Angola's Diocese: Understanding The Religious Divide

Angola has a rich religious history, with a variety of Christian denominations present in the country. The Catholic Church in Angola, for instance, was introduced by Portuguese explorers in 1491 and remains a significant presence, with over 1200 priests and 2200 nuns serving the country's 469 parishes and 44 Catholic hospitals as of 2020. Anglicanism, on the other hand, is a more recent development, having reached Angola in 1923 through the efforts of English missionary Archibald Patterson. The Diocese of Angola, encompassing the entire country, is a key organisational unit within the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola, which was established in 2021 as the 42nd ecclesiastical province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Diocese of Angola is further divided into four archdeaconries, each containing a number of parishes. In addition to these denominations, Angola is also home to a variety of other Christian groups, reflecting the country's diverse religious landscape.

Anglicanism reached Angola in 1923

Angola is a secular state that guarantees freedom of religion under its constitution. The country is predominantly Christian, with Catholicism being the largest denomination. Anglicanism, however, also has a notable presence in the country.

The Arrival of Anglicanism in Angola:

Anglicanism reached the Portuguese colony of Angola in 1923 through the efforts of English missionary Archibald Patterson. This marked the beginning of the Anglican Church's presence in the country, which has since grown and evolved over the decades.

The Formation of the Diocese:

The Diocese of Angola, officially known as the Diocese Anglicana de Angola in Portuguese, was formed from the Igreja Evangélica Unida de Angola. This church shared a common history with the Igreja Evangélica Reformada de Angola from 1922 to 1975. In 1975, it was constituted as the Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola.

Part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa:

Until 2003, Angola was an archdeaconry of the Mozambican Anglican Diocese of Lebombo. That year, it became a missionary diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, with André Soares as its first and only missionary bishop. Bishop Soares notably expressed his support for women's ordination, viewing it as not an obstacle to ecumenism.

Achieving Full Diocese Status:

On St Andrew's Day, November 30, 2019, the Diocese of Angola was inaugurated as a full diocese of the Anglican Church by Thabo Makgoba, the Archbishop of Cape Town. During this ceremony, the site for the future St Andrew's Cathedral in Luanda was blessed, and Soares was installed as the diocesan bishop.

The Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola:

In 2021, a significant development took place with the establishment of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola (Igreja Anglicana de Moçambique e Angola, or IAMA) as the 42nd ecclesiastical province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. This new province was formed from the dioceses that were previously part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The Diocese of Angola now falls under this new ecclesiastical province, which was formally inaugurated on September 24, 2021, in an online teleconference.

Current Structure and Membership:

The Diocese of Angola encompasses the entire country of Angola and is divided into four archdeaconries: Luanda, Lukunga Lozi (Songo), Nzadi a Lukiki, and Uíge. Within these archdeaconries, there are a total of 63 parishes. As of 2019, the diocese has a membership of approximately 58,000.

The Diocese of Angola is part of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola

The Anglican Church first reached Angola in 1923, when it was a Portuguese colony, due to the English missionary Archibald Patterson. It was constituted as the Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola in 1975. Angola was an archdeaconry of the Mozambican Anglican Diocese of Lebombo until 2003, when it became a missionary diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.

The current bishop of the Diocese of Angola is André Soares, who was the first bishop of the new diocese in 2003. On St Andrew's Day, 30 November 2019, the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, inaugurated the diocese as a full diocese of the church and installed Soares as the diocesan bishop. The current membership of the Diocese of Angola is approximately 58,000.

The Catholic Church has 19 dioceses in Angola

Angola has a long history with the Catholic Church, dating back to when Portuguese explorers first introduced Catholicism to the country in 1491. As a former Portuguese colony, it's not surprising that, as of 2020, approximately 53.85% of the population professed the Catholic faith. This is a slight decrease from 2014, when 56.4% of the population identified as Roman Catholic.

The Catholic Church has an established presence in Angola, with 19 dioceses, including 5 archdioceses, across the country. The Archdiocese of Huambo, the Diocese of Kwito-Bié, the Archdiocese of Luanda, the Diocese of Mbanza Congo, the Archdiocese of Lubango, the Archdiocese of Malanje, the Diocese of Ndalatando, and the Archdiocese of Saurímo are among these. Each diocese is led by a bishop, who is a member of the regional Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé.

The Catholic Church plays an important role in the daily lives of many Angolans, with over 1200 priests and 2200 nuns serving 469 parishes and 44 Catholic hospitals as of 2020. The Church also has a presence in the media, with the Catholic radio station Ecclesia broadcasting in 16 of Angola's 18 provinces. Additionally, Vatican Radio and Maria Radio also operate in the country, further extending the Church's reach.

In addition to the Catholic Church, Angola also has a presence of the Anglican Church. The Diocese of Angola, which is part of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola, encompasses the entire country and is divided into four archdeaconries: Luanda, Lukunga Lozi (Songo), Nzadi a Lukiki, and Uíge. The Anglican Church in Angola has a membership of approximately 58,000 people.

Pope Francis established the Diocese of Ganda in 2024

Angola is home to the Diocese of Angola, a diocese of the Anglican Church of Mozambique and Angola. It encompasses the entire country of Angola and is divided into four archdeaconries: Luanda, Lukunga Lozi (Songo), Nzadi a Lukiki, and Uíge, with a total of 63 parishes.

In 2024, Pope Francis established the Diocese of Ganda in Angola, appointing Bishop Estêvão Binga as its first leader. The Diocese of Ganda was carved out from the existing Benguela Diocese and became one of the suffragan dioceses in the Metropolitan See of Huambo. This new diocese covers an area of 24,447 square kilometers (approximately 9.4 square miles) and has a population of 947,826 people, of whom 633,636 are Catholic, representing a significant 66.9% of the total population within the diocese's territory.

The establishment of the Diocese of Ganda and the appointment of Bishop Binga as its pioneer bishop were announced by the Holy See Press Office on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Bishop Binga, born in Angola's Archdiocese of Lubango in September 1966, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Benguela in April 1996 and has served in various capacities, including as prefect of discipline in the preparatory seminary and as a lecturer in higher education institutions. Bishop Binga also holds academic credentials, having earned bachelor's, licentiate, and doctorate degrees in dogmatic theology from the Faculty of Theology of Northern Spain.

The creation of the Diocese of Ganda was praised by Bishop António Francisco Jaca of the Catholic Diocese of Benguela as a "historic milestone" for the Catholic Church in Angola. He expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for his "fatherly love and concern" and welcomed the appointment of Bishop Binga, offering his support during the preparatory stages of the new bishop's installation.

With the establishment of the Diocese of Ganda, the Catholic Church in Angola gains a new episcopal see, strengthening its presence and outreach in the southern African nation.

The Diocese of Angola was formed from the Igreja Evangélica Unida de Angola

The origins of the Diocese of Angola can be traced back to the work of Archibald Patterson, an Anglican layperson from the Low Anglican Church of St. Clement Parish in Liverpool. Patterson began his missionary work in Angola in 1922, bringing Anglicanism to the Portuguese colony. In 1923, he founded the Kinkuni Mission, located about 150 km from Uige city. Along with the Swiss missionary Ernest Niclaus from the Evangelical Church of Bienne, Patterson is regarded as one of the founders of what became the Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola.

The Igreja Evangélica Unida de Angola, from which the Diocese of Angola was formed, played a significant role in the spread of Anglicanism in the country. In 1940, a theological school was established by the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola, leading to notable growth and development. This was followed by the founding of the Council of Evangelical Churches in Angola in 1957, uniting the work of North American Congregational Churches.

However, in 1975, Angola's independence was followed by a devastating civil war that lasted until 2002. The war forced foreign missionaries to leave, and the church was divided into rural and urban parts. During this turbulent time, the church remained split into the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola and the Evangelical Reformed Church in Angola. Despite the challenges, the Diocese of Angola persevered and continued to grow.

In 2003, Angola was established as a missionary diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, with André Soares serving as the first missionary bishop. Finally, on St Andrew's Day, 30 November 2019, the Diocese of Angola was inaugurated as a full diocese by Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town. The site for St Andrew's Cathedral in Luanda was blessed, and Soares was installed as the diocesan bishop.

Frequently asked questions