By Celani Sikhakhane
- KwaZulu-Natal MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi congratulated the Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church on its 116 years of spiritual and cultural service.
- The church was founded by Prophet Isaiah Shembe on 10 March 1910 and now commands more than five million supporters.
The Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church is celebrating 116 years since Prophet Isaiah Shembe founded it at the Mountain of Inhlangakazi near Inanda, north of Durban.
Shembe founded the church on 10 March 1910. A dream had instructed him to leave the Free State and travel to KwaZulu-Natal to found it. The church has since grown to more than five million supporters.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, congratulated the Nazareth Baptist Church on the 116th anniversary.
“This historic anniversary marks more than a century of the Church’s enduring role in shaping the spiritual, cultural, and social fabric of Southern Africa. Over the decades, the Nazareth Baptist Church has become one of the most influential religious institutions in the province, providing spiritual guidance to millions of congregants and promoting values that strengthen families and communities,” Buthelezi said.
The church has also played a vital role in fighting violence between the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the ANC.
Buthelezi commended the church for its longstanding commitment to peacebuilding and social cohesion within communities. He said its teachings continue to inspire responsible citizenship and collective responsibility.
“As the Nazareth Baptist Church marks this significant milestone, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government celebrates its rich legacy and acknowledges its enduring contribution to the religious and cultural life of the province,” Buthelezi said.
Pictured above: The Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church celebrating its 116th anniversary since its founding in March 1910.
Image source: Shembe Church
