History and Faith at Bagamoyo’s Old Catholic Church

Bagamoyo's Old Catholic Church: A Symbol of Faith, History, and Culture

Bagamoyo, located in Tanzania's Coast Region, is home to the Old Catholic Church, an iconic landmark that weaves together religious faith, colonial history, and cultural exchange. Dating back to the late 19th century, the church stands as a testament to both spiritual devotion and historical transformation, offering a unique experience for pilgrims and history buffs alike.

In 1868, Father Antoine Horner of the French Holy Ghost Fathers arrived in Bagamoyo, seeking a site for the first Roman Catholic mission on the mainland of East Africa. At that time, Bagamoyo was a bustling trade center, attracting people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Arabs, Indians, and Europeans. The town was also notorious as a hub of the East African slave trade. The Sultan of Zanzibar, Sultan Majid, granted land for the establishment of the mission, and by 1872, the first church was constructed using local materials in a French Gothic style.

This initial structure featured a squat tower, reminiscent of a minaret, which later became known as the Livingstone Tower, in honor of the British explorer David Livingstone. According to Mr. Michael Pengo, a Catholic tour guide, the tower became a symbolic part of the mission’s history. It holds particular significance due to an event in 1874 when Livingstone’s body was temporarily laid to rest at the mission before being transported to Zanzibar and eventually to England for burial in Westminster Abbey. The occasion marked a poignant moment in the region’s history, with 700 slaves gathering to pay their respects to the explorer.

The mission continued to evolve, and by 1892, the church received a significant donation of land from the Muslim philanthropist Sewa Haji, allowing for the expansion of the mission complex. Between 1910 and 1914, the original church was replaced by a larger Romanesque-style building, constructed with dressed coral stone blocks, which remains in use today as the New Holy Ghost Church.

The mission’s influence went beyond worship, serving as a beacon of hope and refuge for many freed slaves. One such individual was Maria Ernestina, who had been captured with her mother by slave traders in the Congo in 1890. After her mother’s death along the way, Maria found sanctuary at the mission, where she was educated by the Sisters of the Congregation of Daughters of Mary. She later married Joseph Maganga, a leper, and after his death, she married Victor Kitiza. Maria Ernestina lived to the age of 85 and was the last known former slave cared for by the Catholic missionaries.

The Old Catholic Church’s significance extends beyond its religious function, shedding light on the region’s colonial past and the wider impact of Christianity in East Africa. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Bagamoyo flourished as a key trade center, with ivory, salt, dried fish, and copal resin among its primary exports. However, the tragic history of the slave trade is woven deeply into the town’s narrative. Between 1860 and 1863, nearly 1.5 million slaves were captured and sold from East Africa, with many sent to plantations across the region or to far-off destinations in the Middle East, South Africa, and Indian Ocean islands.

In 1868, Father Horner and his fellow missionaries established the Christian Freedom Village in Bagamoyo, offering a fresh start to the freed slaves. Under the guidance of the Spiritans, as the Holy Ghost Fathers were known, the villagers were trained in various trades, including farming, tailoring, and carpentry. Life in the village was structured around daily prayers, work, and religious instruction, offering the former slaves a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.

The work of the Spiritans also extended to scientific endeavors, with some missionaries contributing to the development of Kiswahili, including Father Charles J. Sacleux, who published several influential works on the language. The spirit of hope and redemption that permeates the Old Catholic Church continues to resonate in Bagamoyo, where history, faith, and culture converge to tell the story of a region marked by both tragedy and triumph.