This week in Christian history: The sack of Rome; Tiyo Soga baptized; St. Theodosius dies
Tiyo Soga baptized – May 7, 1848
This week marks the anniversary of when Tiyo Soga, a South African missionary, journalist, hymn-writer, and translator, was baptized while studying abroad in Scotland.
A member of the Xhosa ethnic group, Soga was baptized at John Street United Presbyterian Church in Glasgow by Pastor William Anderson, who also helped financially aid the student.
Upon his return to South Africa, Soga became a preacher and wrote several hymns in the Xhosa language, as well as created a popular Xhosa translation of Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.
“More than one church has been named in honour of Tiyo Soga and at least one branch of the African National Congress political party,” wrote John Ross of Dumisani Theological Institute.
“St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in King William’s Town, a congregation which Tiyo helped to establish, commemorates his life in a stained glass window. In October, 200, at the inaugural ZK Matthews Memorial Lecture at the University of Fort Hare, former President Thabo Mbeki listed Tiyo Soga first in a catalogue of black intellectuals.”
