ACA to locally finance church building project
The Anglican Church of Ascension (ACA) Lake Malawi Diocese is set to have a new church in Area 47, Lilongwe, billed to be the second largest in the diocese after All Saints Cathedral in Nkhotakota.
Bishop for the diocese, the Reverend Francis Kaulanda, said on Sunday that the church, whose project they have just launched, will be financed locally.
Speaking during a fundraising event on the project’s site in Area 47 Township, Kaulanda said the new structure will comprise a church and the priest’s house.
He said: “This is a sign that we have moved from dependency and we are embracing independence because this will be a very modern church where delegates will be sitting on wooden benches. Rather, the church is going to be fitted with modern chairs.
“There will also be a studio, retreat rooms where individuals can go and pray to their God and Jordan [where people are going to be baptised].”
On his part, chairperson for the church’s development committee Gary Kachifumba said the church needs K150 million (US$333 333)
Of this, K120 million (US$266 667) shall be for the church and K30 million (US$66 667) will go to the construction of the priest’s house.
He also said the church already has cement blocks enough for the church building, but it is looking for steel for the roofing and other building materials.
According to him, the project is expected to take off within two weeks, as soon as the church has finalised some procedures with Lilongwe City Council.
ACA Christians from Area 47 were meeting at St. Thomas Church in Area 18 Township before they requested to be congregating within Area 47 Township where they have now decided to build a church of their own.
Kaulanda also said there are plans to divide the diocese in about five years’ time where, after the division, there is more likelihood that Area 47 Township will be the headquarters.
