Chipunza, Edward

Edward Chipunza was born in September 1902, the son of Chief Chipunza. During the 1896–1897 Shona–Ndebele uprisings, Chief Chipunza had given refuge to early indigenous catechists like Frank Ziqubu and John Kapuya, who were fleeing violence as many mission stations were destroyed. In recognition of the Chief’s generosity, Archdeacon Upcher felt the church owed a debt of gratitude. This took the form of pastoral support when the Chief’s son, Edward, fell gravely ill. After the Archdeacon prayed for him, Edward recovered, and the grateful Chief entrusted his son to the Archdeacon’s care and mentorship at the Epiphany Mission.

Chipunza was first trained as a teacher, after which he enrolled at St Augustine’s Mission School in 1919 for further education, returning in 1920. He later joined St Augustine’s Theological College in January 1925 to begin his priestly training. After two years, he was ordained as a deacon on 21 September 1927 at the age of 30, becoming not only the youngest but also the ninth ordained indigenous African deacon in the Anglican Diocese of Mashonaland.

Chipunza is remembered as a man of charming disposition, good intellectual ability, and promise of spiritual power. His ministerial journey was somewhat unique; he studied at St Augustine’s Mission on three separate occasions: first from 1919 to 1920 for academic preparation, then from 1925 to 1927 for deaconal training, and finally for priesthood preparation, culminating in his ordination as a priest by Bishop Francis Paget in 1931.

After ordination, Chipunza served as assistant priest at St Francis in Shurugwi and later at St Aidan’s, Bembesi. In 1951, he was appointed the first Rector of St Michael’s in Mbare, making him the first African priest in the Diocese of Mashonaland to hold the title of Rector. In this role, he worked to make his parish reflect African identity and spirituality. Chipunza is described as strong-willed and principled, particularly in opposing the mistreatment of black clergy by some of their European counterparts. Chipunza was known for his bold stance in Synods, where he often challenged European priests who regarded indigenous clergy as inferior. He worked tirelessly to change the perception that only European clergy were “real” clergy, striving instead to establish an authentically African expression of Anglican faith.

In the Synod of 1962, Chipunza was elected to serve on the Bishop’s Senate, the Provincial Synod, and the Diocesan Elective Assembly. He was appointed a Capitular Canon in the early 1950s, becoming a member of the Cathedral Chapter, the Bishop’s Senate, and the Diocesan Standing Committee. He remained active on key diocesan committees until his retirement. Chipunza’s ministry left a lasting impact not only within the church but also in civil society. His contribution was recognized by the City of Harare, where one of the streets in Mbare bears his name, a lasting tribute to a pioneering African church leader.

Stephen Kariuki Apollo Warui

Source:

https://uir.unisa.ac.za/items/98eee6ae-98f8-4f76-9941-49f80f8c4f2b

This collected memory was submitted in May 2025 by Stephen Kariuki Apollo Warui, a PhD student at the Boston University School of Theology and a member of both the Presbyterian Church of East Africa and the Presbyterian Church (USA).