passed resolutions that stress the importance of upholding the values of family life, and setting ethical standards for clergy, church workers and all Anglicans, and resolved to set up groups to support rape survivors.

The proceedings of Synod were undergirded with prayer and worship, and members kept in mind the Bishop’s reminder of the importance of spirituality in the 21st century, and the call made in the daily Bible studies by Canon Bill Domeris to servant leadership.

The Synod is the highest decision-making body of the Diocese, and meets every three years. All working clergy of the Diocese attend, together with lay representatives elected by each Parish and Guild of the Diocese.

Services offered by Alexander Forbes

Mr Buntu Bam has made available to clergy a booklet on the services offered by Alexander Forbes. To download it as a pdf, click here. Questions relating to retirement or investment planning may be addressed by email to Talk2Alex@aforbes.co.za.

Materials developed for the Fellowship of Vocation

At a recent Anglican Church of Southern Africa consultation on Training for Ministries held at the College of the Transfiguration, a request was made that materials developed in the Grahamstown Diocese for the Fellowship of Vocation should be made available on the internet. Click on the links below to download pdf files on:

• Pre-marital marriage coaching

• Grief coaching: Participants' manual

Clergy bereavements

The mother of the Revd Claire Nye Hunter, and mother-in-law of Dean Andrew Hunter, Gabrielle Nye, died peacefully on Friday evening 19th April. She was the widow of Rt Revd Mark Nye and mother of David, Pierre, Claire and Judith. Her sense of humour, wisdom and strength of character will be missed by all who knew her including her children, sons- and daughters-in-law, grandchildren and many friends. Funeral service will take place at Christchurch, Kenilworth at 10am on Thursday 2nd May. Please pray for the Hunter and Nye families.

Prayers are asked for the Revd Nkosiphendule and Zameka Matshaya, on the death of their first-born son, Thembela. He died on Monday 22nd April 2013.

Tragic death of the Revd Mputumi Kebeni

The Revd Mputumi Kebeni, recently appointed Priest in Charge of Holy Trinity Dimbaza, died on the weekend of 16-17 March 2013 in a car accident. He was apparently alone in the car when the car veered off the road as he approached King William’s Town. Our deepest sympathies go to his loving wife Nombongo and the family. Obituary...

Lent Appeal 2013 for Training for Ministries: "Good Priests are like jewels"

In 2013, we are looking at three areas (priorities), which we believe will make a difference in the Diocese: The development of a written course for the Fellowship of Vocation; the development of a proper two-year course for the Permanent Diaconate, and assisting in the funding of full-time and part-time ordinands training at the College of the Transfiguration (COTT) and through Theological Education by Extension (TEEC). more...

Statement by the Synod of Bishops, March 2013

The Synod of Bishops, meeting in March 2013, issued a Statement. To read it click here

20 years of women in the priesthood celebrated

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ordination of the first women priests in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Grahamstown Cathedral hosted a special service on Sunday, 7 October, at which the preacher was one of those first women to be ordained, the Reverend Canon Nancy Charton.
For the text of her sermon click here.

Appeal for the family of the Revd L Zibi

The Archdeacon of King William's Town West, Peter Mtuze, has issued an appeal to the church at large, and the diocese in particular, for help to address a very serious disaster that has hit the family of the Revd L Zibi, Rector of St Peter's Peddie. The Revd Zibi’s mother-in-law, Mrs Ningiza, is currently without a home or any kind of shelter because of what her sister-in-law’s son, who was staying with them at the time, had done in Centane. For more details click here.

Statement from the Synod of Bishops, September 2012

The Synod of Bishops issued a statement on 26 September 2012. To read it, click here.

Tourism Resort and Conferencing Facility in Keiskammahoek

Capraway, the Diocesan Section 21 Company, is in the process of commercialising its newly built tourism resort and conference facility, at St Matthew's Mission, Keiskammahoek. It wishes to investigate opportunities of engaging a reputable tourism Operator in the management and operation of the facility. Capraway invites prospective firms with the requisite skills and expertise to submit Expressions of Interest (Eol) More...

Acts of the Diocese

In response to requests made at recent workshops on Canon Law conducted by the Dean, Andrew Hunter, the publication "The Acts of the Diocese of Grahamstown" as revised by the Synod of the Diocese, 2010, is now available online. To download this document as a pdf file, click here.

Statements on current issues

For earlier articles and statements click on "Articles" on the black stripe at the top of the page.

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba's blog

To read Archbishop Thabo Makgoba's latest letter to the people of God, "To the Laos" click on the link on the grey stripe at the side of the page.