By Chiyembekezo Kachitsa
The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP Blantyre Synod) will commemorate 150 years of Blantyre Mission with a three-day celebration from October 23 to 25, 2026, featuring a heritage tour, a city-wide Jubilee Walk and a grand Thanksgiving Service at Kamuzu Stadium.
The celebrations are being organised under the theme of remembering the past, celebrating God’s faithfulness and looking towards the future, with organisers describing the anniversary as more than a church milestone but an important chapter in Malawi’s history.
According to the CCAP Blantyre Synod General Secretary, the anniversary will provide an opportunity to remember the Mission’s contribution to the country’s religious, educational, social and economic development while encouraging Malawians to reflect on their responsibility for the next 150 years.
“The 150th anniversary is not only a celebration of the past. It is also a call to reflect on our responsibility for the next 150 years,” the General Secretary said.
Blantyre Mission traces its establishment to October 23, 1876, when Scottish missionary Henry Henderson and members of the missionary party identified a site in the Shire Highlands for a mission station. The site was named Blantyre after the Scottish birthplace of explorer and missionary David Livingstone.
The modern city of Blantyre subsequently developed around the Mission, making the histories of the Mission and the city closely connected.
Over the years, Blantyre Mission became associated with Christianity, education, literacy, agriculture, commerce, skills development and social services. Its educational institutions also contributed to the development of generations of Malawians who went on to serve in religious, professional, civic and political roles.
One of the notable historical landmarks associated with the Mission is St Michael and All Angels Church, which was constructed between 1888 and 1891.
The celebrations will begin on Friday, October 23, with a Blantyre Mission Heritage Tour and Historical Site Visit.
The organisers say the tour will give participants an opportunity to learn about the establishment and development of the Mission while visiting historic buildings and locations connected to its 150-year journey.
“The history of Blantyre Mission should not remain confined to books. People must be able to see the buildings, places and communities that carry this story,” the organisers said.
The organisers have particularly encouraged young people to participate, saying history should not only be understood through books but also through the buildings, places, communities and memories that have shaped Malawi.
On Saturday, October 24, attention will shift from the historic Mission site to the streets of Blantyre through the Blantyre Mission 150 Jubilee Walk.
The walk, which may also be referred to within the Christian programme as the Jesus March, will see people from different parts of Blantyre and surrounding areas walk towards Kamuzu Stadium.
Organisers say the walk is intended to represent the journey of the Mission and its wider contribution to Malawi while promoting unity among people from different backgrounds.
“We want this walk to demonstrate that, despite our different backgrounds, we can move together in unity and hope,” a member of the organising committee said.
They expect Christians and people of other faiths, people from different political parties, professionals, business people, farmers, students, teachers, health workers, clergy, traditional leaders and ordinary citizens to participate.
The celebrations will culminate on Sunday, October 25, with a grand Thanksgiving Service at Kamuzu Stadium.
The service is expected to bring together people from across the country to give thanks for 150 years of Blantyre Mission while reflecting on its contribution to Malawi and looking towards the country’s future.
The CCAP Blantyre Synod says the event will not be exclusively for its members and has extended an invitation to people from different religious, political and social backgrounds.
The invitation includes members of the CCAP, Anglicans, Catholics, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, Muslims, traditional and community leaders, political parties, government institutions, civil society organisations, the business community, academic and professional institutions, young people and the wider public.
“The story of Blantyre Mission is bigger than one denomination. It is part of Malawi’s national story,” the organising committee said.
The organising committee says the broad invitation reflects the view that Blantyre Mission’s history extends beyond one denomination.
The Mission’s legacy includes its role in education, teacher training, literacy, theological education, technical skills, health and community services, as well as its links to agriculture and commercial development.
The Church also acknowledges the role played by missionaries and African Christians in public debates during the colonial period, including questions of justice and the welfare of ordinary people.
However, the organisers say the anniversary will not only look backwards.
They want the 150th anniversary to encourage reflection on how the Mission’s legacy can contribute to Malawi’s future, particularly in areas such as education, community service, justice, unity, faith and national development.
“We are remembering where we have come from, but we are also asking what kind of Malawi we want to build for the generations ahead,” the General Secretary said.
The three-day programme will therefore follow three main movements: remembering the history on October 23, walking together on October 24 and giving thanks on October 25.
The CCAP Blantyre Synod has urged Malawians to join the celebrations and mark what it considers an important part of the country’s history.
The organisers say the anniversary should serve not only as a celebration of the past but also as an opportunity to commit to building a Malawi founded on faith, justice, peace, knowledge, service, unity and hope.
