The Foundational Years (1899-1976).
As Narrated by His Grace, The Most Rev. Peter Bol Arok, Archbishop
The Anglican witness in Sudan began over a century ago through the faithful work of international missionaries. Historical records indicate that in 1899, the Church Missionary Society (CMS) sent its first missionaries to Sudan, a group comprising both American and English evangelists.
The early work centered on Khartoum Omdurman. Among those remembered is Charles Gordon, a dedicated servant whose vision was to see the mission work expand along the Nile River. Following his death in Khartoum, a public fund was established in Britain to create the Gordon Memorial Sudan Mission, through which the CMS raised £3,000 a significant sum to support this endeavor according to the book called (Day of Devastation and Day of Contentment, page 243).
In 1906, a team of six missionaries—Revs. F. Hadow, A. Shaw, A. Thom, Dr. A. R. Cook, Mr. Willmot, and Mr. Comley—journeyed to South Sudan. After initially being turned away in Mongalla, they established a mission in Malek among the Bor Dinka. The work was patient and often slow; Rev. Shaw, whom the Dinka affectionately nicknamed *Machuor, preached for ten years before baptizing his first convert, Aruor Thor, in 1916.
From this humble beginning, the mission expanded. Stations were opened in Lau among the Dinka Ciec (1912), Yambio among the Zande (1913), and Yei among the Kakwa tribe (1917).
For many years, the church in Sudan was shepherded by bishops from the wider Anglican Communion. It was under the care of the Diocese of Jerusalem until 1920, when it was placed under Bishop Gwynne, the Bishop of Egypt. The Diocese of the Upper Nile was formally launched in 1926 under the leadership of Bishop A.L. Kitching. Bishop Kitching served both Sudan and the regions of Eastern and Northern Uganda until his retirement in 1936.
Following his retirement, oversight of the Sudanese church returned to the Diocese of Egypt under Bishop Gwynne. To provide dedicated leadership, Bishop Guy Bullen was brought from Nigeria to serve as an Assistant Bishop for Sudan. Tragically, his service was cut short after only two years when he died in a plane crash.
The church yearned for its own leadership. This began in 1945 when Bishop Morris Gelsthorpe was consecrated as the first Bishop of Sudan, formally separating it from the Diocese of Egypt. He was succeeded by Bishop Oliver Allison in 1955. Under their guidance, the first Sudanese bishops were consecrated: Daniel Deng Atong, Elinana Ngalamu as Assistant Bishop of Rumbek (1963), and Yeremaya as Assistant Bishop of Yambio.
Upon Bishop Allison’s retirement, Bishop Elinana Ngalamu became the first Archbishop of Sudan in 1976. It was at this time that the province changed its name from “Anglican” to “Episcopal.”
The Struggle for Integrity and The Birth of a Province (2004-Present)
A Crisis of Leadership and a Test of Faith
For years, the faithful of Twic East and the Duk communities (Payuel and Padiet) were nurtured under the Bor Diocese by Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, a leader widely revered for his humility and godly character. As our congregations swelled, so did the number of priests, surpassing 200. It became undeniably clear that one bishop could no longer provide the necessary pastoral care. In 2004, our priests collectively appealed to the provincial leadership for the creation of a new diocese, a request delivered through our own Bishop Garang.
The response in Nairobi in April 2004 was initially met with great joy. Bishop Garang gathered the priests and announced that the province had officially accepted our plea. “Your diocese has been accepted,” he declared, promising a full diocese, not a lesser area diocese. He called for nominations, instructing us to present three candidates from among ourselves for a proper election to be held in South Sudan. The atmosphere was electric with hope.
A committee was formed, and from five willing servants, three names were selected and forwarded to the Archbishop’s office. We were told to await the date and venue for the election. We returned to our parishes filled with anticipation.
The Broken Promise and the Kakuma Standoff
That anticipation turned to confusion and dismay when, without warning or consultation, Bishop Garang announced the appointment of Archdeacon Diing Ajang as an Assistant Bishop for Bor Diocese, based in our very own Kongor area. We were baffled. We had been waiting for an election, not a unilateral appointment.
When confronted, Bishop Garang attributed the decision to the Archbishop himself. The situation culminated in a tense meeting in the Kakuma refugee camp. Unbeknownst to the arriving bishops and Archbishop, the community had already been informed. The sense of betrayal was profound.
I recall standing with community leaders as they delivered a firm but respectful message: over ten thousand of the faithful were prepared to peacefully reject the consecration. This was not merely a dispute among clergy; it was the whole body of the church rising to protect its integrity and the democratic process it had been promised. That evening in Kakuma, it was evident the Holy Spirit had moved to protect His people from a decision made without transparency.
The Memorandum That Captured a People’s Choice
A direct appeal from the diaspora community was sent in writing to the Archbishop office. Dated between February 27 and June 6, 2004, these letters from the diaspora community are among the most significant documents in our history. They prove that the push for Archdeacon Peter Bol Arok’s leadership was the overwhelming, organized choice of the people—months before the process was disrupted. Sent directly to the highest authority of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, they left no doubt about the will of the congregations in the United States. This evidence of popular support, combined with petitions from within South Sudan, was later presented to Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK).
The 1st Letter
THE TWIC COMMUNITY IN U.S.A:
We apologize for the delay in responding to your questions that you need the voice of the Northern people in the United States and some part of the world for the election of a new bishop. Therefore on behalf of Twic East Community and Duk Payuel and Duk Padiet our final decision is that we have selected Archdeacon Peter Bol Arok to be our bishop of the New Diocese of Twic East.
Peter Bol Arok loves and care for God’s people with all his mind, as he has commitment to the work of God. He knows the truth and God is the truth. We need him all of us as Bor communities from North through the South. We need Bol upon his commitments and his achievement.
Therefore we give thanks to Archbishop Joseph Marona, and Chancellor and all the bishops of Sudan and bishop Nathaniel Garang.
Thanks. Our names who selected Archdeacon Peter Bol Arok to be our Bishop are as follows:
- Evangelist Zechariah Jok Char – Athany Archdeaconry with his members
- Evangelist Daniel Deng Mapur – Duk Padiet Archdeaconry.
- Evangelist Samuel Del Akech – Duk Payuel Archdeaconry with his members.
- Evangelist Abraham Kuol Awan – Maar Archdeaconry with his members.
- Evangelist Abraham Deng Garang – Paliau Archdeaconry with his members.
- Mr. Peter Magai Bul – Wangulei Archdeaconry with his members.
- Mr. Deng Jok Nhial – Panyang Archdeaconry with his members.
- Rev. Matthew Madit Riak – Lith Archdeaconry with his members.
- Rev. Daniel Deng Kuot – Lith Archdeaconry with his members.
- Rev. Andrew Lual Arok – Lith Archdeaconry with his members.
- Rev. John Garang Awan
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The 2nd letter
MEMORANDUM
TO: His Grace, Joseph Marona, Archbishop of ECS
FROM: Northern Bor/Twic Congregations in U.S
DATE: June 6, 2004
SUBJECT: Public Opinion: Rev. Peter Bol Arok Should be Our Bishop
We the undersigned names, are supporting the election of Venerable Peter Bol Arok as the New Bishop for the Kongor Diocese. Rev. Bol should be the bishop because of his spiritual ministerial experiences, demonstrated leadership qualities, and his personal capabilities to serving God’s people.
Peter has more spiritual ministerial experiences; first as evangelist, then pastor, rural dean, and currently as archdeacon. In these spiritual activities, he has experienced God’s call to bring people to the Way, The Truth, and the Life. He has been working with Bishop Nathanael and other ministers of the Gospel, with whom he shared the same spiritual goals. He has shown the light of God to all people. Because of these spiritual experiences, we support his election as the bishop. The church of God needs people obsess with spiritual goals. He is a good shepherd of God’s sheep.
In several instances, Peter has and still is demonstrating his leadership qualities. He not only speaks out against injustices, but also fearless to tell the truth. As the Bible says, “know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Although no human being is perfect, Peter almost always tells the truth. That is one of the best qualities a leader should have. One of the instances Peter has demonstrated his leadership was in Ame Refugee Camp in 1992. He fearlessly spoke out against the confiscation of church by the military. In addition, he supplied the hungry crowd with ration during the time of need. It is the duty of a leader to provide both physical and spiritual needs to the people of God. Recently, Peter refused illegal consecration as bishop by Gabriel Roric who was fired by the ECS administration. He excellently justified his refusal by saying that it is the people that can elect me as their leader. Now, as people of this diocese, we elect him to be our leader because of his mindfulness of our needs and his humility. He is not a power-hungry person. Rather, his aim is to be the shepherd by examples and by deeds.
Peter is capable and is a man of development. A man of development should be loving, forgiving, humble, impartial, open-minded, and above all put others’ needs first before his own. Peter has these qualities as seen in his preaching and personal life. He values everybody regardless of age, status, gender, and rank. He is the kind of person that the Bible says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Peter has seen God in his personal and family life as demonstrated in the upbringing of his children. It is when we let the light of God shines in our lives that we are able to bring others to God. Peter is a good shepherd of God’s sheep because BOTH his actions and words speak together.
In conclusion, Rev. Peter Arok should be our bishop because of his spiritual experiences, demonstrated leadership, and capabilities in serving the people of God.
Signed and Witnessed by:
- Abraham Akech Chiluel
- Abraham Nuul Deng
- Jacob Achuoth Manyok
- Koot Manyok Majok
- John Thon Majok
- Jacob Mamer Akech
- Michael Deng Wal
- Ajak Bol Ajak
- Duot Reech Ayual
- Peter Angok Atem
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Seeking Sanctuary and a New Home in the ACK
Faced with a deadlock and a profound breach of trust, we were at a crossroads. My priests urged me to accept consecration from any willing bishop outside the Anglican Communion to lead them. My conscience could not allow it. To leave the Anglican family would be to abandon our historical and theological roots for a temporary solution.
With faith as our guide, we turned to our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK). I sought out the late Rt. Rev. Stephen Mwangi, then the Dean of the ACK, a man known for his profound humility and wisdom. I entered his office and made a direct plea: “Consecrate me.” He was taken aback but listened intently to our story—a story of a promised election, a broken process, and a flock desperate to remain Anglican but unable to stay in their current circumstance.
Bishop Stephen Mwangi became our advocate. He presented our case to the Archbishop of Kenya, The Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Nzimbi. The Archbishop did not take this lightly. He scrutinized our evidence: letters from our priests, petitions from our communities in South Sudan, and overwhelming endorsements from our diaspora in the United States, all affirming the initial election process and their desire for me to lead.
A Miracle in Nakuru and a Decade of Steadfast Service
The verification was thorough. Bishop Mwangi himself led a delegation to Kakuma, where he was met by a congregation of over 4,000 faithful, who unanimously affirmed their choice. Convinced of the righteousness of our cause, Archbishop Nzimbi made a promise: six months later, he would consecrate me.
True to his word, on June 11, 2006, in Nakuru, The Most Rev. Dr. Benjamin Nzimbi laid his hands on me and consecrated me as the Suffragan Bishop of the Twic East Area under the Diocese of Nakuru. Our exile had ended; our journey within the Communion was secured.
For three and a half years, we were nurtured under the ACK. Then, on October 30, 2010, Archbishop Dr. Eliud Wabukala commissioned me as a Missionary Bishop to South Sudan. I returned home.
The following decade was a testament to faith. I served alone, often in difficult conditions. Skeptics believed our church would fade away upon my retirement. (“But they did not know God works with material we cannot see”).
A Providential Victory: The Birth of a Province
The year 2022 marked God’s magnificent answer to a decade of prayers. In a move of incredible generosity and affirmation, the Anglican Church of Kenya consecrated three new bishops to assist me and, most importantly, granted us full autonomy to form our own province.
In a profound and joyous ceremony that same year, I was enthroned as the first Archbishop of the Anglican Church of South Sudan. The miracle continued as we consecrated seven new bishops to shepherd dioceses across the nation:
- Bishop of Twic Diocese : Rt. Rev. Peter Adum Deng (Dean of the Anglican Province)
- Bishop of Akobo Diocese : Rt. Rev. James Reat Nyoch
- Assistant Bishop of Akobo Diocese : Rt. Rev. John Galuak Dhuor
- Bishop of Aliap Diocese : Rt. Rev. Michael Jalang Jarlueth
- Bishop of Ayod Diocese : Rt. Rev. Michael Dieu Kuet
- Bishop of Equatoria Diocese : Rt. Rev. Joseph Aleu Arok
- Bishop of Jonglei Diocese : Rt.Rev. Abraham Duot Kuer
- Bishop of Warrap Diocese : Rt. Rev. Santino Achuil Akoc Majok
- Bishop of Wunror Diocese : Rt. Rev. James Yout Chol
- Bishop of Refugee Camps in Uganda : Rt. Rev. Jacob Arok Akoi
From a single bishop serving alone for ten years, God exploded our ministry into a vibrant, self-sustaining province with ten bishops plus His Grace the Most Rev. Peter Bol Arok Archbishop of the Anglican Church of South Sudan. This was not a political achievement; it was a divine miracle, a testament to what happens when we commit our plans to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3).
Our story is one of perseverance, integrity, and unwavering faith in the face of adversity. It is a history we share with all our partners in the Gospel across the Anglican Communion, with immense gratitude for their prayers and support. May the Almighty God continue to bless all Christians around the world in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen