By Pascal Mwandambo
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| The Rev Wray Memorial Museum in Taita Taveta County built in 1883 as a church. [Photo: Pascal Mwandambo/Standard] |
It has withstood the vagaries of weather, the scorching sun, torrential rains and the swirling winds for the last 130 years.
To a casual observer, this somewhat forlorn building looks like just an old fashioned structures which is in dire need of repair or better still, demolition, to create room for a modern structure.
Standing triumphantly on the picturesque Sagalla Hill in Voi constituency, this unique building has defied the fury of the elements to remain where it stands today.
Welcome to Rev Wray Memorial Museum, the oldest church in Taita-Taveta County, which is the cradle of Christianity in the region, a beacon of faith and culture.
Cultural monument
The museum bespeaks longevity as it is a cultural monument that testifies to the long, painstaking road that the Christian faith has passed through since the turn of the 20th century.
The museum committee chairman Mr Apollo Nzano says the facility is both a cultural and historical resource that must be preserved for future generations and research.
“The museum will provide invaluable information for posterity as pertains to the advent of Christianity in Taita-Taveta County,” says Nzano. He notes that it is a major indicator of the cultural transformation that the Taita community has undergone through the last century.
The museum official emphasised the fact that the Taita-Taveta County government, once put in place, should enact local legislation that will not only ensure that such cultural and historical monuments are preserved but also provide funds towards that end.
“Issues touching on culture have been addressed in the new Constitution. It’s now upon the Government and corporate entities to use their corporate social responsibility programmes to ensure that that cultural monuments are protected and jealously guarded,” says Nzano.
He reveals that plans are underway to launch a major cultural centre near the museum in December, which, among other things, will serve as a tourist attraction.
