The Archdeaconry of Port Elizabeth   St John the Baptist, Walmer The foundation stone for the original (Sophy Grey design) church of St John the Baptist was laid on 23 April 1881. For the first 12 years it was a chapelry of St Mary the Virgin, but in 1893 the old rectory was built and the Revd A Cass, the First Vicar, was installed. The first School in Walmer operated from the church until 1906 when the 4th Avenue School was built. In 1956 the old church building was demolished to make way for the present building and the project was completed with the addition of a fine pipe organ in 1965. A spurt of growth followed and the debt on the buildings was paid off, enabling the Church to be Consecrated by Bishop Gordon Tindall on 2 June 1968. The rapid growth in the parish was continued through the involvement of lay people in responsibilities for both the spiritual and temporal affairs of the parish as various working groups developed and added impetus to the growth. In many parts of the world there was a Renewal of the Holy Spirit being manifested and this joy spread through St John's as many people came to recognise the power of God the Holy Spirit as He poured out His gifts on the Church. In 1987 a major decision was made to build 12 retirement cottages on the excess land around the complex which has resulted in a happy community of folk living there. In 1994, as a result of a vivid vision and prophecy from Ezekiel 47, the choir vestry was relocated and the old area, with its beautiful stained glass windows, was converted into a much needed chapel and dedicated as "The Chapel of the Living Waters." St Mary the Virgin, Central Until the arrival of settlers in the early 1820's, the needs of the British garrison at Port Elizabeth had been served by chaplains in passing ships. By 1825 a substantial settlement of 500 people had congregated in the town, one of whom was the Revd Francis McClelland. During that year he was appointed Colonial Chaplain, and the foundation stone for the Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin was laid. Until the church was finally opened for worship in 1832, the congregation met in a school room near the present St Augustine's Cathedral. St Mary's Vestry pioneered the Diocesan Grammar School in 1856. The first organ was installed in 1867, by which time there was a well established choir, which continues today. In 1895 the building was gutted by fire. It was quickly rebuilt in far grander style with money collected from people as diverse as the Cape Prime Minister, Cecil Rhodes and President Paul Kruger of the Transvaal. Over the years St Mary's played a leading role in the formation of new parishes and mission churches. Today, after major renovations the congre-gation's inner-city mission is becoming increasingly apparent. A short "Mission Statement" based on the hopes of the Parish Council is: St Mary's Collegiate Church, the Mother-church of Port Elizabeth in the heart of our city, is endeavouring more and more to be a responsible member of the Diocesan Family and at the same time have a mission to the City as a true sanctuary of prayer, ministry, worship and Counselling to the growing number of visitors, city workers and increasingly cosmopolitan parishioners who find their way through its portals. St Margaret of Antioch, Summerstrand In Summerstrand Anglican worship in house groups started in 1946 when priests from St Mary's conducted monthly Communion Services. A member of St Mary's staff came to live in Summerstrand, and services were held in his lounge. In 1956 the Municipallity offered a church site and a hall/church was built in 1961, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch by the then Bishop of Grahamstown, the Rt Revd Robert Selby Taylor. In 1968 the Revd John M Dunn arrived to take charge of the work at St Margaret's and became the Priest-in-Charge in the year after the synod's declaration of the constitution of the parish. With an energetic young priest in charge progress was rapid, marked by a steady increase in the congregation, expansion in the range of church activities and further building. First came the enlargement of the existing hall/church together with the Lady Chapel, vestries and small hall. These additions were dedicated at the end of 1971. All that now remained to be built was the church itself and this was achieved by 1977. The Rt Revd Bruce Read Evans, dedicated the church on 10 October 1977 and exactly eight years later he consecrated the church. The last bricks-and-mortar venture was to buy the house next door to the church in 1987 for use as a future rectory. St Nicholas, Charlo The foundation stone of St Nicholas, Charlo was laid in 1937 and the building was consecrated by Bishop Archibald Cullen on 7 October, 1939. It was at that stage a "district church within the Parish of St Mary's". Since then it gained parish status, then lost this to fall under the Parish of St John the Baptist, Walmer and again gaining parish status in 1977 with the Revd Brian Bird as its first Rector. In 1968 the original building was lengthened to make space for a Sunday School and club house. Later a pre-fab building was erected to house the growing Sunday School and further development was the addition of the church porch. The original garage was converted into 'The Lighthouse' with the parish office, and book and tape library. Once again the building is bursting at its seams and needs to expand. The first phase of the new building project has just been completed, which is the new toilet block and our vision is to start the second phase of the new church building some time in 1996. St, Saviour's Walmer In November 1937, the newly formed PE Church Extension Board resolved that a church should be built in the vicinity of South End, and in December 1937 a loan was approved by St. Mary's. With added financial help from Holy Trinity and St. Cuthbert's a hall was erected on the site in 1939. The Revd. Archie Byrne was the first priest-in-charge and within three years the original building was extended to include a Church and Hall. After the Dedication Service on 1st August 1942, the Parish Leaflet reports: The secret of the church is that it was built on prayer and gifts - for three years we prayed for a church and now we have it. Of the gifts that have been showered upon St. Saviour's you are all aware, and it is this aspect that will make our people realise that the church is their very own. The church was Consecrated on 21st November 1953 and within two weeks of the service, Italian Borer Beetle was found in all the wood-work and major replacement work was needed. In 1950 the first Rectory was bought and was sold in 1955 and the present Rectory bought.  Over the next few years, the hanging crucifix  carved by Job Kekena was installed as was the pipe organ, and stained glass replaced ordinary glass in many of the windows.  In September 1991, the new complex linking the hall to the church, with offices, book room and counselling rooms was opened by the Revd. Jock Ellis who had been priest-in-charge from 1945-1953 With its 450 registered families St. Saviour's is a thriving, pulsating hive of activity - covering every aspect of Christian love and service - endeavouring to fulfil the Parish Vision: "To become a Christ-filled family with a sense of joy in worship, caring for one another through active ministry to - Our Youth. Our Elderly, Our Community" St Augustine Mission District, Walmer Gqebera From 1920, when Walmer Township came into existance, until 1941, St Stephen's, New Brighton, cared for the few Anglicans living in the Township. A temporary church was then built, but was burnt down, and in 1961 the Moravian church was vacated and bought by St Augustine's, which was granted Parish status. Since the 1970's, St Augustine has been growing strong. It has suffered ups and downs, but on the whole it survived the hardest times, emerging with full potential and well motivated to face the challenges of her future development. With the new opportunities, St Augustine has come under the direct focus of the diocesan visionary leadership. It has been designated a missionary District, and a missionary Priest has been placed in the Community. The new church building and rectory were completed in 1998. It should be remembered by generations to come, that St Augustine`s congregation survived disintegration because of the combined efforts of the Christian church both black and white in Walmer area. At least one white has registered as a member of the congregation as this document was being compiled for Jubilee celebrations. St Augustine's will also be remembered as the first black congregation in South Africa to willingly accept the ministry of a woman Priest, the Revd Diana Nkesiga. University and Technikon Chaplaincy: - The Revd Diana Nkesiga