Complete Profile & Latest Information About The African Church
The African church is a christian denomination located in Nigeria. It was founded in the early 20th century, during the British colonial regime in Nigeria. The current Leader of the church is His Eminence, Dr. Emmanuel Udofia. The Church membership numbers about 2,080,000, with about 720 individual parishes.
The National Headquarters of the Church is located at the Arch Cathedral, 59, Broad Street, Lagos, Nigeria.
HISTORY OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH
The African Church is one of the churches that was established before the early days of Nigeria. It was established in the then British colonial regime.
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 (one of the foremost black African Leaders 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 that did not however translate to advancement in the leadership of the Church. This led to schisms that finally led to the formation of the indigenous African Church.
The Church held its first service in Rose Cottage, Marina, under a canopy on 17 October 1901 by J.K Coker and a group of ministers that disagreed with the Anglican Church European leadership led by Bishop Turgwell then of St. Paul’s Church. It was estimated that between 600 and 800 worshippers gathered at Rose Cottage for this memorable service.
- FOUNDING DAY: The African Church was founded in the year 1901, October 17.
- NUMBER OF MEMBERS: The church membership numbers about 2,080,000.
- HEADQUARTERS: The headquarters is sited in Dallas, Texas, United States.
- BRANCHES: The African Church has spread all over Nigeria with seven Provinces comprising forty-seven Dioceses in every geopolitical zone of the country. Its individual parishes number 720.
- FOUNDER: The founding fathers of the African Church comprised of a group of ministers led by elder Jacob Kehinde Coker.
- CURRENT LEADERS: The African Church is presently led by His Eminence, Dr. Emmanuel Udofia.
The African Church Programme / Events Calendar
The Church runs several schools, two hospitals and some social centers and development projects. It publishes a guide for daily Bible reading (in English and Yoruba).
DOCTRINES OF THE AFRICAN CHURCH
The doctrines of the church as reported on her website are as follows;
- The African Church receives and accepts the Bible as the standard of its faith.
- She also accepts the Old Testament and the New Testament as being canonical, and sufficient for salvation.
- She accepts and believes in the Fatherhood of God and the Holy Trinity.
- The church practices the sacraments of baptism and holy communion.
MISSION
To proclaim Jesus Christ faithfulness, to declare the ways of the Lord to the world, so that they can live a righteous life and seek their salvation with fear and trembling.
VISION
To proclaim Jesus Christ faithfulness, to declare the ways of the Lord to the world, so that they can live a righteous life and seek their salvation with fear and trembling.
MERGER
The African church Bethel and the African church Salem are hereby united and now form one organization: THE AFRICAN CHURCH
