When a group of eight young Zambian Christians and adult leaders visited Westminster Abbey this summer, they were surprised to stumble upon the burial place of the missionary who first brought Christianity to their country in the 1800s – David Livingstone.
The discovery was part of a two-week cultural exchange during July and August which saw the group visit many landmarks across London and surrounding counties. The trip was part a long-running exchange programme between the United Reformed Church Wessex Synod and the Lusaka Presbytery of the United Church of Zambia (UCZ).
The young people and their leaders are members of St Andrew’s (UCZ) congregation in Lusaka, Zambia, where they are also part of the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades. A visit was initially planned for 2025 but the visa applications were turned down. This year, with the support of Woking MP Will Forster, a new set of applications were approved.
As well as exploring the city of London, the visitors enjoyed cultural trips to Salisbury Cathedral, Windsor, Guildford, Kingston, and Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea FC. There were brand new experiences, too, such as ice skating and a day at the beach, accompanied by young people from Woking United Reformed Church.
The second half of the trip saw the group join Woking URC’s Summer Camp in Oxford where, alongside 50 other young people, children and leaders, they joined in outdoor activities, day trips and worship services.
Members of Woking United Reformed Church hosted the young people and their leaders in their houses for much of the exchange, and there was a barbecue attended by Will Forster.
The church celebrated the conclusion of the visit with a special service, during which each Zambian visitor was asked to reflect on a highlight from the trip. Some of the young people chose the visit to the Chelsea Football ground, others spoke of how much they had enjoyed the summer camp. Dr Gabriel Walubita, one of the leaders of the trip, said encountering the memorial to David Livingstone at Westminster Abbey had been his highlight.
Phil Ray, Children’s and Youth Development Officer for the URC Wessex Synod (North), organised the exchange programme. He said, “This was a truly joyful encounter between Zambian and British young people. New experiences were enjoyed, laughter was shared, and friendships were forged that will be treasured for years to come.”
Photos courtesy of Lucy Brierley