PCEA Karen Central parish congregants
- PCEA Karen Church
- PCEA Livespring
A brief history of PCEA Karen Church
Karen Church was started on 17th December 2006 with a congregation of 65 adults, 15 children and three teens. The Parish Minister was Rev. Moses Maara. The Kirk Session of Karen Parish sent three Elders, namely; Josphat T. Githachuri, Hannah Waciira and John Kamau Mungai to this new congregation. This raised the number of congregations in Karen parish to three. Karen congregation worshiped in rented premises at St Christopher’s School Karen for seven years before moving to the present site on 22nd December, 2013.
The plan to start a congregation in Karen was launched in a meeting that was held on 17th April, 2000, in the house of Mr. John Muriithi on Olashua Close, Karen.
Those who attended the meeting were some members of District 24 of PCEA St. Andrew’s with their two elders, two elders from PCEA Muteero and the Parish Minister of Karen Parish, the late Rev. Jane Wairimu Kashorda. The meeting was also graced by the attendance and counsel of two past moderators, the Very Rev. Dr. John Gatu and the Very Rev. Dr. George Wanjau. PCEA Karen Church Planting Committee was then formed with the late Elder John Kariuki as the chairman, and Elder Josphat Githachuri as the secretary. The church planting committee was tasked with searching for a plot suitable for building a church.
In March 2002, the Church Planting Committee applied to the Nairobi City Council for land in Karen area to put up a church. This was granted in a Full Council Meeting of the Nairobi City Council and the decision conveyed in a letter of allotment dated 6th May 2002 and a Construction of a 200 seater church started.
However, in November 2002, a women’s group known as Woo-Kibor laid claim on the land. They went to court and were granted an injunction to stop the construction. The late Rev. Jane Kashorda and Rev. Patrick Rukenya, the then PCEA Secretary General, were listed as defendants in the case (for Presbyterian Foundation). Meanwhile as the case was pending in court the title deed was processed through the normal government procedures and was received in February 2006 for land LR 1159/365. The court injunction remained in force until 17th August of 2013, when it was vacated in a ruling by Justice Pauline Nyamweya. On 4th of March 2014, the same court declared that the land belongs to the Presbyterian Foundation.
Immediately after the lifting of the injunction, Karen Church applied for developments on the plot and this was granted on 12th September 2013. PCEA Karen Church then moved into the plot on 22nd December 2013 and began worshipping in tents on the grounds.
In spite of many challenges, including two illegal demolitions by the Nairobi City County Government, the Lord has continued favouring Karen church and we have continued to grow. We started with four Elder Districts with three active elders, we now have five Elder Districts with five active elders and one retired. Membership continues to grow as we now have 120 communicants, 30 adherents and 18 children.
On development, we have bought a plot at the Karen Triangle. In our mission work we have built a permanent Church with a capacity of 200 at Mailwa in our Nendeni Mission Outreach Area in Namanga.
Groundbreaking for this sanctuary was conducted by the Parish Minister Rev. Paul Kariuki on 15th February, 2015, and construction started on 17th February, 2015. The foundation stone was laid by the P.C.E.A. Milimani South Presbytery Moderator Rev. Dr. Patrick Mungiriria on 29th March, 2015.
We are grateful to God and thankful also to Dr. Stewart Ross of the Outreach Foundation of Presbyterian Church of USA (PCUSA), with whose assistance we have managed to build this Sanctuary. We give thanks to God for His faithfulness, providence, grace and members’ determination that has enabled us to complete all the building work of the sanctuary. We also wish to thank all those who contributed in one way or another and especially the 21st General Assembly for gracing this historic occasion of dedication of Karen church this 10th day of May 2015.
All Glory, and Honour to God.