Order of Simon of Cyrene


The Order of Simon of Cyrene is the highest award given by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to laity for distinguished service. It was established in 1960, during the tenure of Archbishop Joost de Blank, following a proposal by Bishop Robert Selby Taylor. Membership of the order is limited to 120 persons. The order is named after Simon of Cyrene, the first saint on the African continent.

Living members of the order

  1. Michael Cassidy
  2. Barry Smith
  3. Ingrid Le Roux
  4. Esrom Mulaudzi
  5. Robin Black
  6. Brigalia Bam
  7. Max Hales
  8. John Stephen Martin
  9. Malethola Maggie Nkwe
  10. John Ramsdale
  11. Leah Tutu
  12. Maggy Clarke
  13. Justice Ian Farlam
  14. David Sheppard
  15. Tessa Fairbairn
  16. Denise M. Ackerman
  17. Lavinia Crawford-Browne
  18. Sinah Mokati
  19. Gerald Hendricks
  20. Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi
  21. Lily Cloete
  22. Advocate Deon Irish
  23. Mamphela Ramphele
  24. John Kingsley-Hall
  25. Robin Greenwood
  26. Monica Koopman
  27. Grant Nupen
  28. Saki Macozoma
  29. Gail Allen
  30. Michael Whisson
  31. Dr Mary Jean Silk
  32. Sally Motlana
  33. Shirley Moulder

Deceased members

  1. Alan Paton
  2. Maureen Petersen
  3. Mary Davidson
  4. Adelaide Tambo
  5. John Michael Berning 14 December 1941 - 17 December 2006
  6. Dennis Burkinshaw 1918 - 2013
  7. Neville Paul Greeham died 15 December 2005
  8. Sheena Duncan died 4 May 2010
  9. Allan Bryant Crawford order awarded in 1963
  10. Patrick Dumisa
  11. Mary Knowling
  12. Pat Gorvalla died 12 November 2013
  13. Sheila Rose Maspero died on 25 January 2014
  14. Helen King died in 2015
  15. Pippa Vincent died 15 September 2015
  16. Helen Joseph order awarded in 1992, Joseph died in December 1992
  17. Dorrie Nuttall died November 2016
  18. Emma Mashinini
  19. William Hugh Paterson order awarded posthumously in 1963
  20. Sir Rupert Bromley died 2018
  21. Ronald Kenneth Kirby
  22. John David Emery admitted on Saturday, 25 November 2017.
  23. Margaret Elsworth died 6 October 2023, order awarded in 2010