Dedicated in 1991, Our Lady of the Cedars of Lebanon serves Johannesburg’s Maronite community, one of South Africa’s oldest Lebanese congregations. The cone-shaped shrine, with a revolving 2m-tall Virgin Mary statue, sits alongside the octagonal face-brick church within landscaped gardens. Its cave-like interior, stalactites, and biblical artwork create a meditative atmosphere. The site hosts 24-hour adoration prayers and remains a spiritual and cultural hub for the city’s Maronite Catholics, under the leadership of Father Nadim Abou Zeid.

Built in 1964, Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Soweto is an A-framed landmark that witnessed the 1976 student uprising. Its walls still bear bullet marks from police attacks. The church seats 2,000 with room for 3,000 standing, and features a serene interior with blue and mustard glass windows, a stained glass window depicting Mary’s life, and a black Madonna. It remains a spiritual and historical hub, hosting annual 16 June commemorations and welcoming over 1,000 families and daily tourists.

Built in 1928, St Alban’s Anglican Mission Church in Ferreirasdorp is a historic Anglican place of worship that has served its local community for nearly a century. It represents a period of Johannesburg’s growth when mission churches played key roles in religious, social, and community life, especially among under-served urban populations. The church is valued for its heritage, spiritual history, and its role in anchoring the community through changing urban landscapes.

St Mary’s the Less, built in 1889, is Johannesburg’s oldest Anglican church. This modest red iron-roofed structure features wooden floors, a beamed ceiling, white benches, and arched stained-glass windows. Its small pipe organ stands by the apse, while a worn stone step hints at its age. Once central to Jeppestown’s posh suburb, the congregation now numbers around 45. Designed by Arthur and Walter Reid, the church remains a quiet, historic space for worship amid the evolving cityscape.

Opened in 2004, the Swaminarayan Mandir in Lenasia is a serene Hindu temple with polished marble floors, wide prayer spaces, and intricately carved pillars lining the walls and dome. The exterior is a rectangular structure with a central dome and decorative corner pillars, adorned with fluttering flags. Built entirely by the local community, the R7-million temple serves as a spiritual hub for South Africa’s Swaminarayan devotees, offering a peaceful retreat and a striking example of modern Hindu architecture.