Anglican Communion marks 165 years of Christianity in Igbo Land

…Christians advised to return to original lifestyle of strong faith, love

ALL Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Inland town and Onitsha Central Archdeaconries joined other Christian faithful of the Anglican Communion, Church of Nigeria as they mark 164 years anniversary of advent of gospel of Christianity in Igbo land.

  The event was characterised with pomp, merriment, road shows, motorcade with gospel music and dancing followed by motely crowd sharing gospel tracts, rejoicing because of the benefits of Christianity.

 Speaking at the event, the Sub Dean, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, Venerable Samuel Ezewudo stated that the advent of the gospel of Christianity brought illumination and civilisation to Nigeria.

He said that before the coming of Christianity through Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1857, to the South Eastern and part of South Southern Nigeria people were in darkness.

 The trio of the Diocesan Accountant, Ven. Francis Orah, Diocesan legal Adviser, Humphrey Udechukwu and former President, Gideon on the Niger, Chuba Oranusi KSC in their separate speeches noted that July 27 of every year is the day we celebrate the coming of the gospel of Christianity through the CMS and led by Bishop Ajayi Crowther to Igbo Land.

The Anambra State Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Chairman, Ven. Joseph Nweke after narrating the exploits of the Church Missionary Society who jeopardised their lives to ensure that the gospel and civilisation got to Africa hinterlands tasked Church leaders to beef up security around their churches, saying that there was a security alert that enemies of Christianity disguised as bandits or gunmen were planning to attack churches.

 Meanwhile, the Chaplain, Chapel of Redemption, Temporary Site, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Ven. Dr. Obiorah Alokwu advised Christians to return to the original Christian lifestyle of strong faith, love, unity and hospitality, which the early Christians and Missionaries were known for.

 In his homily at the even,t popularly known as CMS Anniversary, Ven. Alokwu described the anniversary as a medium through which Christians commemorate and acknowledge the efforts of the early missionaries in propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ across the globe, especially as it concerns Igbo land.

 Ven. Alokwu also narrated how, in the entire Igbo land, the early Church Missionaries first settled in Onitsha, where they were given large portion of land by the then traditional ruler of Onitsha, and from where they began to spread the gospel to other parts of Igbo land, with uncommon fervency, faith, love and unity and hospitality.

 While recalling some obnoxious cultural practices that Christianity abolished in Igbo land, Ven. Alokwu also highlighted other numerous benefits that Christianity and consequent western education brought to mankind and warned against denominational bigotry, disunity and lack of strong faith among Christians today.

In their separate remarks, some of the participants at the event, Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu (who is a twin), and Nneịfụnanya Helen Eze shared their early days experiences as Christians, reiterating their undying love for Christianity due to its enormous benefits to mankind; even as they expressed optimism that Christianity has come to stay, and also cautioned Christians to refrain from lifestyles and cultural practices that are not in tandem with the faith.