When Bishop Robert Gray arrived at the Cape in 1848, he was concerned at the large percentage of the former slave population who had been attracted to the Muslim faith. He appointed Michael Angelo Camilleri (1848-1854) as a missionary to the Muslims of Cape Town. Camilleri's tenure was short and he was frequently used to fill other ecclesiastical posts. From 1854 until 1911 the responsibility of mission to the Muslims was given to priests whose parishes had large Muslims populations. In 1911 a fulltime missionary was once again appointed. Thomas Fothergill Lightfoot, arrived at the Cape in 1858 and served at St Paul's, Bree Street until his death in 1904. His was a ministry of love and caring. He was greatly respected for his work by all sections of the population. John Mühleissen Arnold worked in the parish of St Mary's, Woodstock. His aggressive missiological technique broke down much of the religious tolerance which had existed. His publication of a pamphlet supposedly written by a Muslim, raises doubts about his integrity as a missionary and his ethical stance as a Christian. In 1907 the Diocesan Mission Board took control of the Muslim mission and in 1911 appointed Stephen Garabedian as director. Under Garabedian the policy of the mission was aimed primarily at preventing Christian women 'lapsing' from Christianity and becoming Muslims through marriage. After his resignation in 1922, the work continued under numerous women workers who concentrated on Muslim women and children through sewing guilds and childrens' clubs. In 1960, George Swartz was appointed as director. Swartz was the first Coloured and South African-born priest to hold the post of director. Swartz served as director until he was appointed to Bonteheuwel as parish priest. He subsequently chaired the board until it ceased to meet in 1976. Throughout its one hundred twenty eight years of active existence, the Anglican mission to the Muslims failed to attract a large number of converts. Initially this could be attributed to the attraction the Muslims had to those seeking a strong community life. Later, outside influences from the Islamic world strengthened the faith of the Muslim community against any Christian conversion attempts. During the latter part of the twentieth century the mission viewed its tasks as preventing the conversion of Christians who wished to marry Muslims and informing and educating Christians on the Islamic faith. In the late 1960s, the Board encouraged dialogue rather than confrontation. It changed its name to the Board of Muslim Relationship. Apartheid was seen as the common enemy of both Christians and Muslims and they worked together against its evils. The need for a Mission Board was seen as redundant and from 1976 it ceased to be active.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:rhodes/vital:1236 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Pratt, Derek Alfred |
| Publisher | Rhodes University, Faculty of Divinity, Divinity |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MTh |
| Format | 319 leaves, pdf |
| Rights | Pratt, Derek Alfred |
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