The Archdeaconry of Parsonsvlei   All Saints, Kabega Park Ministry in the Western Suburbs of P E began early in 1961 with Holy  Communion being celebrated in "St Anne's", the lounge in the home of Mr and Mrs R Paterson. In June that year the hall behind Lawrenson's Garage became available and services began being held there. Soon afterwards the church was named the "Francis Phelps Church". In 1965 the Revd John Dunn became assistant priest at St Hugh's and in charge of Francis Phelps Church. In his time a new sanctuary was built on and the name of the church changed to All Saints. Synod in 1966 resolved that All Saints' Church, together with St Alban's, Draaifontein, and Holy Trinity, Thornhill, should become a separate Pastoral Charge. With the growth of the Western Suburbs and therefore the church, a plot of land was bought and the present church building and rectory were built and opened in 1974 by Bishop Philip Russell and consecrated by Bishop Bruce Evans in 1977. The area covered by the parish extends from Greenbushes in the west and includes Sherwood on one side of the N2 and Bridgemead to Westering on the other. All Saints' have many active groups involved in outreach of one form or another: House Churches; Liturgical Dance Group; Music Group; Knitting and Sewing; Youth; etc. We are involved in the Transformations movement which has linked with the SACLA follow-up, and also with Exodus Initiative, seeking to show forth the love of Christ in practical ways in the community. All Saints' vision is:- All Saints' Church seeks to be: People of God, Under God's authority, A united family, Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Worshipping God, Proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to the wider community through word and action. . St Alban, Draaifontein - St Alban, Draaifontein - On 15 July 1888, when Mr Johnson was tenant on the farm "Draaifontein", the first service was held in the old homestead, and it was through this that the first seed of Anglicanism was sown in the district. Canon Mayo and Dr Wirgman from St Mary's made the journey to Draaifontein on horse-back, taking two days over the journey. In 1901 the first church building was completed, on two morgen of land donated by Mr J J Beckley. Materials for this building were shipped from Britain and brought from North End to the farm by ox-wagon. It was dedicated as "St Alban", a daughter church of St Mary's, in 1904 by Bishop Cornish. With the growth of the church a tram was purchased in 1951 and used as a Sunday School and in 1972 the present church building was dedicated, with the Sunday School and kitchen extension added on in 1976. At this time St Alban's had become a chapelry of All Saints, Kabega. Christ the King, Gelvandale In 1960 as 'coloured' families were forced to move out of South End, Fairview, Sidwell and other parts of `white' Port Elizabeth, because of the Group Areas Act, people started meeting for worship in the home of John Kannemeyer in Kobus Road, Gelvandale. In a memorandum to the PE Church Extension Board the Revd Reginald Fane later in the year, indicated that there were 63 families using the house church for worship services. With the house becoming too small, services moved to Gelvandale Primary School No 2 and at this stage Gelvandale was regarded as a chapelry of St Michael and All Angels. Negotiations for a church site had begun in 1957 and a site was eventually procured in 1958. A loan for the building of the church was received from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) and the foundation stone was laid on 25 October 1964, by Bishop Gordon Tindall. Costs had risen drastically since the first estimate in 1962 and the diocese was forced to sell St James, Sidwell, to pay the builders. The first Rector was the Revd Roy Lord. Since then a rectory, and a hall have been built and a stained glass window installed above the altar. One of the largest church buildings in the diocese, Christ the King has been host to many diocesan events, including the Thanksgiving Service for the ministry of the late Bishop Bruce Evans and the Enthronement of our present Bishop, Eric Pike. The parish now has a roll of about 400 families and their vision is: The worship of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit will continue to be the reason for our existance and the focus of our worship. It is our desire to provide a stable form of worship incorporating new Liturgical developments and music that are theologically sound and culturally helpful. It is our intention to expand and deepen our ministry to children beyond the `classroom' situation into their community and every day lives. St Francis Xavier, Kabega Park The Sisters of the Community of the Resurrection pioneered the work of the church among the Chinese in Port Elizabeth. Converts started worshipping, at the turn of the century, in a school room in Queen Street. After the last world war efforts were made to build a church and this came to fruition with the building in Brassel Street which was consecrated in August 1954. This church was conveniently situated in the centre of town - no more than one bus ride for any parishioner. With the introduction of the Group Areas Act the Chinese community was moved to Kabega and eventually a new church building was erected closer to 'home' and this was dedicated by Bishop Bruce Evans in December 1981. Placed under the care of All Saints shortly after moving to Kabega, 1996 will see St Francis granted full parochial independence. St Luke, Palmridge Sister Jean Mary CR was instrumental in starting the Church of St Luke the Evangelist. With the opening of new suburbs in the Northern Areas she felt the need to start a house church. The Schoeman home in Dolph Street, Bloemendal, was the first home with five families gathering there; followed by the Zacharias home, the Ingram home and finally the Adam's home as the number of families grew. At this time the Revd Bryan Bartleet, Rector of St Mary Magdalene, celebrated the Holy Eucharist there once a month. When the congregation grew to about 30 families the Greenville Primary School was used and Deacon Andrew Jantjies conducted Services and ministered amongst the people. A tent at the back of 42 Harker Street was the next move when the authorities stopped schools being used for church services. With the help of some members of their 'link' parish, All Saints, Kabega, a roof was extended from the back of the garage and canvas was used to make side 'walls' for a more 'permanent' structure and the Revd Andrew Jantjies was appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Chapelry of St Luke's. Under the Rectorship of the Revd Raynard Schovell the present building was erected in 1987 and St Luke's became a parish in 1989. The congregation has grown to approximately 300 families, a rectory has been built and a pre-fab building obtained for the Sunday School. Plans are afoot to complete the church building and their vision is to draw as many people as possible to the Lord. St Luke the Evangelist endeavours, by grace, to be servants, full of faith in Jesus our Lord and Saviour, within the local community. St Mark and St John, Parkside The Church of St Mark and St John the Evangelist was built in 1972 to provide a place of worship in the expanding area of Gelvandale for the people of St Mark's, Crawford Street, St Peter's, South End, and St Gregory's, Fairview, who were forcefully removed from those areas because of the Group Areas Act. However, the people had begun meeting in Gelvan Park Primary School, having their first Eucharist there on 26 December 1970. The first Rector, the Revd Michael du Plessis, was instituted and the Church was dedicated on 18 March 1973. This is truly "A Church set on a hill that shall not be hidden". The enthusiastic congregation has had to extend the church and the parking area, to cope with growing numbers. Looking ahead: Two recent missions have brought, with a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence and power, an increasing commitment to the work of God, not only in the parish but beyond its borders. We pray that we will continue to learn to be open to God's will for us and to live it out in our lives. He who has brought us together, from scattered communities, as the people of St Mark and St John the Evangelist, is with us still, calling us to walk with Him as we worship, serve and shine with His light. St Mary Magdalene, West End It could largely be said that the Church as it is today owes its existence to the upheavals which resulted from the mass removals of formerly settled communities. Its origins, however, pre-date this and are the work of the Sisters of the Community of the Resurrection who carried out the pastoral work amongst the people of Windvogel, which at the time would have been the extreme northern tip of Port Elizabeth. The naming of the parish is owed to Sister Mariya CR. The Revd Bryan Bartleet, then Rector of St Peter's, South End, ministered with the Sisters in the area. As the congregation grew the use of the Machiu Primary School was obtained for Sunday services and they were given chapelry status. In 1973 the congregation had grown so large that services had to be held in the West End Community Centre and building of the present church began the following year. The Revd Bryan Bartleet became the Priest-in-Charge and, as he believed that to be relevant the church must serve the greater community the complex was, and still is, used for this purpose with Adult Literacy classes and an Educare Centre being two of the most notable works. The parish declared this year, "A year of prayer for our parish and our families".