The Waaihoek Wesleyan Church, historic birthplace of the ANC, held a special service on Sunday morning in recognition of the party's 100th birthday.
The newly-renovated church echoed with hymns and the sounds of stomping feet before ANC Chaplain General Reverend Vukile Mehana began the service.
“We are meeting in this church that was restored to the original state it was in when the ANC was formed,” Mehana said.
“We are also having the main service for all religions here. We are all one family of the ANC... all of us from the various faiths.”
Representatives from different faiths, as well as different Christian denominations were given the chance to speak about the history of the ANC.
Attending the church service were deputy president Kgalema Mothlanthe, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga, ANC chairwoman Baleka Mbete, African-American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, president Nelson Mandela's grandson Mandla, as well as some traditional leaders.
A torch carrying the centenary flame was housed in a glass case at the front of the church.
The flame was lit by President Jacob Zuma at the church at midnight on Sunday.
The torch will later be moved to the Bloemfontein Stadium ahead of Zuma's centenary address on Sunday evening. - Sapa