UNVEILING NIGERIA’S OLDEST CHURCH WHERE THE RICH & MIGHTY WORSHIP.

The Cathedral Church of St. Peters, Ake, Abeokuta, is  the oldest Church in the community (Ake), the oldest Church in Abeokuta, the oldest Church in Western Nigeria, and due to the proximity of the town to the Atlantic Ocean, and the first missionaries, the oldest Church in Nigeria. Built reportedly in 1898, it served as a rallying ground for a number of initial missionaries to Abeokuta, many of who played other roles in the government of indirect rule between the Crown in England and the Chiefs in Egbaland. The foundation of the Church was laid by one Reverend Andrew Desalu Wilham around 1846, and completed during the time of Rev. Henry Townsend.

At the advent of Christianity on Nigeria, the first organized congregation was in January 4, 1843 when Mr Henry Townsend (later Revd. Townsend) came into Abeokuta on the invitation of some Christian-returnees from Sierra Leone. The Church established at that time has since metamorphosed into what is known today as the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta. Initially, it was called Ake Church, built in 1844 and burnt down 1846. Its second structure known as Exeter Church was dedicated on March 21, 1847.

This was the first building to be covered with corrugated iron sheets. By 1898, the third Church building came under construction, completed, dedicated and named St. Peter’s Church Ake on Febuary 1, 1900. It was popularly called ‘Church Idi Tower’ in the 20^th century. It was from here that missionary ventures took off to Lagos, Ibdan and other hinterland of Yorubaland and that of Nigeria. Its compound accommodates the first educational institution in the country: St. Peter’s Anglican School founded in 1846; it is the  citadel of civilization in Nigeria.

In some ways, it is the Southern equivalent to the Church in Wusasa, also a first in the north, built in 1902 whose survival depended very much on the hard work of volunteer priests battling a society that at the time very much resisted the change it represented. Most of the early missionaries faced life-threatening confrontations with the elders of the town to whom Christianity represented a real and present threat. Many Churches fell down after being visited by men from the local cults, sometimes while people worshiped inside. In the case of the Wusasa Church, the threat came from the Muslim societies in the north who felt threatened by the new religion.

That these structures have lasted so long is homage to maintenance, but more importantly, the cultural place they occupy I n the societies that own them. Past Vicars of the  Church from  inception were. The Revd. Henry Townsend, The Revd. William Odusina Moore, The Revd.D. Williams, The Revd. John Burkley Wood, The Revd. D.O. Williams, The Revd. Canon Josiah Jesse Ransome Kuti, Ven. Samuel  Adeola Delumo, Ven. Ronald Adekunle Ashley Dejo, Very Revd. Adeneye Olufemi Olomodosi, Vey Revd. James Afolabi Popoola, Very Revd. Prof Adebayo Akinde, Very Revd. Emmanuel Oludaisi Adekunle, Very Revd. Isaac Adeyemi Adeniji. One of the most known pastors of the Church include the Reverend Josiah J. Ransome Kuti (also known as the grandfather of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the inventor of Afrobeat, among many others.

A hall in the Church premises is named after another famous pastor, the Reverend Henry Townsend. The Cathedral Church of St Peter in Abeokuta, built in Reverend Towsend’s  memory, is also where the oldest copy of the Bible in Nigeria is, officials of the National Archives have done a fair job of preserving it. Although the British have requested to have it back perhaps on loan but the custodians have not been so willing to part with what is now a “national heritage”. So, it remains in the Palace where tourists can have a glimpse at it on request. Ake cathedral has been the number one worship center for the rich famous and old in Abeokuta. The Church which is situated very close to the palace of Alake of Egbaland is  also where the kings worship and hold thanksgiving services. Past and present governors and office holders of the Ogun State government also use the Church for their thanksgiving services.

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