The Presbyterian Church of Ghana: A Legacy of 175 Years

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) traces its roots to 9 December 1828, when the first Basel Mission missionaries arrived on the Gold Coast. The early years were marked by struggle — disease claimed many missionaries — but the seeds of faith took root through the dedication of African evangelists like Catechist Christian Protten and later, the renowned teacher Johannes Zimmermann.

By the mid-19th century, the mission had established schools alongside churches, recognising that education and the gospel were inseparable. The Akropong-Akuapem area became the heartland of the early church, and the Akuapem New Testament, translated in 1859, gave the Akan-speaking population the Word of God in their mother tongue for the first time.

The church officially became the Presbyterian Church of Ghana in 1950 when it achieved full independence from the Basel Mission, marking a pivotal moment in the localisation of Christianity across West Africa. Today the PCG has over 3.5 million members, more than 6,000 congregations, and a vast network of schools, hospitals, and development projects.

The PCG's motto — 'That they may all be one' (John 17:21) — reflects its continued commitment to unity in diversity. From its beginnings on the Gold Coast to its congregations in London, Amsterdam, and New York, the church's story is one of faith meeting culture, and the gospel transforming communities across generations.

For the diaspora congregations across Europe, this history is not merely heritage — it is identity. Knowing where the church came from deepens the conviction of where it is going. PCG Christ Congregation East London stands in this long line of faithful witnesses, carrying the torch of the Basel missionaries and African evangelists into the twenty-first century.