THE NAME OF THE CHURCH
The completion of the church somehow drew some unfavourable criticism or fears from certain quarters (from his fellow whites) warning that the structure would collapse of its own weight and cause disaster. David Clement Scott undauntedly went ahead to open it. Possibly Scott in an earnest prayer to God named it “St. Michael and All Angels, in record of the truth that the Angels of God hold up this very structure of which we speak, as they do the structure of the universe, the structure of society, and that powers more mighty than the earth’s dominions hold Africa before God”. Truly the Angels of God have continued to hold up this Cathedral to God’s glory now for over 130 years in its life.
THE DIARY OF THE MISSIONARIES
23rd October 1876:- Henry Henderson and his main party arrive at Blantyre, pitch up their tents under a large fig tree where the cairn now stands. Blantyre was born that day in British Central Africa.
October 1881:- David Clement Scott arrived to assume charge of the Mission. He found no building for worship, worship was being held in a school classroom for the African workers and possibly in houses for the expatriates.
1882:- David Clement Scott constructed the first Pole and the Building for worship. This building or Church stood where the Clock Tower stands today. This Church was grass thatched, was plastered with clay inside and outside. The only foreign element was glass on the window. It was dedicated to the glory of God on 23rd April, 1882 which coincidentally was Scott’s birthday. The Mandala people donated a pew. The first offering in this church was used to purchase a bell for calling people to worship (in place of the bugle). This bell was afterwards used as a school bell at the Mission. Later on, it was transferred to Domasi where, as a school bell, still hangs in the Belfry Tower. (The bell was gotten from a wrecked ship at Quelimane).
1883:- Rev. Alexander Hetherwick arrived at Blantyre as the second in command to the Mission.
The Manse was built of bricks. The first Manse of Rev. D. MacDonald was built of stones. These stones were used in the foundation of the new one. Malawians clung to the old name of Maganga the “stone” house. Hence this building is known as Maganga House up to this very day.
November 1888:- The foundation of St. Michael and All Angels cathedral Church was laid
1901:- Silver Jubilee of the founding of Blantyre was held on 23rd October.
The Falkland pine tree beside the Clock Tower was planted in the same year by Yuraya Chatonda of Livingstonia Mission and Mungo Murray Chisuse of Blantyre Mission
1912: – Electricity was installed in the church
BUILDING THE CHURCH (1888 – 1891)
- Jonathan Duncan was in charge of brick-making operations. When building started in November 1888, he thought he had made sufficient bricks to see the building through. He went home on holiday. On return, he was amazed to find that there were neither bricks at the building site, nor at the brick field. He was told that all bricks he made were sunk on the foundation. (it is reported that there are as many bricks underground in the foundation of the church as there are in the visible superstructure). John McIlwain succeeded Jonathan Duncan in the supply of bricks for the project. McIlwain saw 40 years of service at Blantyre Mission and died there. (Malawians called him ‘Ngoloweka’ because of the work suit that he used to put on).
- David Clement Scott made all the brick moulds of the various shapes of bricks we see in the building. These moulds were cut and carved by David Clement Scott himself assisted by his brother Dr. William Affleck Scott whose artist hand is to be seen in the finer moulds such as the ‘oak leaf’, and the ‘pine-apple’. It was pure invention and unprecedented experiment as far as ever
- There are in all 81 types of bricks in different shapes and sizes and one stone – keystone
- The keystone was the work of David Buchanan of Buchanan Brothers, a trained stone mason, who helped Scott with the building until November 1889 when he left to tend to his work.Mr. Buchanan’s aid was invaluable in giving their first lesson in bricklaying to the African builders, none of whom had ever handled a trowel before.
- No record was kept of the total number of bricks used on the structure.
- The care taken by the brick makers is evident today in the structure, as it now stands, which after now more than 125 years of tropical rain and sun shows few traces of weathering.
- David Clement Scott, the Architect and Builder of the Cathedral had no plans on paper or previous knowledge of architecture or building construction. The building grew in his mind, and the outward structure followed the inward vision.
- All the building materials were procured and prepared on the spot. Bricks were made from clay from ant hills in the near vicinity, water being carried from the Nasolo Stream. The foundation was dug in 1888 and there was no ceremony of laying the foundation stone. One Saturday afternoon when the bricks in the chancel were laid, the members of staff gathered together within the foundations and each laid a brick.
- Equal care was given to the apse. This Scott himself considered to be the most difficult part of the whole structure. The result as we see it today was not the first nor the second attempt that was made before the architect was satisfied with his work.
- There is no dull back, the whole being so managed as to present frontage on every side. Each detail was affected on the spot in brick without clay or mortar before the bricks were actually laid (no plans were drawn).
- The outer shell of the Cathedral as we see it today was what it was on 10th May 1891, but the inside was all rough. The dedication of the church on 10th May 1891, was a great event in the history of Blantyre and of Malawi (then Nyasaland), in fact, of Central Africa. This was the first permanent Christian church erected for worship of God between Zambezi and the Nile. The occasion was attended by Missionaries, Pioneers in Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Headmen of note in the villages around, and many African-heathen and Christian alike – several of them builders of it, taught for the first time to use the trowel and the level by Clement Scott himself – all met to join in dedicating to the glory and worship of God the work of their hands.
- Many rumours circulated about the purpose of this unusual building when the church was nearing completion. Some thought it was to be a house for the head of the mission or a house for some new European coming up the River. It was thought by many that some people would be sacrificed at the opening of the church. In fact, the Chiradzulu people imagined that the head of the mission, after inviting all his friends together, would hang them from the rafters of the building. However, when the dedication was held, it turned out to be much different from what was anticipated.
- The interior of the Cathedral on 10th May, 1891 was not as we see it today. The walls including the pillars of the nave were all plastered. The walls were painted in red while the pillars in dark green (in 1894). Much of what we see today came about in 1907. Dr. David Clement Scott was not spared to see his dream “house of God” in its present splendour. He retired in 1898 and later died in 1907 in Kenya. In 1907, to commemorate the life and work of Scott, Dr. Alexander Hetherwick with his team set themselves to decorate the interior of the Cathedral in its present state as follows:-
- The original bamboo ceiling in the barrel roof was removed and replaced by rough saw cedar boards. These were later on replaced by mahogany parels from timber cut on the banks of Nasolo stream. The parels are the works of John McIlwain and Armitage.
- STAIN GLASSES : These were gifts from various groups pf people in memory of some of the pioneers of the mission
- Of the five light windows in the western gable of the nave,(Main entrance) the central light depicts the Archangel Michael, erected in memory of Dr. William A. Scott, Mission Doctor and brother to David Clement Scott. He died in 1896. The two on either side above represent the Angels Gabriel and Raphael and were erected by the European Community in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
FURNISHINGS
Organ – The old American organ in use since 1889 was replaced by a pipe organ in 1907. David Clement Scott died at Kikuyu in Kenya on 13th October, 1907. On 20th October 1907, a service of dedication and thanksgiving of the organ as well as the memorial service and service of thanksgiving for the life and labours of the architect and builder of the Cathedral was held jointly.
This organ produces sound made by air that passes through the pipes that are set in a range of definite pitches. At first it was inflated manually with a hand pumping handle. Someone had to sit inside to do this job. In 1954 a South African Organ Manufacturing Company renovated it to an electrical pump system. It could be the only existing pipe organ in Malawi as no other church has this type. Mr Chisuse was the first Malawian to play the organ.
The organ was originally to be placed at the back of the church on top of the main entrance, but it has remained where it was put temporarily all these years as the space on top cannot accommodate it.
- The chairs were made by the local carpenters under the guidance of McIlwain using ‘milulu’ from the banks of Nasolo stream
- In 1979 the church underwent restoration due to the discovery of a bad crack in one of the four main columns supporting the main dome over the knave of the church, which was leaning over. The column adjacent to it had also cracked to a lesser extent. The church was closed for almost three years
