Our vision is a Sophiatown and surrounding communities where all people truly belong: where there is healing, opportunity and prosperity; so that resources are used to create a society where none live in poverty.

Our programmes integrate leadership and value-based approaches which enhance social justice and a non-racial society.  Our business enterprise work is based on a people-planet-profit dynamic.

We also preserve and share the history of this area, and the histories of the multi-cultural communities who inspired Fr Huddleston throughout his life.

Our values are inspired by the life-long service of Fr Huddleston to the recognition of every person’s intrinsic and equal value:  we aim to operate with integrity, a focus on service, we value innovation and respect diversity

Our venues, known as Sophiatown the Mix -  are a state of the art ‘green’ building and an original 1930s Sophiatown home that has a rich history.  You can discover more by joining a walking tour every Saturday at 11am (other days by arrangement) .  Click here to find out more. or call to book

Tour Bookings:

083 550 7130

Entrance to heritage

house: R60 per person (groups 6+ R45 pp)

Full Sophiatown walking tours R180 every Saturday 11am

All profits are routed to support our work with young people and creative community development that is sustainable: where the impact on people, planet and profit is carefully judged and resources shared.

Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre, 71 Toby Street, Sophiatown, Johannesburg, 2092 . Post: PO Box 468, Westhoven 2142.  

Email: thmcentre@mweb.co.za   Tel: +27 (0) 11 673 1271   Fax: +27 (0) 11 252 7976

Registered section 21 not-for-profit association no 2000/006377/08

The Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre. NPO no 020 393

             Patrons: Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Ambassador Abdul Minty, Rev Mpho Tutu

Hon Sophie du Bruyn MP, Emeritus Archbishop Khotso Makhulu, Esme Matshikiza, Sally Motlana.

Board Members

Rev Sam Masemola (chair), Lebogang Motlana,
Rev Basil Manning,
Trevor Fowler,
Bon Chandiyamba.
Sec: Violet Mohotloane

Our new home in Sophiatown, the Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Building, was officially opened in September 2015, by elders and youth with links to Fr Huddleston, in the presence of families who had lived in Sophiatown before the forced removals, and residents who live there today.

Opening the building, music composer and icon Jonas Gwangwa cut the ribbon with Khadija Kgoleng whose grandfather was priest and Archdeacon of the area in Fr Huddleston’s day;

The building was funded through grants from the National Lotteries Commission, the national Department of Arts & Culture; donations from William Kentridge, Peter Vundla,  Mr and Mrs Douglas Board,  Zerbanoo Gifford, and many others;  and an enabling loan from Lord Joel Joffe, without which the project would not have succeeded.  Deep thanks to all who contributed to this new phase of the Huddleston Centre’s life.

The building is an environmentally ‘green’ building  which showcases alternatives  – it’s the first community designed building in South Africa with a focus on sustainable enterprise and celebrating diversity of culture.

For information on current events at the new site – known as Sophiatown theMix

go to www.sophiatownthemix.com

Find us:  71 Toby Street, Sophiatown.  

 E: Info@trevorhuddleston.org    call: 011 673 1271

 Mama Dorothy Masuku – Africa’s most prolific composer and performer- joined him with Mr Ali Hlongwane from the City of Johannesburg , partner to THMC in the national heritage house we operate as the Sophiatown Heritage centre (next door to the new building).  Sihle Zwane, a young current resident and Grace Mogorisi – a former resident, joined Isaac Meletse (chair of THMC) in welcoming people into the new spaces.  Over 400 people attended this special day with music, dancers, theatre and poetry.  Click here to go to our gallery page to see more photographs.

The Trevor Huddleston CR Memorial Centre exists to inspire communities and young people, and enable them to live, realise and achieve their dreams and thrive with dignity.

Our approach is bespoke: it encompasses leadership, service and value-based methods  aligned to those of Fr Huddleston, and those who continue to work for social justice and a non-racial society.

Fr Huddleston was nicknamed 'Makaliphile', meaning 'dauntless one'.  We seek to be dauntless in the pursuit of a more equitable economy, non-racialism, and opportunities for youth to thrive as active and responsible citizens.

We also preserve and share the history of this area, and the histories of the multi-cultural communities and individuals who inspired Fr Huddleston.  We do this through arts, culture and heritage programmes on our Sophiatown site and with partners across the Province.  Fr Huddleston believed, as do we, that art connects us to each other and roots us in our common humanity.

You can read more details about our programmes HERE which are managed by through our social enterprise initiative at our site - Sophiatown the Mix, and across the province where we work in partnerships.

Why Sophiatown?

Sophiatown and the western area neighbourhoods were historically famous particularly for their racially-mixed communities which were a hive of artistic, political, business and intellectual and cultural innovations from the early 1930s until apartheid legislation destroyed them beginning in 1955. Sophiatown was a celebrated freehold and the first area in South Africa to feel the force of apartheid’s Native Resettlement Act and Group Areas segregation.

 Father Huddleston was sent to Sophiatown in 1943 to continue the education and pastoral work of his religious community , known as 'CR', which stands for Community of the Resurrection, based in the UK.  He was 30 years old and found a vibrant community which instantly took him to its heart.  You can hear more about people who affected Fr Huddleston, and about his impact on their lives, by visiting our site.  click here for details

 By the time he was 42 years old, he had written a book about apartheid called 'Naught for Your Comfort'.  It was banned in South Africa but sold 250,000 copies all over the world, so many people came to hear about apartheid.  When Fr Huddleston returned to the UK in 1956 he committed to the struggle in new ways, and was one of the founding members of  the 'Boycott Movement' - the pre-cursor to the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the UK.

Sophiatown today is probably one of the most diverse suburbs in Johannesbug, with long time residents from the 1960s, returned residents from the 1950s, and new families and students who know little of the area's rich past.

Our school visiting programmes share stories about people who once lived here, and encourage young people to find out more about the suburb's recent history and current mixed population.

Photo: school learners gather for history talk in the Sophiatown garden of the historic  A B Xuma house

Photo: Renowned SA jazz musicians play in Sophiatown every month. Check here for details

 Heritage Team Leader, Tshepo Letsoalo introduces the Biko commemorative exhibition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   introduces the Biko commemorative exhibition