Sunday, November 29, 2009

Diocese Of Lagos: Mother Diocese Of All Nigeria Anglican Communion Turns 90


From Nigeria-

The Diocese of Lagos, the oldest Diocese in the Church of Nigeria, inaugurated on December 10, 1919, will be 90 years old on December 10, 2009. At a period in the history of the Diocese, it was controlling the whole of the North and the West before many dioceses such as Ibadan, Bendel area and the North were carved out from it. The Diocese had produced seven Bishops and the seventh is Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Diocese, MOST REVD ADEBOLA ADEMOWO. In this interview with CHRIS IREKAMBA, Ademowo narrated how it all started, progress made, activities lined up for the event, and why the celebration is going to be low-keyed, among other important issues.

Significance of the ninetieth anniversary

WE want to thank God for the Diocese of Lagos, the Mother Diocese in the Church of Nigeria. I must say that the good Lord has been on our side. He has been piloting the affairs of the Diocese. Right now, the Diocese of Lagos, without being immodest, has grown by leaps and bounds. It has grown with amazing rapidity.

The Diocese was inaugurated on December 10, 1919 while Christianity was planted in this country in 1842. There was a time this Diocese was controlling the whole of North and the West, but today there are many dioceses in the supra west and in the Bendel area and also in the Northern part of this country.

In actual fact, the Diocese of Ibadan was carved out from the Diocese of Lagos in 1952 and the whole of the North at that time. The Diocese had witnessed seven bishops, of which I am the seventh Bishop. The pioneering Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos was Melville Jones (1919-1940). Also Gordon Vining, who became the archbishop of West Africa, took over from him from 1940 to 1955. He was followed by Bishop Howells (1955-1974). The fourth was Bishop Kale, who was Principal of CMS Grammar School for years (1974-1985). And Bishop Segun took over from Bishop Kale. And the next, who later became the Primate of All Nigeria, was Archbishop Adetiloye.

He retired in 1999 and I took over from Primate Adetiloye in the year 2000. Then I was Archbishop for Province 1. And when we had 10 Provinces; I became the Archbishop for the Province of Lagos. There is a Bishop charge where I highlighted the summary of the achievements of my predecessors.

More here-

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/ibru_center/article01/indexn2_html?pdate=291109&ptitle=Diocese%20Of%20Lagos:%20Mother%20Diocese%20Of%20All%20Nigeria%20Anglican%20Communion%20Turns%2090

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