Brethren In Christ Church

Our History

Our History

The Brethren in Christ Church (BICC) began sometime between 1775 and 1788, near the present town of Marietta in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America. It developed amongst European settlers (Swiss and German immigrants) who came to America at around 1750 and settled along the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. The church came to Zimbabwe in 1898 through missionaries, Bishop Jesse Engle and his wife, Miss H. Frances Davidson, and Alice Heise. BICC is found in more than 30 countries in America, Europe, and Africa. In Zimbabwe, the church has about 300 branches located in Harare, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo and Midlands Provinces. The church has seven districts which are Harare, Bulawayo, Matopo, Mtshabezi, Wanezi, Phumula, and Nono. The Church's Zimbabwe Headquarters is located in Bulawayo, and it is led by the Bishop. Each church District is led by an Overseer who reports to the Bishop. Local congregations are led by Pastors who report to Overseers. The church also owns schools, hospitals, clinics, and farms, among other businesses.