Mpwapwa Mission is historic.  During the Nineteenth Century, and the early years of the Twentieth Century Pioneer missionaries from Uganda always halted here when passing.  Among these were Bishop Hannington, Bishop Parker Pilkington, Ashe and O’Flaherty.  Alexander Mackay began work here.  Near this mission Henry Morton Stanley is said to have slept when travelling back to the coast after having met David Livingstone.

In this picture taken by TBR Westgate around 1902 we see St. Luke's Church and behind it the second Mission House.  The first Mission House is believed to have been near this one.  In about the year 1889 the Arab Bushiri burnt it to the ground.  The CMS missionary Rev JC Price escaped unhurt and took refuge with the great pioneer, the Rev H Cole at Kisokwe (Chamuhawi).  Price eventually died after succumbing to malaria following a severe famine and was buried just behind St. Luke's Church on Jan 23, 1895.

St. Luke's Church continued in service until in 1997 the congregation moved up the hill to the new All Saints Cathedral, which had

The first five of the lower sections of the Reinforced columns that will form the main structural framework of the Chapel have been cast.

4th September 2007
The foundations having been completed, the hardcore for the base to the concrete sub-floor is being laid and the edging formwork fitted ready for the sub-floor to be cast.

7th September 2007
The Sub-structure for the new St. Luke’s Chapel is now completed.  It has been a long week with fairly intensive effort, especially yesterday – the team were on site before first light and only completed the final bit of the sub-floor concreting about half an hour after dusk had fallen, by the floodlights fitted on my Land Rover!  All in all the team humped 7m³ of hand mixed Grade 25 concrete into position, whilst also completing the electrical first fix for the power ring and forming a down-stand beam to take the internal wall of the vestry.

15th September 2007
The Archdeacon of Tonbridge, the Venerable Clive Mansell, from the Partner Diocese of Rochester (Church of England) led the service to unveil the Foundation Stone for the new St. Luke's Chapel at Ving'hawe, which reads: -

"This Foundation Stone
Of St. Luke’s Chapel
Was Unveiled by
Ven. Clive Mansell
Archdeacon of Tonbridge
Diocese of Rochester
(Church of England)
On 15th September 2007"

6th November 2007

Work is now well underway preparing the formwork for the first phase of the Reinforced Concrete structural frame for the Chapel.

28th December 2007

With the outer Reinforced Concrete structural frame for the Chapel in place work is in hand to put up the formwork for the inner central formwork that will form the main chapel roof and the base of a clerestory cupola to maximise light within the worship area.

14th January 2008

The structural frame is completed!

29th January 2008

The Stone walls are now well underway.

The design utilises a Reinforced Concrete structure to give stability and earthquake resistance, whilst also providing for a lofty roof to give the worship area some 'lift'.  Around the concrete frame two types of stone have been used.  The Biotitic Schist laminated stone, which is yellow/pink in colour harvested from the original St. Luke's has been complemented with a

black homogeneous Migmatitic Gneiss Stone to give the back of the Apse a clean finish as a backdrop for the Celebrant.  Natural daylight is added through the four triangular arched 'Trinity' windows and an upper clerestory will give both airiness and natural ventilation, to achieve a place where individuals can enter to rest awhile, larger family groups can come and give thanks or just recuperate from their journey into the Clinic, and indeed staff members can have their daily devotion or be updated on the latest news or seminar teaching.  All in all, we hope it will be a place for the whole community to be served in Body, Soul & Mind as it supplements the wider work of St. Luke's Clinical Centre.

14th February 2008

The central reinforced concrete beams that form the roof having reached a 28-day cure work has begun on forming the upper cupola clerestory.  Work has also continued on the lower walls with all of the windows having been installed and the electrical first fix nearly completed.

22nd February 2008

This week has seen the more complicated arches being constructed as well as the final completion of the electrical first fix. 

5th March 2008

The Clerestory Window having been completed works are now underway to roof the Chapel.

17th March 2008

The rear steps are completed.

With the beginning of Holy Week a Cross (Cupola cap) is erected atop the completed upper roof.

4th April 2008

The Lower Roof is now ready to receive the Corrugated iron sheets.

15th April 2008

21st April 2008

The Chapel is secured!

6th May 2008

The Works have now reached Practical completion.  The only remaining works are a small amount of Internal Decoration and the installation of window casements.