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DateOriginal Topic
16th August 2002ST VINCENT's MEMORIAL CHURCH, ISANDLWANA
By Mike McCabe
Does anybody have information on the original basis for establishing this Memorial Church, who the founders and donors were, and whether (apart from the stained glass windows) there were ever other military memorials in the church. If so, where are they now?
DateReplies
16th August 2002Martin Everett
Dear Mike,
I still need to send you some documents from my file; not this will answer your question but it could make you better informed. I have also come across lists of names in the Glennie papers which list donors to the general fund for 24th families. There was also a 2nd fund for other regiments. All this is probably going to confuse you.
18th August 2002Peter Quantrill
Mike,
Some research has revealed the following:
In November 1879,Bishop W.K. Macrorie,the Bishop of Pietermaritzburg asked Charles Johnson,a lay catechist,to establish a mission at Isandlwana and the Church where St. Vincent's stands today was selected. In June 1880,Archdeacon Douglas McKenzie was chosen to lead the mission and the following month 900 pounds was collected.The mission was built by Johnson and a Rev.Ransom assisted by two Swedish workers. McKenzie then named the mission "St. Vincent's" Building progress was slow,and in October 1882,the masons had cut the sandstone block from Isandlwana itself and carved a Greek cross above the date of the battle.
The stone was laid on an 1879 shilling,and an artillery button and a badge of the 24th Regiment A new bell donated by Mr. Donald Currie was mounted. On 28 April 1883, a dedication service was held and attended by all the clergy within the Diocese of Zululand.In 1884,four glass windows to commerate Colonel Anthony Durnford, Lt. Charles Jameson(sic), St. Vincent and Judas Maccabeus were installed.
In 1890 Bishop Mckenzie died and monies were raised to build a catechism school,today known as the Isandlwana Interpretive Centre. Funds were aslo raised for a stained glass window depicting St. George. Between the Church and the cemetery is a small square building which was consecrated by Bishop Zulu in 1993. Under the alter lie the remains of unknown Zulu soldiers who died on the battlefield. Their remains were recovered from the donga below the rocky outcrop where part of the British firing line was situated.
This would seem to be the background to St.Vincent's. The story has a sad ending. The Church has fallen into a delapidated state and in URGENT need of major repairs including re roofing . The local community still hold Sunday services to a packed congregation who stand amoungst broken pews, doors and dripping rain Appeals have been made by both the Church Warden, D.T. Mthanti and the Parish Secretary V.Z. Zulu for funds. The Church is outside the ambit of AMAFA. If likeminded people agree I suggest a Trust Fund be set up with recognised auditors, where 100% of all monies collected will be channelled directly into repairs. All supportive work will be on a volunteer basis. The legacy will be an eternally grateful community,and a Church dedicated to ALL who fell, namely Imperial, Colonial and Zulu.
Peter
19th August 2002Mike McCabe
Thank you both for this very useful information. It would indeed be a fine thing to refurbish the structure of the church to give it a longer life.
19th August 2002Alan Critchley
I am at Isandhlwana in a couple of weeks time. I intend visiting St. Vincents and assess for myself what I personally can do to help.
This is is not just to remember the British who died but also the Zulus in a conflict that need never have happened. I think we should all pull together to help both the present community and also the memory of those who died at Isandhlwana, British, South African and Zulu.
I shall record my visit for the website and invite contributions of both suggestions and finance for what I think will be a worthwhile cause.

Alan Critchley
[email protected]