Christ Church, Zanzibar
Encyclopedia
The Anglican
cathedral
Christ Church (or Church of Christ) is a landmark historical church in Stone Town
, Zanzibar
, as well as one of the most prominent examples of early Christian architecture in East Africa
. It was built in ten years, starting from 1873, based on a vision of Edward Steere
, third Anglican bishop
of Zanzibar, who actively contributed to the design. As most buildings in Stone Town, it is made mostly of coral stone
. It has a unique concrete roof shaped in an unusual barrel vault (that was Steere's idea) and the overall structure mixes perpendicular gothic and islam
ic details. The cathedral was consecrated in 1903 and named after the Canterbury Cathedral
.
The church is located in Mkunazini Road, in the centre of the old town, and occupies a large area where the biggest slave market of Zanzibar used to be; the construction of the cathedral was in fact intended to celebrate the end of slavery. The altar is said to be in the exact place where the main "whipping post" of the market used to be. In the square there is a well-known monument to the slaves (a few human figures in chains emerging from a pit) as well as a museum on slavery.
Edward Steere died of a heart attack when the cathedral was almost completed, and was buried behind the altar. Inside the church there is a cross that was made from the wood of the tree that grows on the place where David Livingstone
's heart was buried, in Chitambo.www.saintmonicastours.com.
As many other historical coral-stone buildings in Stone Town, the Cathedral experiences decay and structural problems and needs restoring.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
Christ Church (or Church of Christ) is a landmark historical church in Stone Town
Stone Town
Stone Town also known as Mji Mkongwe is the old part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania, as opposed to Ng'ambo . It is located on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago...
, Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
, as well as one of the most prominent examples of early Christian architecture in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. It was built in ten years, starting from 1873, based on a vision of Edward Steere
Edward Steere
The Rt Rev Edward Steere was a Colonial Bishop in the second half of the 19th century. He was born in 1828, educated at London University and ordained in 1850. After curacies in Devon and Lincolnshire he joined Bishop Tozer 7 years later. He was created Bishop of Nyasaland in 1874 and died on 26...
, third Anglican bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Zanzibar, who actively contributed to the design. As most buildings in Stone Town, it is made mostly of coral stone
Coral rag
Coral rag is a rubbly limestone composed of ancient coral reef material. The term also refers to the building blocks quarried from these strata which are an important local building material in areas such as the east African coast and the Caribbean basin .It is also the name of a member — the Coral...
. It has a unique concrete roof shaped in an unusual barrel vault (that was Steere's idea) and the overall structure mixes perpendicular gothic and islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic details. The cathedral was consecrated in 1903 and named after the Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
.
The church is located in Mkunazini Road, in the centre of the old town, and occupies a large area where the biggest slave market of Zanzibar used to be; the construction of the cathedral was in fact intended to celebrate the end of slavery. The altar is said to be in the exact place where the main "whipping post" of the market used to be. In the square there is a well-known monument to the slaves (a few human figures in chains emerging from a pit) as well as a museum on slavery.
Edward Steere died of a heart attack when the cathedral was almost completed, and was buried behind the altar. Inside the church there is a cross that was made from the wood of the tree that grows on the place where David Livingstone
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. His meeting with H. M. Stanley gave rise to the popular quotation, "Dr...
's heart was buried, in Chitambo.www.saintmonicastours.com.
As many other historical coral-stone buildings in Stone Town, the Cathedral experiences decay and structural problems and needs restoring.