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Introduction

This website contains reflections of Donald’s life, from his formative years of school in Australia, time as a curate in London during the blitz, 38 years serving in Africa, followed by 30 active years in England.

Sections already completed are on the website, whilst the family continues working on others which Donald didn’t get round to editing. These will be added as they are ready.

Australia

Some of the Arden family history and life on an Australian farm whilst going to school in Adelaide.

England and Bombs

Time in Leeds at Mirfield training to be a priest. His first job was as a curate in London at the beginning of the Blitz,  before moving outside London to be chaplain to Charing Cross hospital.

South Africa

Arrived in Cape Town on Christmas Eve 1943 and posted to Pretoria where he helped to set up school feeding programmes and started one of the first Scout Troops for mixed-race boys.

Swaziland

Director of the Usuthu Mission for 10 years, doing outreach work, building a secondary school,  encouraging publishing of the first newspaper in the Siswati language Chairman of the Pineapple Growers Association.

Nyasaland 1962-1963

A fast-moving thirteen months. Following his consecration on 30 November 1961 Donald faced many financial and staffing challenges. Travelled throughout the Diocese held Diocesan Synod and Standing Committee. Approval was given to establishing Chilema Ecumenical Lay training centre. Ecclesia a bilingual monthly diocesan newsletter first published. Met and married Jane. Prepared for extended visit to the USA.

Travelling and making links 1963

During the first nine months of 1963 Donald spent time in England prior to four and a half months in the USA, together with Jane. A companion Diocese Relationship was established with the Diocese of Texas. They then visited his mother and family in Australia. While returning to Nyasaland Donald was asked to attend the Anglican Toronto Congress in Canada. The final three months of the year were spent conducting confirmation and ordination services throughout the Diocese.

Developing a Malawian Church

Donald wrote to friends in 1961 saying the next bishop must be a Malawian, when he left in 1981 there were three. On 6 July 1964 Malawi became independent. Two Malawians became archdeacons in October 1964 and in December the diocesan Elective Assembly elected Josiah Mtekateka as Suffragan Bishop. Using Malawian music in services was encouraged. Courses on Islam widened understanding of neighbours in many parts of the diocese.

Political turmoil 1964

Treatment of dissident ministers, armed rebellion, Archdeacon Chipembere and daughter-in-law Catherine sail to Likoma Island for safety. The Church’s role. Trying to reinstate Guides and Scouts. 

Companion Dioceses

Malawi forms partnerships with dioceses in the USA and England.

Province of Central Africa and CAPA

The four countries in the Province are very different with complicated relationships. The creation of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa marks a milestone in the life of the Church in Africa.

Josiah Mtekateka – the first Malawian bishop 1965

Early years on Likoma Island, 1928 helped found Malosa Secondary School, priest in Tanganyika, consecrated bishop May 1965. Moved to Nkotakota in 1966 to prepare for new diocese. Lambeth Conference 1968.  Nursing Sisters of St John the Divine 1970-1974. Bishop of new Diocese of Lake Malawi 1971. Sermon at consecration of Bishop Peter Nyanja 1978. Key dates 1903-1996.

Inspiration from the wider Church 1968

Bishop Josiah and Donald attended the Lambeth Conference in London, after which they visited the Companion Diocese of Birmingham. Josiah then proceeded to the Diocese of Texas while Donald spent time at Taizé in France, and with the Church in Uganda and Kenya.

Health 1899-1981

Malaria, medical assistants, Dr Art Johnson and Nan, training midwives. CHAM (Christian Health Association of Malawi). Dr Susan Cole-King. Leprosy. Video opening St Luke’s Hospital. Map of health centres and hospitals.

Malawi Against Polio 1977-1996

Challenges and informal meeting with Dr Jan Borgstein Senior Government surgeon. Ron Huckstep and founding of MAP (Malawi against Polio). Rotary donate to MAP. Dr Michael King succeeds Jan Borgstein. 1996 Dr Chris Lavy and his wife Vicky worked with MAP for four years.

Marriage and its problems

The building of Likoma Cathedral

1903 onwards the building of Likoma Cathedral. 1962-63 repairs after tower collapses. 1972-1976 a brief account of rebuilding

The building department

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Our growing family

Basil arrives in April 1964 and Christopher in December 1965. Letters by Donald to his mother in Australia. Early years to 1973.

St Margaret’s Uxbridge

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St Alban’s North Harrow

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Romsey and Postscript

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Out of Africa, Something new

In this thirty-five-page booklet published by the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 1976 Donald Arden welcomes what can be learned from new life developing amongst Christians in Africa.  He writes as Archbishop of Central Africa who has spent thirty-three years serving in South Africa, Swaziland and Malawi and describes how he is encouraged in a wide variety of ways.

A year later he delivered a lecture ‘The church in Africa – what of the future’ at the University of Malawi

Farewell Speech 1981

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Appendix

Petro Kilekwa, there will be more to follow on the life of this remarkable man.

Steamship Chauncey Maples  1902-1990 was built by Donald’s uncle and served the Church on Lake Malawi from 1902 to 1957.

Archdeacon Christopher Lacey made a huge contribution to the diocese during the thirty-seven years he served there from 1937-1968.