1931 |
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is born in Klerksdorp on 7 October. |
1932 |
On 27 June, Desmond Tutu is baptized in the Methodist Church, Klerksdorp. |
1935 |
The Tutu family moves from Klerksdorp to Tshing, a location adjoining Ventersdorp. |
1941 |
Tutu’s mother, followed by Tutu and eventually the rest of the family, move to Roodepoort West. |
1943 |
Tutu is confirmed in the Anglican Church on 28 November in St Mary’s Church, Roodepoort. |
1945 |
Tutu begins high school in Roodepoort at Western High (later known as Madibane High). |
1946 |
The Tutu family moves to Munsieville near Krugersdorp. Desmond Tutu lives in a boys’ hostel in Sophiatown, where he meets Father Trevor Huddlestone. |
1947 |
Tutu falls ill with tuberculosis and spends 18 months in Rietfontein sanatorium. |
1950 |
Tutu matriculates from Western High. |
1951 |
Tutu begins to study for a teacher’s diploma at the Bantu Normal College outside Pretoria. |
1953 |
Tutu graduates with a teaching diploma from Bantu Normal. |
1954 |
Tutu begins work as a teacher at his former high school, Western High. |
1955 |
Tutu obtains a BA from UNISA and transfers to Krugersdorp High School. He marries Nomalizo Leah Shenxane on 2 July in the Church of Mary Queen of Apostles, Munsieville. |
1956 |
Desmond and Leah Tutu’s first child, Trevor Armstrong Tamsanqa, is born. |
1957 |
The Tutus’ second child, Thandeka Theresa Ursula, is born. |
1958 |
Tutu enrols at St Peter’s Theological College in Rosettenville, run by the Fathers of the Community of the Resurrection. |
1960 |
The Tutus’ third child, Nontombi Naomi, is born. Tutu graduates from St Peter’s and is ordained in December at St Mary’s Cathedral, Johannesburg. |
1962 |
Tutu is transferred to St Philip’s Church, Thokoza. The family then moves to London, and Tutu enrols at Kings College. |
1963 |
Tutu’s fourth child, Mpho Andrea, is born. |
1966 |
Tutu graduates from Kings College with a Master’s Degree. He works as an assistant curate in St Mary’s Parish, Bletchingley, Surrey. In December, the Tutus return to South Africa. |
1967 |
Tutu and his family move to Alice, Eastern Cape where Tutu lectures at the Federal Theological Seminary and is Anglican Chaplain at the University of Fort Hare. |
1970 |
Tutu accepts a post as lecturer at the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (in Lesotho). |
1971 |
Tutu’s father, Zachariah passes away in his sleep. |
1972 |
The Tutus move back to England. Desmond Tutu takes up a position as Associate Director for Africa of the Theological Education Fund (TEF). |
1975 |
Tutu returns to South Africa as the first black Anglican Dean of Johannesburg, based at St Mary’s Cathedral. |
1976 |
Tutu writes an open letter to Prime Minister John Vorster suggesting reforms. He accepts a position as Bishop of Lesotho in July. |
1978 |
Tutu becomes General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). He testifies in the ‘Pretoria Twelve Trial’. |
1979 |
Tutu is awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Harvard University |
1980 |
Tutu’s passport is confiscated in response to his overt criticism of apartheid. He is arrested with other clergy marching on John Vorster Square to petition for the release of John Thorne, former president of the SACC. Tutu and a delegation of church leaders meet with Prime Minister PW Botha and his Cabinet. Tutu is awarded the Prix D’Athene by the Onassis Foundation, Greece. |
1981 |
Tutu’s passport is returned in January 1981 but later confiscated again. Tutu becomes rector of St Augustine’s Church, Orlando West in Soweto. |
1982 |
Columbia awards Tutu an Honorary Doctorate in Sacred Theology. He cannot travel to receive it, but is later given a limited ‘travel document’. |
1983 |
Tutu is elected a patron of the new United Democratic Front (UDF) and helps inaugurate a National Forum. Tutu’s wife Leah helps found the South African Domestic Workers Association. |
1984 |
Tutu receives the Nobel Peace Prize and is elected as Bishop of Johannesburg. He meets with Ronald Reagan but leaves disillusioned. Aletta Tutu, Desmond Tutu’s mother, dies. |
1985 |
Tutu is enthroned as Bishop of Johannesburg. Tutu meets with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in London, but is left frustrated. |
1986 |
Tutu is ordained as Archbishop of Cape Town. |
1987 |
Tutu is elected president of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC). |
1988 |
Tutu is appointed Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape. |
1989 |
Police minister Adriaan Vlok meets with church leaders including Tutu and undertakes to review detentions and begin to release political prisoners. Desmond and Leah Tutu are briefly detained for their participation in the Defiance Campaign. Tutu, Boesak and Chikane meet with President FW de Klerk, who announces the release of Walter Sisulu and others. |
1995 |
Tutu is appointed as Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). |
1996 |
Tutu retires as Archbishop of Cape Town. |
1997 |
Tutu is diagnosed with prostate cancer. |
1998 |
The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre (DTPC) is co-founded by Desmond and Leah Tutu. Tutu takes a two-year visiting professorship in the United States. |
2000 |
Tutu returns to South Africa and continues to speak out on moral and political issues. |
2003 |
Tutu works as a scholar in residence at the University of North Florida. |
2004 |
The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation is established. Tutu returns to the UK as a visiting professor at King’s College. |
2007 |
Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu convene The Elders and Tutu is named as Chair. |
2009 |
Tutu receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USA’s highest civilian honour. |
2010 |
On his 79th birthday Tutu retires from public engagements. |
2011 |
Tutu condemns the ANC and President Jacob Zuma as the Dalai Lama is refused a visa to South Africa for a second time. |
2012 |
Tutu is awarded the UNESCO peace prize. Tutu withdraws as speaker at a leadership summit in protest at sharing a stage with Tony Blair. |
2013 |
Tutu wins the Templeton Prize. Tutu is hospitalised in April following a persistent infection. Tutu steps down as Chair of The Elders and becomes an Honorary Elder. Tutu is awarded Freedom of the City of London. |
2014 |
Tutu says he is happy Mandela is not alive to witness the actions of South Africa’s leadership and lambasts government following a third failure to grant the Dalai Lama a visa. Tutu cancels his travels for the remainder of the year as he battles cancer. |
2015 |
Desmond and Leah Tutu celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. There are reports of Tutu’s deteriorating health. |
2016 |
Desmond Tutu celebrates 40 years of ministry. Tutu’s health continues to concern his family and the nation. |
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*curate: priest’s assistant