Chipili
The Bath and Wells diocese has been linked with the Anglican Church in Zambia for nearly 25 years. The Shepton Mallet benefice’s own link is with Chipili in Zambia’s Northern Province and its church is the Cathedral of Luapula diocese.
Originally Chipili was one of several mission stations created in the 19th century by the Universities Mission to Central Africa. It is set in a very rural area, about 40 km north of the nearest town, Mansa, where the Bishop lives. Mansa itself is about 60 km north of the border with the part of the Democratic Republic of Congo that juts into Zambia. Zambia is a large country by UK standards and Chipili is fairly remote from the capital, Lusaka and the towns of the Copper Belt.
Like the other Anglican mission stations in Zambia, Chipili has schools and a health centre as well as the church building. The health centre is being rebuilt (early 2006) with government funds but will need considerable help for furnishings and equipment. The basic school (primary) and secondary one, which has weekly boarders to cater for the boys and girls who have to travel from villages which are too far away for them to walk there and back daily, have both received some support from us in Shepton Mallet.
Chipili has very recently (late 2005) been connected to the national electricity grid which will make a huge difference to life there. Hopefully the possibility of light, fridges, phones and computers will make a positive difference but life will certainly be different for those able to afford them.
Father Isaiah Chabala is the Cathedral Dean and the parish priest. Richard Mushimba is the Mission Administrator and there is currently an Assistant Priest. Over the years several people from the Shepton Mallet benefice have visited Chipili, most recently in May 2004. When we were there then about 600 people came to the main Eucharist on the Sunday morning, many walking for several kilometres for what, for us Europeans, makes a memorably joyous and uplifting act of worship. Their 'parish' extends over a large area with many other villages, which the clergy and catechists visit – usually by cycle – for services and teaching.
Malaria is a problem particularly in the rainy season. We have tried to help a little by providing mosquito nets for those who travel about in their ministry. An important part of the church’s ministry is, of course, to try to help the victims of the HIV / AIDS pandemic, those ill and dying and, particularly, the many orphaned children. The women of the Church including the Mothers’ Union and the St Veronicas (the younger women) play a vital part in this.
We intend to continue to support the people of Chipili with our regular prayers and with gifts that will help them in their lives and activities. The beginnings of micro-credit schemes will, we hope, enable them to develop initiatives for improvement for themselves.
To read more about the two visits to Zambia by our parishioners in 2008 click on the links below.
Revd Liz Smith led a team on a fact-finding mission to Chipili. She was accompanied by Sandra Freeborn, Pam, Trevor and Alex Hoddinott. Click here for their account.
Jasmine Bennett also went to Zambia on a trip partly funded by the Church of St Peter and St Paul and its parishioners. Click here for Jasmine's account.