Commentary: 162 Years Of The Coming Of Christianity In Igboland

By: Most Rev Godwin Okpala

One of the greatest events in world history is the coming of Christianity to Igboland on July 27, 1857, exactly one hundred and sixty-two years today. Christianity emanated from the early European invasion of West Africa in the early fifteenth century, when Christian priests traveled with traders to spread the message of the gospel to Africa, which the white men regarded as a Dark Continent. As the saying goes, the church followed trade.

Series of expeditions were sponsored by the British government trooped to Africa, basically to trace the source and end of the River Niger. They were also to explore trading possibilities in the interior of the continent. Thus, in 1841, the Government commissioned three ships – the Albert, Wilberforce and Sudan. They were to explore and chart Rivers Niger and Benue, with the Church Missionary Society (CMS) actively involved in the preparations for the great expedition.

Two men from Sierra Leone, Reverend J. Schon, a linguist and Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a catechist and ex-slave boy of Yoruba parentage, accompanied them. At that period, the CMS had established a firm root in Freetown, where the first Missionaries were sent out by the society in 1804.

However, the first expedition of August 1841, when the group entered the River Niger, was a failure. Within few weeks, malaria killed fifty-four out of the one hundred and sixty-two white men that participated in the journey.

In spite of this hazardous experience, Samuel Ajayi Crowther led a team of Native Missionaries into the Niger valley. He was sent to Abeokuta to work with Reverend Townsend in 1854 and subsequently accompanied Dr. Baikes expedition in a trip regarded as a huge success.

Also, in 1857, Reverend Ajayi Crowther and J.C. Taylor, along with a number of catechists, joined Macgregor Laird for an expedition, sponsored by the British Government. Reverend Crowther had a definite commission from the CMS to establish the Niger Mission. The Niger Mission, which began in 1857, as an African initiative, started at the Christ Church, Onitsha. After negotiations with the Onitsha reigning Monarch, Akazua, the British established trading posts in the town and the Mission station started.

The Onitsha Monarch allocated land for the headquarters of the Mission station. Reverend Taylor, an ex-Igbo slave who was a convert from Sierra Leone, established the first mission in Igboland. He built schools, preached the gospel, taught and visited people, as well as healed the natives. On June, 1864, Reverend Samuel Ajayi Crowther was consecrated a Bishop in Canterbury to expand the Mission in Nigeria, confirm and ordain new priests.

Today, after one hundred and sixty-two years of Christianity in Igboland, one can rightly say that the visit of the Missionaries was worth it. The twenty-seven years of Bishop Crowther’s episcopacy witnessed tremendous development and rapid expansion in the work of the Niger Mission.

For instance, murder of twins, burial of slaves alive with the dead masters, sacrificing of maidens to appease the river goddess and many other superstitious and obnoxious practices in Igboland were stopped. This is a big plus for the missionaries. Again, many Niger Missions were established, including schools and seminaries, while the training of priests all over Igboland was heightened.

Today, millions of people in government, professionals, and captains of industry, owe their education to the missionary schools. Also, the clothes we wear, the level of education, grassroot development, technology, the hospitals, and the food we eat are all evidence of the gospel.

To commemorate this landmark event, a number of activities have been lined up by the nine Anglican dioceses in Anambra State. The anniversary will feature Road show and match pasts by various Church organizations, including the Men’s Fellowship, Mothers’ Union, Girls and Women’s Guild, Boys and Girls Brigade, and Anglican youth fellowship AYF among others. It will equally feature concerts on how Christianity came to Igboland in 1857. All these ceremonies will be heralded by special anniversary church services. No doubt, the seed that Ajayi Crowther planted 162 years ago has produced many churches. In some countries, Bishop Crowther would have been given a posthumous award. On the part of Christians, not much is being done to revive the spirit of the selfless African Missionaries. This is the right time to do that, both the clergy and the laity.

So, as we celebrate the 162 years of the coming of Christianity to Igboland, Christians should use the occasion to pray for those in government, the private sector and the travails of the nation. Happy CMS anniversary!