The African Church

The Arch Cathedral Bethel, Lagos
The Arch Cathedral Bethel, Lagos

The African Church is a Christian denomination that was established in the British colonial areas that later became Nigeria in 1901. It was established after strong disagreements arose between the European leadership of the Anglican Church and the native African leadership. Following the installation of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a black African leader of the Anglican Church and translator of the Bible into the Yoruba language, as the head of Church of Nigeria, a number of African clerics obtained progressive education but did not advance in the leadership of the Church. This led to schisms that finally led to the formation of the indigenous African Church.[1] Since 1983 clergy are trained at the African Church College of Theology which since 1992 has been affiliated with the University of Ibadan. The church runs three schools, two hospitals and some social centres and development projects.[2]

  1. ^ "Coker, Jacob Kehinde, Nigeria, African Church of Nigeria". Dacb.org. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  2. ^ "The African Church | World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2024.