HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA SERIES
History of the Church in Africa: Did You Know?
How was the First LDS chapel in Africa Funded?
Today the Church is in 37 African countries with many Church-owned places of worship. These chapels are constructed with funds from the headquarters of the Church. This is the story of how the first LDS chapel was acquired.
When missionaries returned to Africa on October 16, 1904, Samuel Martin was the first to be baptized in Cape Town. He had been born in England. In Cape Town he owned a bakery. Like all early Saints, he longed to join with the Saints in Utah. He shared that desire with the mission president. The mission president promised Brother Samuel that if he would pay his tithing faithfully, he and his family would be able to emigrate to Zion. Having faith, Brother Martin negotiated the sale of his business, which provided more than sufficient funds for the family’s future. The Martins moved to Utah—only to return to South Africa when Samuel himself was called to serve as mission president from April 1926 through 1929.
And what of the promise made to Samuel about tithing? Tithing contributed from the sale of his business provided funds which were used by the Church to purchase a mission home—which became known as “Cumorah”—and which was the first Church-owned property on the African continent. The building served many years as the mission home, later became a chapel, and was rebuilt in 1937. Today the Mowbray Chapel sits on that same property at the corner of Main and Grove Road in Cape Town.
Samuel Martin will always be remembered for his generosity and for his faithful payment of tithing. Indeed tithing is a principle with a promise.