Weekend reflections took us to some archives on the intriguing facts on the Super Presbytery that was Tūmūtūmū, the mother Presbytery of Mt. Kenya Region Presbyterian Community. The Presbytery was inaugurated three years before PCEA became autonomous with the Church of Scotland. Records point to February the 7th, 1940. Three years later in 1943, the Presbyterian Church of East Africa would gain independence from the Church of Scotland, with its own Constitution and leadership, both African and Scottish.

The Presbytery of Tūmūtūmū would grow to birth numerous Presbyteries and Parishes, as well as educate, ordain and send many Elders, both teaching and ruling. Unknown to some, although Thogoto Mission in Kikuyu was established a decade before Tūmūtūmū, the school population in TT missions exceeded that in Thogoto in the years that followed. Theological Training for the initial African Ministers (Kenyan 8 of 1926) was conducted at Tūmūtūmū Rev. RG Calderwood (Kadaudi) who would become the first General Assembly Moderator in PCEA. These were

  1. Rev. Musa Gītaū from Thogoto
  2. Rev. Benjamin Gīthiea from Thogoto
  3. Rev. Joshua Matenjwa from Thogoto
  4. Rev. Solomon Ndambī from Tūmūtūmū
  5. Rev. Paulo Mageria Kahuho from Tūmūtūmū
  6. Rev. Joshua Riūnga from Tūmūtūmū
  7. Rev. Simon Karechū from Tūmūtūmū
  8. Rev. Jeremiah Waita from Tūmūtūmū

What we found most intriguing was the composition of the said Presbytery in 1963. A list compiled by the Nyeri Presbytery 60th Anniversary committee under the stewardship of Rev.Charles Wahome Kimari draws the picture. They included,

Rev. James Wanjii Gathigi (Moderator Tumutumu Presbytery), Rev. Duncan N. Mbogo – Presbytery Clerk, Mr. Festus Gatheca – Presbytery Treasurer, Rt. Rev. Charles Mūhoro Kareri, Mr. William Rimwa, Mr. Tito Muriuki
Mr. Henry Kiragu, Rev. Naaman Githenya
Mr. Douglas Kiboi, Mr. Johnson Muriithi
Mr. Elijah Kamitha, Mr. Erastus Gathuthi
Mr. Elijah Waichanguru, Rev. Solomon N. Monjo, Ex-Chief Wilson Ikamba, Rev. Misheck Murage Kamwaro, Mr. Harrison Wakabochi, Mrs Jane Nyaguthii Josia,
Mr. Stephen Githigia, Mrs. Grace N. Wanyeki, Rev. Stephen Mwangi Cauri, Mrs.SalomeNyatetu Waigwa, Mr. Geoffrey Muriithi, Mrs. Esther G. Charles, Rev. RGM Calderwwod, Mrs. Nelia W. Githeko

First, the presence of women in the Presbytery Court. Inasmuch as the PCEA allowed for the Ordination of Women to the office of Elder in 1965, there were numerous who took part in the Courts leadership. Two names are familiar to me for example. The first is Jane Nyaguthii Josiah, a graduate of Mambere school in Tūmūtūmū in the 1920s. She was a vibrant Guild member from Wandūmbi, my locality. Baptized on 7th February 1929, the girl who hailed from Mūthūa-iní remained steadfast in service, although unlike her husband Josiah Matu Gachoka, she was not ordained Elder.

Also in that list is Mwarí wa ithe witū Grace Gacoki Mūhoro (1910-1989). Although many remember her as the wife to PCEA’s first African Moderator, Bw. Charles Mūhoro, she was undoubtedly a leader in her own right. She led the Guild branch at Tūmūtūmū for a long time. That the Presbytery of Tūmūtūmū allowed for the participation of Lay women long before the Kirk permitted for their ordination brings great joy.

Esther’s Tombstone

Further on, a look at the composition of the Ministers in that Presbytery is equally interesting. As already mentioned, Charles Mūhoro Kareri was the Moderator of the General Assembly. He also served as a Parish Minister in his local Parish of Tūmūtūmū. As was the tradition then, the General Assembly Moderator continued to serve as a Parish Minister. The practice must have changed in 1973 or thereabouts. Also, Very Rev. Robert George Matheson Calderwood OBE, MC (1896-1968) who had served as Moderator of the GA, belonged to the Presbytery of Tūmūtūmū. Yet, in spite of that, it was the Rev. James Wanjii Gathigi, who was the TT Presbytery Moderator in 1963. He was a Minister from Mūkūrwe-iní, possibly the old Mihuti Outstation.

There has been great distress in the present day with re-integration of those who have served in the Head Office in the Parish Ministry. Yet, a Moderator of the General Assembly belonged to a Presbytery that had its own Moderator. There might be a need for proper documentation on how the dynamic of such a working relationship was like. That all may be one!