Rwanda Partner Churches and Organizations

Eglise Presbytérienne au Rwanda (EPR)

The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda emerged from German and Belgian roots, dating back to 1904. In 1919 the Belgian Missionary Society took over the German mission stations in Rwanda. In 1956 the three mission centers were organized into a synod but still operated under the Belgian Missionary Society. In 1959 the church leaders wrote a constitution and declared themselves to be an independent church. In 1967 they took the name The Presbyterian Church of Rwanda—Eglise presbytérienne au Rwanda (EPR). Having begun with only three parishes (not presbyteries), by 1985 the EPR had 47 parishes and 120,000 members.