The Order of Simon of Cyrene is the highest award given by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa to laity

Laity

In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...

 for distinguished service. It was established in 1960, during the reign of Archbishop Joost de Blank, following a proposal by Bishop Robert Selby Taylor. Membership in the Order is limited to 120. The Order is named after Simon of Cyrene

Simon of Cyrene

Simon of Cyrene was the man compelled by the Romans to carry the cross of Jesus as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion, according to all three Synoptic Gospels...

, the first Africa

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

n saint.

Current awardees

1. Michael Cassidy (1983)
2. Pippa Vintcent (1984)
3. Sheila Maspero (1985)
4. Barry Smith
   Barry Smith (organist)
   Barry Smith is a South African organist, choral and orchestral conductor, author, and musicologist.-Early life and education:Born in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, Smith was a choirboy at St Mary's Collegiate Church. In 1956, Smith was awarded a scholarship to Rhodes...
   
    (1989)
5. Pat Gorvalla (1990)
6. Ingrid Le Roux (1991)
7. Esrom Mulaudzi (1993)
8. Helen King (1996)
9. Robin Black (1998)
10. Brigalia Bam (1999)
11. Max Hales (1999)
12. John Stephen Martin (1999)
13. Maureen Petersen (1999)
14. Maggy Malethola Nkwe (2002)
15. John Ramsdale (2002)
16. Dorrie Nuttall (2005)
17. Leah Tutu (2005)
18. Michael Berning (2006)
19. Maggy Clarke (2006)
20. Ian Farlam (2006)
21. David Sheppard (2007)
22. Tessa Fairbairn (2007)
23. Denise Ackerman (2008)
24. Lavinia Crawford-Browne (2008)
25. Sinah Mokati (2008)
26. Gerald Hendricks
27. Lily Cloete (2010)
28. Margaret Elsworth
    Margaret Elsworth
    Dr Margaret Elsworth MBE was the founder of the African Scholars' Fund and the African Scholars' Fund UK. She was educated at Micklefield and Herschel Girls School. She graduated in 1954 from the University of Cape Town with a MBChB. She founded the African Scholar's Fund in 1968 and later was a...
    
     (2010)
29. Deon Irish (2010)
30. Mamphela Ramphele
    Mamphela Ramphele
    Mamphela Aletta Ramphele is a South African academic, businesswoman and medical doctor and was an anti-apartheid activist. She is a current trustee on the board of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York.-Life and career:...
    
    (2010)