Anglican Church begins 170th anniversary celebration

KUCHING: The Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei, which is known as the Diocese of Kuching, began its year-long celebration of 170 years of the Church in Borneo with the forum ‘The Diocese of Kuching: Past, Present and Future’ yesterday.

Some 1,000 participants attended the forum, which began with an opening prayer by Dean of St Thomas’ Cathedral, the Very Revd Kho Thong Meng, and the hymn ‘The Church’s One Foundation’.

Former Assistant Bishop the Rt Revd Aeries Sumping Jingan and author and historian Heidi Munan covered part one of the forum – ‘The Past’.

Part two of the forum – ‘The Present’, was presented by former Bishop the Rt Revd Datuk Bolly Lapok and Revd Andrew Shie.

Bishop of Kuching, the Rt Revd Danald Jute, and Revd Ivor Emmanuel Lim spoke on the final part of the forum – ‘The Future’.

The forum ended with the theme song and closing prayer by Danald.

There was also a photographic exhibition, which will also travel to all parishes in the Diocese this year.

Last night, the Celebration Night – an evening of worship and rededication, was held at St Thomas’ Cathedral, Jalan McDougall.

Today (June 10), there will be a Thanksgiving Service at the Cathedral at 4pm, which will include the Collation and Installation of new Archdeacons and Canons.

Themed ‘Reaching Forward’ from Philippians 3:13-14, the events celebrate the Revd Dr Francis Thomas McDougall’s arrival in Sarawak on June 29, 1848, with his wife Harriet, to lead the Borneo Church Mission Institution, as well as the work of countless other missionaries over the years.

The Anglican Church in Borneo has also been instrumental in the fields of education and healthcare, with many political, business, corporate, and civil leaders, past and present, having been educated in its Mission Schools.

The year-long celebration will culminate with the celebration of the 170th anniversary of the Bishop’s House in 2019.