Manasses Kuria
Encyclopedia
Manasses Kuria was the second African Archbishop and Bishop of Nairobi in the Anglican Church of Kenya
.
, Kiambu District
. He first attended St. Paul's School in Limuru in 1933; in 1935 he went to Ngecha School before going to Kabete Mission School in 1938 where he took the Kenya African Preliminary Examination in 1940.
At the age of 16 Kuria began a career in teaching; between 1945 and 1954 he taught at St. Peter's Wangige school, a mission school, Ngecha Junior High School and Rironi Orthodox School.
Kuria served as a special chaplain and then as an archdeacon, stationed in Eldoret
. On April 25, 1970, he was consecrated assistant bishop of the diocese of Nakuru
by Archbishop Leonard Beecher, and in January 1976, he was enthroned Bishop of the diocese of Nakuru by Archbishop Festo Olang.
On June 29, 1980 at the age of fifty-one, Kuria became the second African Anglican Archbishop of Kenya. By the time he retired in 1994, the number of dioceses in Kenya had increased from seven to twenty.
After retirement, he started Jehovah Jireh Children homes and schools for the education and pastoral care of poor street children.
Kuria's wife, Mary, whom he had married in 1947, died on July 6, 2002 at the age of seventy-three. Both of them were cremated at death which was and still is unusual in their society. They are buried at St. Johns Anglican Church, Kabuku in Limuru. Bishop Kuria's brother called Amon Mbugua was a long time lay reader at St. John's in Kabuku.
Kuria died in September 2005, aged 76, in Nairobi after suffering a heart attack.
Anglican Church of Kenya
The Anglican Church of Kenya is part of the Anglican Communion, and includes 30 dioceses. The Primate of the Church is the Archbishop of Kenya.-Official name:...
.
Early life
Kuria was brought up by his parents at Kabuku in LimuruLimuru
Limuru is a town in central Kenya. It is also the name of a parliamentary constituency and an administrative division. Current 2004 population is about 4800....
, Kiambu District
Kiambu District
Kiambu District is an administrative district in the Central Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kiambu. The district is adjacent to the northern border of Nairobi and has a population of 744,010....
. He first attended St. Paul's School in Limuru in 1933; in 1935 he went to Ngecha School before going to Kabete Mission School in 1938 where he took the Kenya African Preliminary Examination in 1940.
At the age of 16 Kuria began a career in teaching; between 1945 and 1954 he taught at St. Peter's Wangige school, a mission school, Ngecha Junior High School and Rironi Orthodox School.
Ecclesiastical calling
After a profound spiritual experience in 1950, Kuria resigned from teaching and took up full-time church work. In January 1954, he enrolled in St. Paul's United Theological College, Limuru.Kuria served as a special chaplain and then as an archdeacon, stationed in Eldoret
Eldoret
Eldoret is a town in western Kenya and the administrative centre of Uasin Gishu District of Rift Valley Province. Lying south of the Cherangani Hills, the local elevation varies from about 2100 metres above sea level at the airport to more than 2700 metres in nearby areas...
. On April 25, 1970, he was consecrated assistant bishop of the diocese of Nakuru
Nakuru
Nakuru, the provincial capital of Kenya's Rift Valley province, with roughly 300,000 inhabitants, and currently the fourth largest urban centre in the country, lies about 1850 m above sea level...
by Archbishop Leonard Beecher, and in January 1976, he was enthroned Bishop of the diocese of Nakuru by Archbishop Festo Olang.
On June 29, 1980 at the age of fifty-one, Kuria became the second African Anglican Archbishop of Kenya. By the time he retired in 1994, the number of dioceses in Kenya had increased from seven to twenty.
After retirement, he started Jehovah Jireh Children homes and schools for the education and pastoral care of poor street children.
Kuria's wife, Mary, whom he had married in 1947, died on July 6, 2002 at the age of seventy-three. Both of them were cremated at death which was and still is unusual in their society. They are buried at St. Johns Anglican Church, Kabuku in Limuru. Bishop Kuria's brother called Amon Mbugua was a long time lay reader at St. John's in Kabuku.
Kuria died in September 2005, aged 76, in Nairobi after suffering a heart attack.