St Augustine Anglican Church launches 50th anniversary
The St Augustine of Canterbury Anglican Church at Dansoman has held a health walk dubbed “Jesus March” to launch activities marking its 50th anniversary celebration.
The event was on the theme: “Basilica @ 50: Called to Love, Serve and Share — The Great Commission Continues.”
It brought together parishioners and members of the Dansoman community who joined in a symbolic walk retracing the early beginnings of the church.
The Walk
The procession began at the church’s premises, popularly known as The Basilica, and followed a route through the Dansoman Roundabout, the Dansoman Polyclinic, Mrs Mensah’s residence, and Bishop John Daly School; all key landmarks that represented stages of the church’s formative journey.
Some members were also seen distributing gospel tracts to residents and passers-by as part of the church’s evangelism effort.
Spiritual reflection
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Assisting Priest, Rev. Prof. Kwamena Sagoe, said the walk had served as both a physical exercise and a spiritual reflection on the church’s growth and mission.
“We retraced our steps to remember where the church began. The Dansoman Polyclinic was our first meeting point, but it wasn’t conducive, so Mrs Mensah opened her home to the congregation.
As numbers grew, worship moved to Bishop John Daly School and later to our present site,” he explained.
He added that the walk also offered an opportunity to share the gospel with the community. “We shared tracts, displayed Bible verses on placards, and announced our presence in the community. You’ll be surprised that some people don’t even know there’s an Anglican church nearby,” he said.
Journey
Reflecting on the church’s 50-year journey, Rev. Prof. Sagoe likened the church’s growth to that of the Israelites, describing it as a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
“Fifty years means a lot. No matter the challenges, we have come far. Some churches abroad have closed, but God has kept ours alive,” he said.
He urged Christians not to lose sight of their divine calling to make disciples, reminding all that the Great Commission remains central to the church’s mission.
“We haven’t been called to remain silent or just have parties. Our mandate is to share the gospel and make disciples,” he said.
Activities
The Chairperson of the Fundraising and Publicity Committees, Maria Lovelace Johnson, described the Jesus March as both historic and joyful.
She said that the anniversary celebration would continue with a series of events, including a breakfast meeting, yard sale, gospel rock show, street evangelism and a dinner and awards night to honour both living and deceased founding members.
“Out of the 13 members of the first interim committee, only one is alive. We’ll honour her and remember the others posthumously,” she revealed.
The 50th anniversary celebrations are expected to climax with a thanksgiving service in 2026.
