Church history an exciting read
Book on St Paul’s Anglican Church highlights achievements and lows of one of Durban’s most historic churches
NASCENT communities in the new colonies wasted little time when it came to building churches to uphold their faith. Not far behind came a hotel, usually (or optimistically) called the “Royal”.
Durban was no exception. St Paul’s was but one of a number of churches built in what is today the centre of the city. David Hughes, a lay minister at St Paul’s, has written a short illustrated history of the church, which he first visited as a child in 1958. St Paul’s Anglican Church: An Official History
was recently launched at one of Ike’s bookshop’s inimitable launches.
Two bishops, a sprinkling of rectors and church people and some lovely a cappella singing from the choir created an appropriately ecclesiastical touch. Volunteer officers from the army, navy and medical corps were also spotted. The guests all behaved themselves – to be on the safe side.
Much of the early history of Durban is entwined with that of St Paul’s church. The first services took place in a shop in Aliwal Street (now Samora Machel Street) in 1849. When the congregation became too large for that venue, services were moved to a school in Field Street (Joe Slove Street). Young scholars, up to mischief from Monday to Friday, could conveniently pray for forgiveness on Sunday.
It was not long before it became necessary to erect a proper church.
The foundation stone was laid in March 1853. A suitably grand ceremony was organised by Robert Acutt, an auctioneer whose family would sink deep roots in Durban. School children with banners led the procession from their schoolroom, followed by the architect, Robert Upton, carrying the plans and a silver towel.
Where builders are involved, it is not unknown for delays and setbacks to occur. The original contractor, finding himself in financial difficulty, sold the 30 000 bricks intended for the completion of St Paul’s. A new supplier had to be found but by then the cost of labour had doubled. The congregation could not meet the additional expense.
In the midst of these problems, Bishop John Colenso arrived in Durban to take up his appointment as the first bishop of Natal. If anyone could stir up a hornet’s nest, it was Colenso. He expressed concern over the incomplete church, saying he would lend £300 towards its completion. He gave a sermon in the incomplete church and sailed to England to raise the funds.
The first proper service was finally held in April 1855, but if the fractious congregation felt their problems were over, they were quite wrong.
The first decades of St Paul’s were
dogged by infighting, not helped by Bishop Colenso’s approach to ecclesiastical matters. Even issues no graver than the abolition of pew rents and the wearing of the wide-sleeved liturgical surplice provoked controversy. Colenso’s effigy was burnt amid cries of “no popery”, with one newspaper declaring they were now subject to spiritual despotism. The editor fulminated that the bishop was practically their ruler.
A low point was reached when Colenso closed down St Paul’s for worship. Anglican worship then continued at Jackson’s store in West street, while the rebel congregation led by Robert Acutt, continued to worship at St Paul’s. Not surprisingly, the poor rector threw in the towel and resigned.
No sooner had the squabble been patched up than the congregants found another. In the 1890s they argued over the choir, the choice of a new rector and even the matter of a hymn book.
The latter took some years to resolve but eventually the suspicious congregation agreed to sing the hymns in “Hymn Ancient and Modern”, which had been published more than 30 years earlier.
Not even the dead could find peace. St Paul’s and St Cyprian’s quarrelled over the West Street cemetery: St Paul’s declared that deceased congregants from the St Cyprian’s could not be buried there. The matter went to court.
In 1906 tragedy struck when St Paul’s burnt down. The cause of the fire was never established. Some believed it was a short circuit – it had been the first building to be electrified in 1890 – but no one suggested it might be divine retribution.
The church we see today on the corner of Pine Street (Monty Naicker) and Church Walk, is the “new” St Paul’s, which was completed in 1909. While the church was being built, one of the churches that offered hospitality was none other than St Cyprian’s.
The expense of building a grander church was so considerable that it was not consecrated until 1924, as no church may be consecrated unless it is debt-free. After the consecration, a kinder, gentler church seems to have emerged. In 1928, it took the progressive step of introducing inter-racial communion services.
During World War II it held concerts and sing-alongs in its hall for the thousands of soldiers who passed through Durban. St Paul’s expanded its outreach programme in later years, tackling the Aids crisis, orphans and, through its soup kitchen, the needy and homeless.
Crime and grime caused many of its traditional congregants to move away. Some traditions were lost or abandoned, including the 1st Durban (St Paul’s) Scouts Group, which could no longer maintain its cub section as parents were unwilling to allow their young children into the city centre.
In 2002 Reverend Sibisi became the first black rector. Reverend Laban became the first woman rector in 2009. In 2017 the current rector, Dr Warmback, became the 25th person to hold that post.
David Hughes has highlighted many of the achievements of St Paul’s (and some of its lows). He also includes a brief overview of the music tradition at the church as well as its peal of eight bells. There is a useful list of the stained glass windows, plaques and inscriptions found inside St Paul’s, which should entice those interested in spiritual tourism.
While one may quibble with the proofreading errors, this book records the essence of one of Durban’s most historic churches. It remains a steadfast beacon of hope and beauty in the centre of Durban.