St John’s Church is one of the older Churches in C.E.S.A. However for in the early 1900’s their building was taken from them and demolished and so for the next 50 years the congregation met under a tree and they were known throughout C.E.S.A. as “The Church under the tree”. Funds were raised in various congregations to assist them in rebuilding their premises. They remained faithful, in spite of all the difficulties they faced, to the doctrine and worship of their Church.

The faithfulness of the Church under the tree was rewarded when a building was erected in a new township not very far from “The Tree”. I This building was dedicated by the late Bishop Fred Morris on 22 November 1959. During that weekend a large number of people came to Christ.

The Rev. E.Z. Mkhize served as rector of the Church from 1960 to 1971 when he was succeeded by The Rev. Jeremiah Ngubane who was later to be consecrated Bishop. It was a great joy to have Jeremiah, now in retirement, and his wife Beatrice  (pictured below) present at the celebratory service, during which they were honoured for their faithful ministry.

The anniversary service was led by the present rector, the Rev. Njabulo Mazibuko (pictured below) and was characterized by joy and singing. Bps. Frank Retief, Warwick Cole-Edwardes, Desmond Inglesby and Jeremiah Ngubane, together with some 18 other clergy from around the country participated in the service. Bp. Cole-Edwardes confirmed a number of young people during the service and Bp. Retief preached the sermon. These two men were each honoured by the presentation of a shield and spear to thank them for the role they had played in defending the Church through difficult days in recent years.

The celebratory pamphlet summed it up “We thank God that today the light of the Gospel is still burning at St. John’s Church uMlazi and this is the work of God.”