Chilomoni, Blantyre
St. James Catholic Church is situated in Chilomoni, just outside of Blantyre in Malawi. It was constructed in 2009 and funded by donations from UK-based charity the Krizevac Project. Krizevac (translating to ‘cross mountain’ in Croatian), is a charity formed in the UK in 2008.
Building Design
"The magnificent church with its two towers can be seen from afar and reminds us about the presence of God in our midst. The beautiful ambiance and gorgeous interior creates a rightful place for meditation.”
(Cosmass Namacha, St. James Parishioner)
Location
Chilomoni Hight Street, Chilomoni, Blantyre, Malawi
Type
Place of Worship
Year of Construction
2009
Design Architect
Patrick Calisse (MoD Architects)
Project Architect
Patrick Calisse (MoD Architects)
Design Engineer
Robert Piniero (Excel Structural Engineers)
Building Contractor
Terrastone Construction
Tabernacle Design
Angel Garcia Alvarez
St. James Catholic Church is situated in Chilomoni, just outside of Blantyre in Malawi. It was constructed in 2009 and funded by donations from UK-based charity the Krizevac Project. Krizevac (translating to ‘cross mountain’ in Croatian), is a charity formed in the UK in 2008.
Krizevac began when founder Tony Smith visited the Catholic pilgrimage centre of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Spiritually effected by what he witnessed there, Tony was moved to create an homage to Medjugorje in the developing country of Malawi. Following the construction of the ‘Way of the Cross’ (a pilgrimage up the side of Mount Michiru), a local parish agreed to host on their site at the foot of Michiru a replica of the St. James Church in Medjugorje. This new church would replace the existing church, which was desperately in need of maintenance. It was envisaged that through the symbols of the cross and the church, the positive stories of spiritual enrichment from Medjugorje could be recreated, and that these interventions could become centres for spiritual enlightenment and community collectiveness.
A measured survey of the church in Medjugorje was undertaken, and the drawings used as a basis for the Malawi interpretation. Terrastone Construction, a commercial contractor working in Malawi at the time, were commissioned to construct the replica church on behalf of Krizevac. The building’s main frame is formed from reinforced concrete, with concrete blocks used as wall infill. The entire exterior of the church is rendered and painted, in colours true to the original structure in Bosnia. Terrazzo flooring was utilised throughout the church, using stones sourced from Balaka, an industrial area approximately 130km from Blantyre City. Local Malawian labourers were employed by Terrastone to construct the building.
Outside the church, a large, open-plan plaza was created, to allow external ceremonies and processions. An amphitheatre was also constructed in the grounds of the church, to accommodate outdoor worship sessions and community gatherings. Today, the church forms an important hub for the Catholic community of Chilomoni.
The project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals
