News of links and relationships
Diocese of Northern Malawi
St Martin-in-the-Fields has enjoyed a partnership with the Diocese of Northern Malawi, and I was delighted to be invited to their Centenary celebration of St Peter's Cathedral Likoma Island, to see more of their work, and meet some of our friends
Malawi is a landlocked country with a rapidly rising population. In 1961 the population was 3.5 million and in 2005 had grown to 12 million. This increase is partly due to the numbers of refugees who have been given solace by the generous Malawians. But it has lead to further difficulties for this very poor country and is especially noticeable by rural farmers.
Further comparisons are worth noting, neighbouring Zambia, which is 9 times the size of Malawi has a population between 10 - 11 million, and Zimbabwe is 6 times larger with a population of 13.5 million.
Visitors had come from the UK and neighbouring African countries, besides numerous clergy and friends from all over Malawi to celebrate the 100 years of ministry from St Peter's Cathedral, which is situated on Likoma island in the middle of Lake Malawi, which in turn lies in waters belonging to Mozambique.
The day before the celebrations we were taken to see the diocesan demonstration garden, at Chiwowa Chisala, where weeklong courses are offered, and all parishes in the diocese have benefited. Both men and women have attended, and learn practical ways of contour ridging, the importance of crop rotation, the food value of certain crops, ways of making compost, and plants to grow which help to fertilize the land, and prevent erosion. The results are impressive, and already the local chief has asked why his larger garden is producing less that smaller garden of a returned trainee. The good news is spreading, but funds are still required to maintain this very important project.
There was plenty of time to welcome and meet the numerous visitors at the Bishop's House, and learn more about their situations and everyday problems, besides the situation of the church in Malawi, and the evenings were times of feasting in true African style
Likoma Island was the place chosen Bishop Smythies, when in 1885 he travelled up the Shire River, which runs out of Lake Malawi, and came across Likoma Island, and decided this would be his central station.
The foundation stone for the Cathedral was laid on June 27th 1903, and dedicated September 29th 1905 when the first Eucharist was held. However it was not until 1911 that Bishop Fisher consecrated the building.
The Cathedral is 96 metres in length and in cruciform shape with a transept 25.50 metres. This missionary centre reached out to four neighbouring countries and 12 diocese were represented at the celebrations.
The great day of celebration started early, with the first flight to the island leaving at 4.30am. The President had kindly donated some of his planes to assist with the transportation of so many guests. Although 4 flights had been booked, in the event more were necessary due to the number of ministers and military who also arrived at the small airport. A few days earlier 800 visitors had arrived by the lake steamer, and for some of these it took 10 hours due to the conditions of the lake, others came by small boats and canoes, all from the 12 diocese of the four countries to which Likoma had given birth.
The whole compound was full of the sounds of rejoicing and laughter with people dressed in purple chitenjes local dress) and shirts, carrying images of the cathedral towers and the cloisters stating 100 years of service. President Bingu flew in by helicopter and read the epistle, at a 4 hour long Eucharist.
Unfortunately before the end of the service, I along with others including many clergy who were robed, were informed that if we did not wish to spend the night on the island we would have to leave, as the planes could not fly once it was dark. So we missed the public meeting and dancing in the arena, which followed after this service. It was a memorable occasion, and one to be remembered with thanksgiving.
The following day I caught the bus to Zomba in the south of the country, so saw more of the centre of this beautiful land. Along the roadsides were numerous rural farmers trying to sell their produce, wonderful tomatoes, onions, greens and various fruits, but there was hardly anyone buying. Tobacco is the country's main export crop, but this year has been disastrous, as halfway through the selling season, prices plummeted to their lowest for numerous years.
I noticed the size of the people and thought the Malawian people were of a small statue, but later learnt their small size is due to stunted growth, so for example, children I had estimated at being 6 years old were in fact 8 -9 years of age. This is all due to lack of adequate nourishment as a result of poverty. In the southern regions at least 600.000 Malawians have run out of food, and the harvest is likely to be around 14% below that of 2003, and the UN estimates that 1,300,000 will need food aid during the year.
But the country is poor in more ways than one; there is a serious shortage of nurses. Last year the country trained 80 registered nurses, and we in the UK took 100, this inevitably leads to neglect of their sick, and on Likoma Island often a single nurse is left to care for 50 desperately ill patients.
I was privileged to spend my last few days with Stephen and Ann Carr, who had been missionaries in Southern Sudan and in Uganda. Later Stephen was adviser to the World Bank on Agriculture in Africa.
For more information on the situation in Malawi, you can download an imaginary conversation or see more statistics for this beautiful country.
Joanna Woodd
