By Emmanuel Wirndzerem Verdzeka
While some churches in the West are regrettably being transformed into ware houses, cinema halls, shops and private estates, the Catholic Church in Cameroon is robbing shoulders with urban sprawl and post colonial social and economic revolution which most communities in the country are witnessing.
Though the phenomenon might be less felt in rural than in urban centres, it is clear most churches considered to be ideally located may, in no distant future, face a contrary fate. Carrying out Christian activities today is becoming increasingly difficult as music blasting from huge speakers and unpleasant noises from alcohol guzzlers, just to cite these few, are regrettably replacing the church’s quiet and serene atmosphere.
From the early days of evangelisation in Kumbo Diocese beginning with the German Sacred Heart Fathers from 1912 to 1915 and next the French Sacred Heart Fathers from 1915 to 1923, Spreading the Good News has never been easy, as even in those early days, such attempts confronted resistance from well established traditional authorities.
They were repeated assaults on catechumens, who most often, were publicly accused of disrespecting traditional authorities.The first catechist of Kumbo, Paul Tangwa, was prosecuted for his ardent support to the new 'White Man's Church' and for being its ring leader. It took these early Christians much courage to build the first church in Mbivtinmbang, Kumbo. But the fierce battle, which a British administrator Mr. Duncan masterminded, led to the church being set ablaze on December 10, 1920.
These and a lot more, constituted the challenges the early church had to confront. With a steady increase in the number of Christians from a few in the early years to 77, 663 in 1982 and 148, 248 presently, the challenges continue to assume new dimensions as the church forges on.This disturbing situation is pushing church authorities in Kumbo Diocese to think and rethink better ways of addressing these setbacks. Church authorities are not only concerned about putting in place adequate structures to accommodate the growing number of Christians, but are also charged with the difficult task of ensuring these structures are conducive to Christian activities.
Even though there is a lot to admire from church edifices in Kumbo, there is no gain-saying some are becoming less favourable for Christian activities like retreats, prayers, benedictions and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It is common place to find churches at zero distances from hot spots like bars, markets and busy streets, while some are unfortunately either sand-witched or perched along major high ways with frightening traffic records.
Kumbo Cathedral, located in the town centre, suffers from the effects of city encroachment. The magnificent edifice has enormous touristic potentials, no doubt. Until the 50s Moslems occupied the site formerly known as Taa-gasah. The area was ceded to the Catholic Church after negotiations between the Moslems, Catholics and the Fon of Nso at the time. Today, the question is not whether the Kumbo Cathedral is attractive or not, but if it can still effectively and efficiently serve the purpose for which it was constructed without users having to make an extra effort.
The famous Ring-Road leading to Nkambe from Bamenda and some retail shops and drinking spots border the Kumbo Cathedral to the east. Attached to it, still from this direction, is the Cathedral Hall, which can hardly successfully host a retreat or a prayer session because of its proximity to the road. Noise from passing cars continually steal and disrupt its serene atmosphere. A more vibrant commercial centre, with a growing number of music shops, borders the Cathedral to the south. Kumbo, being the seat of Nso Fondom, witnesses constant “juju” displays and this constitutes another distraction.
The Bui administration has stepped in with suggestions to remedy the situation. Culture is, no doubt, inherent to a people, but while some elderly Christians can aptly handle these distractions, this is just not the case with most youths caught in between as they prefer to forgo either a Holy Mass, a Church meeting or a choir practice, to be part of these frivolities.
Who then is to blame?
Kumbo Bishop's Secretary, Rev. Fr. Marcel Gham says the diocese is not considering relocating its Cathedral because of its strategic location. Admitting the diocese continues to acquire land elsewhere to build churches and structures to provide other services, he says the Cathedral's location indicates that Kumbo is a God-fearing town. “The Cathedral is serving the purpose of evangelisation better at its present site, because if you see the number of people, who rush in for prayers during break, you will be surprised," he explains.
He notes, however, that the case of Mbveh is genuine because there is no room for any expansion. “I know a very busy road and some businesses border the Cathedral, but I think there is nothing we can do about it."
The case of Mbveh Parish
St. Jude Parish Mbveh is among the parishes in Kumbo suffering most from the effects of city encroachment. Its main mission is located just a few metres from the Kumbo main market, the biggest in Bui Division. Private homes, some less than 10 metres away, also surround the Church. Not far from it are video clubs that constitute a big source of distraction to youths especially. Though one of its operators says he has never received complaints of distraction, church authorities are worried of the moral consequences these shops are having on the parish's youths. "Few people, who attend second masses, stop by to watch movies as they wait for the first mass to end", a video club operator explains.
Catechist Evaristus Lukong says much needs to be done to educate the youths because those addicted to video clubs and mushroom churches are easily derailed. He, however, regrets that Mbveh has no space for expansion. “Our situation is worse", he laments. He explains negotiations are underway to pay off those around the church because the Bishop will like to keep the Church at its present site.
Though people are responding favourably to these negotiations, he advises that the parish should embark on vertical expansion to make proper use of limited space. He adds the location of Mbveh Church is a mixed blessing since the church is also receiving a lot of financial support from Christians most of whom are business people.
The case of Tobin Parish
Tobin Parish is not left out, but negotiations for more land have helped it cope with the tantalising effects of city encroachment. Being the seat of Bui Administration, the parish has witnessed physical expansion and an exponential growth in population in recent years. Today, the Tobin Church, which started in a private home in the 60s, has grown and Bishop George Nkuo upgraded it to a full parish on December 8, 2008. The parish's main church has a rich and interesting history of land negotiation. Some of its structures used for meetings today, still bear remnants of its first occupants. Though Tobin church is ideally located, the negative effects of rapid urbanisation have not spared it.
As we conducted our investigation, music continued to blare out of neighbouring houses and far off discotheques, simply confirming the gravity of the situation. Apart from this, busy roads also sand-witch the church. The situation was made worse in the past few weeks following the tarring of the Tobin-Squares road, an activity which caused an increase in traffic.
Tobin Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Augustine Foka says though parishioners sometimes have difficulties meditating during benediction, there are no immediate plans of relocating the church. He regrets, however, that the church is always dusty in the dry season as earth roads surround it. "We have to learn to survive with this situation," he concludes. The chairperson of one of Tobin’s Small Christian Communities, James Mawoh, admits the situation is very worrisome. He points out that the growing number of commercial motorcycles is another contributing factor.
This disturbing situation notwithstanding, the atmosphere around some churches in Kumbo Diocese is inimical to Christian activities and until the diocese concludes its much cherished negotiations for more conducive space, the church will not be able to carry out her evangelisation mission with ease.
From the early days of evangelisation in Kumbo Diocese beginning with the German Sacred Heart Fathers from 1912 to 1915 and next the French Sacred Heart Fathers from 1915 to 1923, Spreading the Good News has never been easy, as even in those early days, such attempts confronted resistance from well established traditional authorities.
They were repeated assaults on catechumens, who most often, were publicly accused of disrespecting traditional authorities.The first catechist of Kumbo, Paul Tangwa, was prosecuted for his ardent support to the new 'White Man's Church' and for being its ring leader. It took these early Christians much courage to build the first church in Mbivtinmbang, Kumbo. But the fierce battle, which a British administrator Mr. Duncan masterminded, led to the church being set ablaze on December 10, 1920.
These and a lot more, constituted the challenges the early church had to confront. With a steady increase in the number of Christians from a few in the early years to 77, 663 in 1982 and 148, 248 presently, the challenges continue to assume new dimensions as the church forges on.This disturbing situation is pushing church authorities in Kumbo Diocese to think and rethink better ways of addressing these setbacks. Church authorities are not only concerned about putting in place adequate structures to accommodate the growing number of Christians, but are also charged with the difficult task of ensuring these structures are conducive to Christian activities.
Even though there is a lot to admire from church edifices in Kumbo, there is no gain-saying some are becoming less favourable for Christian activities like retreats, prayers, benedictions and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It is common place to find churches at zero distances from hot spots like bars, markets and busy streets, while some are unfortunately either sand-witched or perched along major high ways with frightening traffic records.
Kumbo Cathedral, located in the town centre, suffers from the effects of city encroachment. The magnificent edifice has enormous touristic potentials, no doubt. Until the 50s Moslems occupied the site formerly known as Taa-gasah. The area was ceded to the Catholic Church after negotiations between the Moslems, Catholics and the Fon of Nso at the time. Today, the question is not whether the Kumbo Cathedral is attractive or not, but if it can still effectively and efficiently serve the purpose for which it was constructed without users having to make an extra effort.
The famous Ring-Road leading to Nkambe from Bamenda and some retail shops and drinking spots border the Kumbo Cathedral to the east. Attached to it, still from this direction, is the Cathedral Hall, which can hardly successfully host a retreat or a prayer session because of its proximity to the road. Noise from passing cars continually steal and disrupt its serene atmosphere. A more vibrant commercial centre, with a growing number of music shops, borders the Cathedral to the south. Kumbo, being the seat of Nso Fondom, witnesses constant “juju” displays and this constitutes another distraction.
The Bui administration has stepped in with suggestions to remedy the situation. Culture is, no doubt, inherent to a people, but while some elderly Christians can aptly handle these distractions, this is just not the case with most youths caught in between as they prefer to forgo either a Holy Mass, a Church meeting or a choir practice, to be part of these frivolities.
Who then is to blame?
Kumbo Bishop's Secretary, Rev. Fr. Marcel Gham says the diocese is not considering relocating its Cathedral because of its strategic location. Admitting the diocese continues to acquire land elsewhere to build churches and structures to provide other services, he says the Cathedral's location indicates that Kumbo is a God-fearing town. “The Cathedral is serving the purpose of evangelisation better at its present site, because if you see the number of people, who rush in for prayers during break, you will be surprised," he explains.
He notes, however, that the case of Mbveh is genuine because there is no room for any expansion. “I know a very busy road and some businesses border the Cathedral, but I think there is nothing we can do about it."
The case of Mbveh Parish
St. Jude Parish Mbveh is among the parishes in Kumbo suffering most from the effects of city encroachment. Its main mission is located just a few metres from the Kumbo main market, the biggest in Bui Division. Private homes, some less than 10 metres away, also surround the Church. Not far from it are video clubs that constitute a big source of distraction to youths especially. Though one of its operators says he has never received complaints of distraction, church authorities are worried of the moral consequences these shops are having on the parish's youths. "Few people, who attend second masses, stop by to watch movies as they wait for the first mass to end", a video club operator explains.
Catechist Evaristus Lukong says much needs to be done to educate the youths because those addicted to video clubs and mushroom churches are easily derailed. He, however, regrets that Mbveh has no space for expansion. “Our situation is worse", he laments. He explains negotiations are underway to pay off those around the church because the Bishop will like to keep the Church at its present site.
Though people are responding favourably to these negotiations, he advises that the parish should embark on vertical expansion to make proper use of limited space. He adds the location of Mbveh Church is a mixed blessing since the church is also receiving a lot of financial support from Christians most of whom are business people.
The case of Tobin Parish
Tobin Parish is not left out, but negotiations for more land have helped it cope with the tantalising effects of city encroachment. Being the seat of Bui Administration, the parish has witnessed physical expansion and an exponential growth in population in recent years. Today, the Tobin Church, which started in a private home in the 60s, has grown and Bishop George Nkuo upgraded it to a full parish on December 8, 2008. The parish's main church has a rich and interesting history of land negotiation. Some of its structures used for meetings today, still bear remnants of its first occupants. Though Tobin church is ideally located, the negative effects of rapid urbanisation have not spared it.
As we conducted our investigation, music continued to blare out of neighbouring houses and far off discotheques, simply confirming the gravity of the situation. Apart from this, busy roads also sand-witch the church. The situation was made worse in the past few weeks following the tarring of the Tobin-Squares road, an activity which caused an increase in traffic.
Tobin Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Augustine Foka says though parishioners sometimes have difficulties meditating during benediction, there are no immediate plans of relocating the church. He regrets, however, that the church is always dusty in the dry season as earth roads surround it. "We have to learn to survive with this situation," he concludes. The chairperson of one of Tobin’s Small Christian Communities, James Mawoh, admits the situation is very worrisome. He points out that the growing number of commercial motorcycles is another contributing factor.
This disturbing situation notwithstanding, the atmosphere around some churches in Kumbo Diocese is inimical to Christian activities and until the diocese concludes its much cherished negotiations for more conducive space, the church will not be able to carry out her evangelisation mission with ease.
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