Lagos Anglican diocese marks 20 years, unveils history book

The Diocese of Lagos Mainland, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, on Friday celebrated its 20th anniversary with the public presentation of a new book, The Church Is Marching On.

The anniversary and thanksgiving programme, held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, brought together clergy, traditional and community leaders, legal practitioners, journalists and other members of the diocese.

The event was hosted by the Bishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese, the Rt Revd Akinpelu Johnson, with prominent personalities, including Justice Ayokunle, an elder of the diocese; Pa Kayode Shonaike, popularly known as Babaluyi Akinwande; Justice Olayinka Faji; Chief J.P. Oke; and Mrs Abosede Faji, in attendance.

The Diocese of Lagos West was represented by Dr Mrs Lydia Odedeji, while the Rt Revd Dr Ebenezer Adewole and the former Bishop of Lagos Mainland Diocese, the Most Revd Dr Adebayo Dada Akinde, were also present.

Reviewing the book, veteran journalist and former Editorial Chairman of The Guardian, Dr Reuben Abati, described the publication as an important contribution to the documentation of the history, structure and development of the Anglican Church.

Abati said one of the major strengths of the book was its treatment of the organisational structure of the Anglican Church and the role of tradition and training in sustaining the church’s identity.

He said, “Another highlight of this work is also how the Anglican Church is organised through various departments to create a community that works with a sense of purpose, as well as the importance of traditions and training to sustain identity and prepare for the future.”

According to him, the subject was particularly evident in the second part of the book, which deals with the structure and governance of the church.

He noted that the book also examined the contributions of women, the place of young people and the role of Sunday school in nurturing and instructing children.

“Part three, on people and ministry, focuses on the contributions of women, the place of the youth in the new church, and the Directorate of Sunday School for the nurturing and instruction of children,” Abati said.

He said the book demonstrated the importance of order and organisation within the church, noting that the Anglican system was guided not only by individual leaders but also by established laws, structures and constitutional principles.

He drew attention to Chapter 13, which addresses the future of the diocese and the church, saying the contributors raised important questions about the direction of the Christian faith.

“In all, however, the future is treated as important in this book,” Abati said.

He described the publication as an important step towards properly documenting the history of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland and the wider Anglican Communion.

“This publication sets the tone for proper documentation of the history of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland and the Anglican Communion,” he said.

He urged the diocese to sustain the tradition of documentation and produce subsequent editions as it marks future milestones.

Abati, however, said the book also opened the door to a broader discussion about the role of Christianity in Nigerian society and the challenges confronting Christians.

He called for a more extensive examination of the place of the church in contemporary Nigeria, particularly against the background of reports of persecution of Christians and changing forms of religious expression.

In his address, Bishop Johnson expressed gratitude to God for the achievements recorded by the diocese over the past 20 years, while commending members of the anniversary committee and others who worked behind the scenes to make the celebration possible.

The bishop said the anniversary was an opportunity not only to celebrate the past but also to reflect on the future.

“We have every reason to give thanks to God for what He has done for us in the last 20 years. We have seen the hand of God in the growth and development of this diocese,” Johnson said.

He also stressed the importance of music to Anglican worship and disclosed that the diocese was committed to establishing a music school to train musicians and preserve the tradition of musical excellence associated with the Anglican Communion.

“We have spent so much money on the school building, but we are not yet where we want to be,” he said.

He appealed to members, friends of the diocese and other guests to support the project.

Bishop Johnson also recalled the contribution of the Anglican tradition to Nigeria’s musical heritage, citing the late Fela Sowande, one of Nigeria’s foremost composers and organists, as an example.

He said the church had historically played an important role in discovering and nurturing musical talents.

“We must not allow that tradition to die. If the Anglican Church has contributed immensely to the musical development of Nigeria in the past, then we have a responsibility to continue that legacy,” Johnson said.

Historical records show that Sowande, born in 1905, began his musical training as a chorister at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos, under celebrated Anglican organist and choirmaster Thomas Ekundayo Phillips.

He later became an accomplished organist and composer whose works combined Western classical traditions with African musical influences.

Johnson said investment in music education was, therefore, not merely about entertainment but an investment in the future of Christian worship.

Speaking through the documentary presented during the gala night, the former Bishop of Lagos Mainland, Revd Dr Adebayo Akinde, reflected on the history of the diocese and its development since its creation.

Akinde, who served as the pioneer bishop, recalled the early years of the diocese and the efforts of clergy and lay members who contributed to its growth.

“The story of Lagos Mainland Diocese is a story of faith, sacrifice and commitment. What we are celebrating today did not happen overnight,” Akinde said.

He added that the growth recorded by the diocese demonstrated what could be achieved when clergy and laity worked together.

Akinde also announced that the Synod of the Diocese of Lagos Mainland would take place on August 20 as part of the anniversary activities.

The Diocese of Lagos Mainland has its roots in the long history of Anglican Christianity in the Lagos Mainland area.

According to the diocese’s official history, a special Synod at Our Saviour’s Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, approved its establishment on February 2, 2006, while St Jude’s Church, Ebute Metta, was designated as its cathedral.

The diocese was formally inaugurated on August 23, 2006, as the 95th Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, following the consecration of Akinde as its pioneer bishop on August 20, 2006.

From three founding archdeaconries — Ebute-Metta, Idi-Oro and Yaba — the diocese expanded significantly, with its official history stating that it had grown to 11 archdeaconries by 2014 through extensive church planting and evangelism.

The diocese currently has about 137 clergy serving across its parishes, according to the diocese.