Chapel in Kinshasa Stands Since 1891

Why this is here: Built in 1891, Sims’ Chapel accommodated roughly 50 Congolese church members and still stands as the oldest permanent structure in Kinshasa.

Aaron Sims began a mission in Léopoldville, Congo in 1882, later building a brick chapel with local students. The Livingstone Inland Mission initially funded the work before transferring it to the American Baptist Missionary Union in 1884. Construction on the chapel started in 1891 and it ultimately held about 50 Congolese church members.

Sims continued his medical work in the region for thirty more years, passing away in 1922. The city around the chapel has changed significantly, becoming Kinshasa after independence and shifting its center eastward.

Now located in the Ngaliema commune, Sims’ Chapel remains the oldest permanent structure in the city and continues to host worshippers. The chapel’s long-term preservation is not discussed in detail, and its future maintenance remains an ongoing need.