St Aidan’s was started in 1885 by the Revd Dr F W Walters who served as Rector until 1930. He was followed by the Revd Frank Fuggle, from 1939 to 1947, the Revd Patrick Brown (1948-1949) and the Revd Ashley Martin (November 1949 to January 1954).

Revd Martin motivated for the building of this church, leading to its dedication in 1951 by Bishop Eric Trapp. The old church is now incorporated into the structure which was rededicated in 2009 by the Rt Revd Dino Gabriel, Bishop of Zululand (pictured below).

Revd Martin was followed by Revd Raymond Rickards (August 1955 until the end of 1959) and Revd Michael Glover (September 1961 to May 1973). Revd Michael was also responsible for the Nongoma Anglican Mission and Dukumbane Chapelry. He had five English speaking congregations and thirty-six Zulu speaking congregations.

During this time the following each worked, for varied periods, within the Mission District: Reverends Lawrence Zulu, Clement Ntuli, Yedwa Zungu, Selby Mkhize, Meshack Vilakazi, James Sibiya, Patrick Gumede (1981–1985), Zeblon Mthethwa (1986–1988), under whose leadership the old rectory, which is also still standing today, was built, and Phillip Ntshangase.

Archdeacon Mac Mbatha (1989–2000) was succeeded by Archdeacon Nkosinathi Ndwandwe (2002–2004) who also facilitated the building of the new rectory. Most of these priests were also rectors of St Margaret’s, the parish under which St Aidan’s church fell.

Rev Monument Makhanya was the last priest of St Aidan’s in 2005, after which it was identified as a self sufficient Parish. The Ven Isaiah M Z Manqele came in 2006 as the first black Rector of St Aidan’s Parish and as a successor to Rev M Glover.

As St Aidan’s had previously been part of St. Margaret’s Parish, Ven Isaiah Manqele was the first rector of the new Parish of St Aidan’s. Ven Manqele came at the time when the church was ready for renovation of the old building and extension to the existing church building. The entire project began in 2006 with a meeting between Ven Manqele and the late Revd M Nzuza of Kwa-Gwabhela, Nongoma.

Revd Nzuza wanted to see this work started and finished before he was called to higher service. Sadly, he was called to rest in 2008, shortly before the completion of his dream. Although he could not see the finished structure, we praise God for his life, his selfless efforts in the church and his and his family’s huge contribution towards the realisation of the dream of serving God in a place we can be proud of.

We wish to thank all the people of God who made an effort by generously giving to the completion of the St Aidan’s that we are now so proud of.

Article by: Rev Michael Glover & Archdeacon Isaiah Manqele